Keeping a positive mindset during a negative time is crucial, especially for business owners. This week, COVID-19, known most popularly as the Coronavirus, has taken the world by storm becoming one of the worst pandemics in recent years. A mandated quarantine was put into place and states have since been shutting down cities one day at a time. This includes small businesses that have felt the repercussions of these orders immensely.
However, with the power of technology, many business owners have shared positive messages encouraging others in their position to keep their heads up. It has created a sense of community and hope. We couldn’t relate more to this movement. Our first core value is giving first, sharing always and empowering our community to thrive in an environment of encouragement and empathy.
We’ve put together a list of mindfulness tips for business owners to stay positive during this time:
Start Your Day with Positive Affirmations
You may have felt ‘out of it’ these past few days with big lifestyle changes taking place, but be mindful of how you let yourself perceive it. Instead of waking up holding on to that feeling, try to speak positivity into existence by giving yourself a compliment.
“This is not the end. It is the beginning of innovation. I will seek to elevate my business in a way I could not have thought of before, and it will thrive.”
It’s also a time to use social media to your advantage. If you follow other entrepreneurs and business owners, turn to their posts for positive reaffirmation. They’re most likely feeling what you are feeling. Check out hashtags like #smallbiz, #entrepreneurs, #businessowners that contain posts about how you could spend your time away from the office efficiently, new business ventures to research, and light-hearted posts that will brighten your day.
Exercise in the Morning
The benefits of exercising are worthwhile, especially with the freedom of working from home. It improves your mood and mental health, boosts energy and brainpower, prevents and fights illness, reduces stress and helps with sleep. Exercise releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins throughout the body. This will keep you attentive and ready to take on the world throughout the day.
Keep in mind that these exercises can range from intense cardio to simple yoga. If you don’t have an at-home gym or workout videos from the past decade, turn to your digital resources. YouTube is filled with workout videos that are easy to follow in the comfort of your own home. After all, you have been wanting to work more on your fitness, right?
Make Time to Self-Care
The chances are you’ve probably already started implementing self-care with your New Year’s resolutions. The only difference is that now you have more time to do so and it’s probably much needed.
Take self-care breaks in between your video meetings and researching how to utilize the digital world for business. It’s as easy as putting on a face mask and taking a power nap. Or going all out and pouring a glass of wine and unwinding in a warm bubble bath. These actions will boost your mood right away. And the best part - once quarantine is over, you’ll feel like a brand new person, refreshed and ready to achieve all your goals.
Watch Your News Intake
This is one of the most important steps to protecting your energy during this time. Taking in too much news can affect your mood by causing anxiety that would later lead to depression and other negative effects on your mental health. Be aware of your intake, whether it’s from your television or social media. It’s good to stay up-to-date, but don’t get stuck drowning in all the news.
Instead, try reading uplifting news that focuses on your niche business. There are many articles by publications like Forbes and Refinery29 that focus on the positive opportunities resulting from COVID-19.
Lean on Your Support System
Just because socializing in-person has been canceled, doesn’t mean that relationships have been. Keeping in contact with your support system is important in protecting your energy. If you’re an extrovert, you’ve probably felt a bit down since the quarantine. Even if you’re an introvert, spending too much time alone is never good for mental health.
Applications like Google Hangout and Zoom aren’t just for business. It can also be used to socialize with your friends or colleagues. Set up morning meetings with the intent to spread positivity to others or workout sessions where you all follow a group workout virtually. The possibilities are endless, but one thing is for sure: you won’t feel alone.
Take a Deep Breath and Just Breathe
Sometimes the best remedy to overcome bumps in the road is to drop everything, step away and just breathe. We understand it feels like a difficult time right now, which is why it is important to focus on the positives and protect your energy at all costs. Understand that this is not a time to give up, but instead, to boss up and figure out innovative ways to run your business digitally. Once COVID-19 and the after effect pass, you will have entered new territory that will be very beneficial in the long run.
Have any more mindfulness tips to share? Tag us in your posts on social media (@eWomenNetwork).
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