If you run or co-run a small Internet business, what do you think your most precious resource is... the one thing your company can't function without? Would it be your relationships with your top vendors? Would it be the ISP that provides your onramp to the Internet? How about your staff, if you have staff? Maybe it's your e-mail software. If you agreed to any of these as your company's most important resource, you may be overlooking what really is the most vital component of your small company: your energy. That's right, what would your company be without the effort, time, love, and energy you put in to making it what it is! As I have just reminded myself of my own value in my business. :) I am going to present some tips on keeping yourself going that have helped me and could help you.
I was always afraid that if I stepped away from the office, the world would fall apart without me, or at least my company would. It's that typical small business mentality: if I don't give everyone 100% attention 24 hours a day, I'll never grow and succeed. Is that really completely true? Of course not. If it were, we'd never go to sleep for fear of ignoring an e-mail. I was also afraid that I didn't have enough money to go away. However, I was in the process of working myself to a point where if I didn't do something to put in a break, I would have burned myself out. Many people think they can continue to work at that rate, but they may be forgetting that while you're in that useless overtired burned-out state, you still have just as much work as you did before you overdid it. So working yourself to wackiness with more work on the horizon is just not going to bring your company to that next higher level of success.
Get Some Exercise in Your Life
If you're like me (!), then you probably sit in front a computer for hours upon hours each day getting very little movement in your life apart from those flying typing fingers. I just tried yoga, and while it's not for everyone, it is incredible for stretching, blood flow, releasing tension, energy, and relaxation. Yoga is also a good exercise choice because it's low impact while improving muscle tone and flexibility... hey it may even help your mental flexibility! You can do it right in your office or living room. Even 30 minutes a day will help. And no, yoga does not mean you have to bend your leg around your head and wrap the other leg around the doorknob. You do what your current level of flexibility and strength allows knowing both will increase over time. Teachers and videos for beginners won't expect you to do advanced poses. This holiday season, don't forget to treat yourself to a nice mat and video.
