Your own health can find itself at the bottom of your to-do list, but for a successful business and a happy life, it has to work its way up to something you prioritize.
By Jennifer Paulson
It’s no secret that being an NRHA Professional can be a 24/7 job. High-level performance horses require constant attention. Customers of all budgets expect your expert care for their animals. Staying at the top of your competitive game doesn’t happen without extra effort. And let’s not forget the time required to maintain a property and market yourself to acquire new customers. All of these factors can lead you to feeling burnt out. But more than that, they can take a toll on your physical and mental health, which can test your personal relationships and your ability to perform at your chosen career.
Carving out time to care for yourself and meet your own needs might seem impossible in your current framework, but you’re not alone. Small business owners and operators from all sectors face the same challenges. We did some digging outside the horse industry to find insights and tips that you can apply in your own business to help you care for your health and help your relationships prosper, even under the stress of being a successful NRHA Professional.
Here we’ll arm you with strategies to create time to focus on your own well-being, even if just for five minutes at a time. As you start to create these short segments focusing on yourself, you’ll see results and learn that taking care of yourself is just as important as finding the next customer or winning a big event.
Part 1: Find Exercise…That Isn’t Horse-Related
Part 3: Ditch ‘Comparisonitis’ & Limit Social Media Exposure
Part 4: Common Signs of Mental Health Concerns
Find Exercise…That Isn’t Horse-Related
Every person who’s actively involved with the care and riding of their horses knows how much physical effort is involved. While that’s great for your metabolism and ability to burn fat and calories, it’s just part of the everyday requirement of your job. That means it also could be one of the things causing your stress and anxiety.
Finding a form of exercise that you enjoy—or one that at least gives you a release—helps burn off tension. Running, cycling, lifting weights, etc. all give you an opportunity to focus on something other than your business, and the physicality lets you work out your emotions and relieve stress. Additionally, you might find the endorphin release offers a calming effect or even motivates you to push farther.
When you begin, start small. Commit 15 to 20 minutes a day to your new focus on physical activity. Can you wake up 15 or 20 minutes earlier than usual? Carve out time midday? Or maybe you’ll find it’s best to end your day with a short time to focus on yourself. Once you get started, you’ll find it’s easier to add 5 minutes by cutting out other unnecessary elements of your day, such as mindlessly scrolling social media.
Find the rest of this article at the links above.
