Entrepreneurs’ businesses are often labors of love built on passion and hard work. Being so personally invested in our businesses can lead to work taking a front and center spot in our lives, and care for ourselves can sometimes fall to the wayside. Here are some helpful self-care tips you can use to make sure you are taking the time to invest in one of the most important parts of your business – yourself.

Create a Morning Routine

Starting your morning with something that makes you feel good sets the tone for a happier and more productive day. Setting aside just 20 minutes for an activity or ritual that fulfills you will help you to dive into your day on a positive note. Go for a morning walk or work out to clear your head – and enjoy those endorphins! Writing down a list of things you are thankful for that day, meditating, or reading a book or blog you enjoy can also be inspiring and motivating.

Check Email Sparingly

This is a big one for me. I used to check my email as soon as I woke up, and I had to get to that task right away or else I would be thinking about it all morning. Try setting a schedule for yourself of several times throughout the day when you will go through your inbox and send out your communications. Knowing those scheduled periods are set aside for email tasks will help you to be more focused throughout the rest of your workday.

Stop Multitasking

Multitasking might make you feel like you’re managing many things at once and staying on top of your work, but in reality, it takes up way more energy than doing just one thing at a time. Close your email tab or app, put your phone on Do Not Disturb, and allow yourself to zone in on just one piece of your business. You may find that giving yourself permission to fully focus on one thing at a time helps you to be more efficient when you’re working.

Don’t Be Afraid to Say “No” to Clients

When you’re starting a business and trying to grow your clientele, it’s easy to feel like any paying customer is a good one. However, if a client’s expectations don’t align with your services or fees, or if they don’t seem to be a great fit for you, it’s okay to say “no.” Turning down a project is totally fine, just be sure to do it in a respectful way. In fact, if you know of another entrepreneur whose services or style might be more in line with what the client wants or needs, you can give them a referral and help another small business grow.

Get Help When Needed 

There are so many moving parts to consider when you’re building a business, and not every task or project will be something you have experience with, or, let’s face it, one that you particularly enjoy doing. Focus on your strengths and the parts you’re confident doing yourself, and where possible, outsource tasks that are taking up too much of your time. There are some great websites where you can hire experienced people who can pick up the pieces you might need help with.

Learn When to Shut Off

The flexibility of working for yourself can make it way too easy to be logged on at all hours of the day. Create working hours for yourself, starting and ending your workday at specific, set times. Be clear (and firm) with your clients and colleagues about when you’re available. Only check your email during those hours, turn off chat notifications, and avoid planning anything work-related outside of that time. You deserve a chance to reset and refresh every day.

It’s common for entrepreneurs’ lives to revolve around nurturing their businesses, but it’s important to take care of yourself. Try these self-care steps to help make sure you are as energized and engaged as you can be to lead your business to success.