You absolutely love what you do. It’s one of the very first things you think about when you wake up in the morning, and it is probably what you are mulling over as you fall asleep at night. Your passion and dedication is what makes you successful, and what keeps you going through tough times. Loving what you do is one of the most wonderful gifts that life has to give, and we know you are aware of how lucky you are.

Dedicated and driven people do have one area where they need to stay focused, however, and one that has seemingly no direct relation to work. This area is Self Care. Neglecting all the levels and aspects of your own self in favor of work can take a toll on you, leaving you spent and not able to create, manage, or drive your business.

It can be tempting, and even seem necessary, to work, and keep working, and then work some more, often just because you enjoy it so much. And then there are the times when your business hits a rough patch, and the answer here will often seem to be just to keep working even more! As a matter of fact, though, stepping back from it all can give you a different perspective and allow your mental muscles to strengthen and regroup, enabling you to return to the fight with fresh tools and insights for those hard times. New strategies and processes that can help you succeed and move ahead, and these can often result from a mental sabbatical.

Loving what you do can also tempt you to work more than may be healthy for you, simply because you really would rather be doing that than almost anything else. But if you don’t take good care of yourself, investing in your physical, emotional, and mental health, it’s only a matter of time before you pay a price – and that price can come in the form of illness, depression, fatigue, or other personal issues, leaving you without the resources to do your work. Kind of counter-productive, don’t you think?

To support and enhance your productivity, invest in self-care by:

• Sleeping at least 8 hours nightly, with regular bedtimes and waking times whenever possible.
• Eating as healthy as you can – take note of what you are putting in your body, and remember that food is fuel! Drink the right amount of water, and avoid food and drink items that will negatively affect your health.
• Exercise and time outdoors is really good for your entire Self – mind, body, and soul.
• Schedule down (“un-working”) time – do the other things you love (yes, you have some!). Hobbies and reading good books, travel and community involvement are some healthy mental and emotional exercises you can focus on.
• Maintain balanced, healthy relationships with those you love. Your people should come before your work. Show those you love what they mean to you by investing your time and energy in them.

It’s important to care for yourself, so that you can continue to do what you love for many years to come.