Why JOY and Wellbeing are your secret business tools this Autumn!

As business owners we’re always trying to spin hundreds of different plates at the same time. Finding time for joy and to look after our wellbeing feels like a luxury many of us can’t afford.

But what if I was to tell you that the opposite is true… that we can’t afford to ignore our wellbeing and joy, and that in fact our business success depends on it?

Just hear me out for a second…

If you don’t find the time to properly rest or for the things that make you feel good, then you are on a fast track to burning out. Take it from someone who has burnt out twice!

I believe that the only way that you’ll be able to sustainably run your business is if you make time for your wellbeing and joy every single day (and not postpone it to when you’ve hit a certain revenue milestone or sales target, as so many people tend to do!).

And as we head towards autumn and winter it’s even more important to look after yourself; it’s this time of year when energy levels naturally dip, business demands rise in a post-summer / lead up to Christmas rush, and around 2 million people in the UK will start to feel the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) .

In this article I’ll share why I believe wellbeing and joy are your secret business tools and how you can easily start making time for them in your busy schedule.

Wellbeing and JOY as business tools

I know the guilt that can creep in when you feel you should be ticking something off the never ending to do list, instead of taking time to look after yourself. Your brain tells you that your priorities are wrong, that you’ll be missing out on opportunities, and that it’s foolish to take this time for yourself when you’re already snowed under.

But the truth is that by taking that time for yourself, you will be a much stronger asset to your business. From my experience, I know that if I’ve made time to go for a morning walk or potter in my garden in the afternoon, then without fail:

I am more creative
have better clarity around what I’m working towards
can make better decisions
solve problems more efficiently
and probably my favourite… feel so much more confident in myself

The impact of this is that my work is better quality, more impactful, and more enjoyable! It’s win, win, win!

Building time for wellbeing and joy into your day

Making time for wellbeing and joy in your days might feel like you’re adding yet another thing to your manic schedule, so I wanted to share some simple ideas that take fewer than 15 minutes that you can start doing from today!

Making time for rest

We often equate rest to getting enough sleep, but there are in fact 7 different types of rest we all need in order to thrive: physical, mental, social, emotional, sensory, spiritual, and creative. Getting the right type of rest could look like:

Take 5 minutes to do some stretches
Do a 5 minute meditation
Have a 10 minute chat with someone who makes you feel good
Take 10 minutes to write all your worries and thoughts on paper
Go for a 15 minute walk in nature
Take 15 minutes away from screens

By improving the quality of your rest and taking these small actions consistently, you will see your productivity and creativity increase, and won’t end the day feeling like your brain is fried. If you want some support to make sure you’re able to easily build the right type of rest into your days then you can download my free toolkit.

Gratitude

It’s proven that people who regularly practise gratitude report feeling happier, are more resilient, and even experience better physical health. It’s about taking a moment to appreciate all that’s good and being present in the here and now (and not always focusing on where we’re trying to get to).

Practicing gratitude can be as simple as jotting down 3 things you are grateful for every day. Find a time that works for you, and try to be as specific as possible. The items on your list can be something quite big, for example being grateful for an exciting new project, to something small, such as having a tasty lunch.

Checking in with yourself

As business owners we tend to always be pushing forward onto the next thing and rarely take the time to check-in on how we’re doing. By taking 5 minutes at the end of each week to reflect on what has gone well, what the challenges were, and what you need from the next week to feel like you’re thriving is a great way to spot patterns or signs for what your mind and body is craving at that moment. If you’re not sure where to start with this, you can download my free end of week check-in template.

Energy tracking

When I was recovering from burn out, tracking my energy levels was revolutionary to me. Noting down the tasks, activities, experiences that energised me and those that drained me, helped me better plan my work to make sure I didn’t end my days feeling totally drained.

If I knew I had some work to do on a task that would drain me (any sort of spreadsheet work!) then I knew to spend some time before and after doing activities that filled up my cup. That might have been a work task (writing my weekly newsletter) or something outside of work (like chatting to a friend). By knowing what takes and gives you energy, you’re able to make sure you’re looking after your wellbeing and not ending your days with nothing left in the tank.

Focus on simple pleasures

Finding joy isn’t necessarily about the big things like going on holiday, but instead about finding joy in the simple, everyday pleasures and taking the time to notice and appreciate them.

As we come into autumn and winter it could be things like savouring the first sip of your favourite hot drink, lighting a candle, hearing the crunch of leaves on a lunch-time walk, getting into a good book or TV series, or warming up with your favourite comfort foods. By focussing on the simple pleasures, you’ll be savouring moments of joy every day which gives small but consistent boosts to your mood and energy levels.

A final gentle reminder…

So as we move into autumn and winter, remember this: your wellbeing and joy aren’t luxuries to squeeze in once the work is done, they’re the tools that make your business stronger, more sustainable, and more successful.

Try choosing just one or two practices from the list above and commit to them for the next two weeks, and notice what changes in your energy, your focus and your creativity.

And hopefully you’ll see that it’s not time that is ‘lost’ but instead an investment in you and your business!

Emily Davies

Emily Davies is a Coach supporting people who want to prioritise their wellbeing and joy as much as achieving their goals. I support my clients to gently thrive; they define their own version of success, work towards their goals by taking small, consistent steps that build momentum, whilst still honouring their humanness and experiencing joy every step of the way.

Website: www.emilydaviescoaching.com

Instagram: @emilydaviescoaching

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eadavies/