by Elena Stewart

Like any hardworking small-business owner, you have a set of tools you turn to to be more productive make deals happen and improve yourself and your company. One set of tools that you may not reach for that often, however, is those that will help you take better care of yourself.

 Self-care is critical. It helps you manage stress, deal with trauma and store enough energy to take on the day. You have to take care of yourself first before you take care of business. So let's look at some of the tools in your self-care belt:

 1. Take an exercise break. If you are under a lot of stress, burning calories and getting your sweat on is a great way to put those worrisome thoughts to the side for an hour. At-home workouts, even short ones, give you a chance to get rid of fat and worry at the same time—with the added bonus of being convenient, often cheap or free and time-saving (because you don't have to travel to the gym and waste precious minutes).

 2. Take a nap. Getting a good night's sleep is critical for brain function, productivity and energy levels. But did you know napping is also beneficial? Taking a 10-to 20-minute snooze in the early afternoon can give you the boost you need to finish the day strong.

 3. Try meditation. Mindfulness exercises and meditation can be great tools in your self-care belt. Brain studies of people who meditate regularly have shown that these folks have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Putting everything aside for 20 to 30 minutes during the day can help you reduce stress and stabilize your mood.

 4. Get outside. Rejuvenation doesn't have to be relegated to indoor activities. Spending time outside with nature has healing properties, as well, and can help you melt away the levels of stress that have been building. Starting your own garden, for instance, can provide a Zen-like activity that gives you the opportunity to work with your hands on something that isn't the hustle and bustle of your small business. It will feel good to connect with nature. In fact, gardening has been linked to overall mood improvements and other cognitive benefits, as well.

 5. Save time and energy by hiring services. One key way to destress is to figure out ways to improve processes so they take less time, leaving you with more time for self-care activities or other business-related projects. You should identify areas where you can outsource tasks to external allies. For instance, you can hire a virtual assistant to keep records and take phone calls, and having an accountant do your taxes is also recommended.

 Another example of a time-saving service you can take advantage of would be a formation service. When considering your business structure, you should make careful note of the benefits of forming a limited liability company. LLCs offer several advantages to small-business owners, including a pass-through tax structure, less paperwork, more flexibility, and personal asset protection (so you don't lose your home or other assets if the business goes under). In Michigan, an LLC formation service can do the legwork for you so you can spend time on other business-related tasks or even self-care activities. This will help relieve stress and give you time back in your day.

 Take these self-care tools and put them to work improving the way you treat yourself. And if you need more informative, inspiring and engaging content about living your best and healthiest self in Michigan.

 Elena Stewart is a certified life coach who specializes in the teachings of Brené Brown, Danielle LaPorte, and Marie Forleo. She successfully transitioned from the corporate world to running her own business, and she now helps others achieve their career goals and dreams. For more information, call 651-265-9787, email [email protected] or visit ElenaStewart.com.