You know, as Generation X Entrepreneurs, we have worked HARD our entire lives most likely anyway. If you’re like me, that could be more than 35 years already!
Working in a traditional workplace environment, for other people, for many years prior to going out on my own, I now realize was a vacation! Seriously…I have always worked hard for my employers; however, there was an end to the workday. Having been in business for myself for many years now, I realize that that is not always the case for us entrepreneurs.
I can time-block my day and have all of my clients’ time mapped out, but something always seems to take longer than expected, or emergencies pop up, or I get an unexpected referral who needs help right away…those all have to be fitted in and handled somehow.
Or do they?
This article is being published on May 17th, 2022 – also known as World Hypertension Day. One of those “holidays” that people rarely know about, it’s just put on the calendar as a fund-raising and awareness-raising event.
Did you know:
“The World Health Organization attributes hypertension, or high blood pressure, as the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. The World Hypertension League (WHL), an umbrella organization of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues, recognized that more than 50% of the hypertensive population worldwide are unaware of their condition.”
I had zero intention of writing this article today…I had a whole different direction planned. But I opened up my LinkedIn this morning and saw a post by someone whose engaging IG Reels I usually enjoy watching – but it wasn’t a video – it was a photo of her in the hospital after having a heart attack. I was stopped short in my scrolling. (Oddly enough, I went to go back and find her post so that I could link to it in the comments below and give her some extra love and well wishes for a speedy recovery; however, I can no longer find that post. I am not sure if she took it down for privacy reasons or not, so I will not be linking to it, but if she sees this I am sure she will know that we are all lending her our prayers and good vibes!)
Now, I have always had low blood pressure, so in general, it is not a huge concern of mine, but even I have had times where I was getting overly agitated by something going on that affected my business and would say to anyone who dared be around me at the moment, “Argh! I can just feel my blood boil and veins bulging in my neck!” It’s stress – and life is full of it – but we must learn to manage it! Especially if hypertension is a concern for you.
According to the CDC, here are some things we can do to help avoid hypertension:
♡ – Eat a healthy diet.
♡ – Maintain a healthy weight.
♡ – Be active.
♡ – Don’t smoke.
♡ – Limit alcohol.
♡ – Get enough sleep.
I personally need to get better on several of those items…but what it doesn’t say on the CDC list, is to limit stress. And that is really what I wanted to say.
I am not saying to develop a “do not care” attitude, but what I am saying is to put yourself first. Your health comes BEFORE your clients’ business needs – PERIOD. If you are out of commission – their needs will not get met by you at all. But if you prioritize your health first – take a break when needed, incorporate meeting-free days to give yourself an energetic rest from endless meetings, work set business hours more often than not (or at least limit the number of hours you work, even if those hours vary around the rest of your life), and generally remember that you started your business for you, for your family, and yes, to provide great products and services – your clients’ needs will get met, just maybe a few hours later, not earth-shattering, right? But none of that can happen without you…you are your business, so take care of yourself.
Someone out there needs to hear this today – I know I did. Please share this edition with your own followers, contacts, friends, and family. Generation X Entrepreneurs need to realize that while we are TOUGH as NAILS and will work Hard as Hail (do you use that saying or the other version? 😉 – we are not invincible.