The thought of self-care might seem laughable, and unattainable, amongst the thousands of other things that need to happen throughout your day and week, but you should not underestimate the many benefits self-care will bring.

Self-Care Through Blocking Time For Yourself

Whilst diarizing time for yourself might seem indulgent, or even impossible, this is the best way to start finding time to devote to YOU. So often we put ourselves at the end of a long to-do list, however that to-do list might feel more manageable if you had more energy to tackle it. Sometimes all you need is a change of scene to feel energized, but if you need more of a pick me up, think about some of these activities to help energize your day…

There is plenty of literature on the many benefits of meditation, and if you haven’t tried it for yourself, it’s well worth a go. Meditation assists mental clarity and quiets the body, allowing for much needed personal space in a busy day.

Meditation will definitely help your focus, but when you’re running on empty, nothing will beat a short power nap. Try to keep it to 20 minutes, otherwise you feel more tired than when you started.

Any other pleasurable activities such as reading or chatting to your friends, is a good use of this time. Try to avoid the screen, especially social media as that will drain your energy rather than replenish it. Consider setting an alarm for the end of your down time so that you can completely relax into your chosen activity without the worry that you’ll lose track of yourself. And remember, if you are putting in long hours at the studio, then you will need more than one of these pick-me-up moments in your day. It’s okay to take two or three breaks if they benefit you.

Self Care Through Healthy Eating (Especially During Studio Hours)

Who has time for eating when running classes back to back? The answer here should be… you! It’s so easy to skimp on proper nutrition when working in a time pressured environment, however there are simple ways to combat the urge to grab for the nearest chocolate bar that require only a little organization.

Try planning your snacks. Think about the delicious, and nutritious, things that you would like to eat, if only you had more time. Make a note of them and pop them on your shopping list. It’s much easier to eat well when you have prepared for the moments of weakness! Your snack planning doesn’t have to be fancy – it just has to work for you.

An easy follow on from this is planning and preparing meals, so that when you arrive home from the studio at the end of the night you have something on hand that requires very little energy to prepare. This might sound like too much thinking in advance, but there is nothing like driving home from the studio at the end of the night knowing that you have something delicious waiting for you. It also means that you will fuel your body properly and will be less likely to succumb to cravings.

Finally, try setting aside time to eat at the studio. This time doesn’t have to be within the normal eating times (you’re too busy running the studio then!) but rather times that work for you. Know when the lulls are and capitalize on them by sustaining your body and your brain. Remember, eating well will also improve your clarity of thought.

Self-Care Through Maintaining Your Own Fitness And Well-Being

We all know the elements that create a healthy and happy lifestyle. Running a studio can take you to the edge of your energy and, at times, sanity! It’s really important that in the stress of delivering umpteen classes a week, you take some time for checking in with yourself.

Exercise is one of the first things to disappear if you don’t actively work on it. It’s easy to feel that you are conserving energy by not exercising, but we all know the rush of endorphins that we get through exercise, which boosts our energy levels. It might mean a brisk walk (or two) to increase your step count throughout the day. You might try something completely different for your body like swimming. Swimming is a great activity for those who demonstrate when teaching as it uses your body equally without adding to your weight-bearing load. Whatever you decide to do will only benefit your energy and fitness levels.

Don’t forget to check in with the people you care about who also care about you. When you are tired at the end of a long week, chatting with a loved one can feel like the last thing you want to do. This connection is so important to remind you that you are YOU, and not just the teacher or the studio owner, but someone with a life beyond the dance world.

The health of your studio relies on the health of you – physically, mentally and emotionally. The more conscious care that you can give yourself, the more energized and productive you and your studio will be.