As an Etsy seller, it can be really easy to justify working constantly, especially if you’re building a new shop. Maybe you’re trying to leave your 9-5. It could be you just took the leap and are now full time with your shop! Or, maybe you’re a seasoned seller and the orders just don’t stop coming. Now, instead of working 9-5 it feels more like you’re working…well…always!

While we totally understand feeling like you have zero time to waste and taking care of yourself has taken a back seat because you have orders to fill, we want to encourage you to not go down this path for too long. Today, we’re chatting through some simple and easy ways you can implement self-care for your body and mind! Because a healthy shop owner leads to an even healthier shop and ultimately to more Etsy shop success.

You can only do this for so long

We get it. You are SUPER busy. And it may be that you’re slammed with not just your Etsy shop, but with life in general. More than likely, if you’re an Etsy shop owner, you have a TON going on. You might be working another job or caring for your family and trying to balance working your Etsy shop from home. Whatever your unique situation, we understand that really taking care of YOU is probably not at the top of your priority list. And while it’s nice to have people around you tell you to take care of yourself, you might not have the time for a spa day or a getaway trip. Plus, things are a little different at the moment (hey thanks 2020) and you might be learning how to take care of yourself in a more simplified way than you’re used to.  

Just some reminders

While the tips we want to chat about are not groundbreaking, they just may serve to be reminders of what we all should be doing. And we can all use a reminder at times, especially when we’re running in a million different directions at once. What we want most is to remind you that while we understand you’re crazy busy, (and we’re not telling you to completely change everything about this right now) eventually, you’ll either have to choose to slow down, or you’ll be forced to.

You cannot mentally sustain going constantly and never slowing down. Our bodies and brains are simply not built for this. So, making a few easy changes to care for your body and mind could be the key to not burning out and continuing to stay busy, but in a healthy way! 

Make like Rip Van Winkle 

Take it from someone who knows what it’s like to burn the midnight oil. Staying up super late and getting up early isn’t great. Sleep is really important for both our bodies and our minds. Sleep helps to regulate the chemicals in our brain that transmit information. These chemicals are important in managing our overall emotions and if we’re not getting enough sleep, we can start to act and feel super wonky. 

If you already struggle with depression or anxiety, not getting enough sleep can make those feelings even stronger. For myself, when I don’t get enough sleep my anxiety the next day can feel paralyzing. So I’ve learned that I function best with at least 7 hours of sleep, and do my best to make that a top priority.

We are what we eat

Honestly, how easy is it to just pour a bowl of sugary cereal or grab a donut or something else sweet if it’s laying around? For me, snacks are basically life! So being really conscious of what I’m eating is important. Eating well isn’t just important for our bodies, but it’s also important for our mental clarity. I recently cut back on foods that I suspected were causing anxiety in my body and low and behold, whenever I try to eat these foods now, I definitely notice an increase in anxiety and I struggle to stay focused and on task.

Eating whole foods and cutting back on caffeine and sugar (I am a HUGE coffee fan) have made a noticeable difference in my productivity and overall mood. Now, instead of reaching for chips (even though I still indulge), I try to keep fruit and plenty of easy and healthy snacks around.

Sunshine for the win

I don’t know about where you live, but where I’m at, it’s hot as blazes currently! While I don’t spend hours in the blazing sun, I do try and get outside at least a couple times a day. Stepping away from my screen and sitting on my front porch for even five minutes in the sun helps me to refocus and hop back into work with ease. Bonus, sunlight is a GREAT source of vitamin D and vitamin D is really important for our bodies and our brains. It helps our brains release chemicals like endorphins and serotonin (yay for happy chemicals). 

Not that I recommend this method, but a small black cat recently showed up on our doorstep and adopted us. We decided to name him Lord Henry. Lately, I’ve taken to sitting on my porch in the morning while drinking a cup of tea and can now tell my friends and family that I take my tea with Lord Henry every morning. 😉 Seriously though, sitting outside with this little cat each morning (even for just a few minutes) gets me some beautiful morning sun and a solid mood boost which allows me to tackle my day head-on. 

Take 5

Take time to step away. Seriously! Forgetting to take a quick break from making your products or during the hours you spend on your computer will most definitely lead to increased stress and anxiety. You must allow yourself moments to decompress and give your body and mind a break. 

I am the absolute worst at this! So hi, this is me preaching to the choir! But, when I DO actually take a break, when I stand up and go for a short walk, or sit on my porch, or take ten minutes to pull the weeds out of one side of my flower bed in the middle of the day, it really is amazing how much more focused I am when I come back to work. Going constantly and not allowing yourself time to breathe is not healthy and will ultimately lead to burn out.

Identify your small joys

Just like tea and Lord Henry, it truly is the small things in life that can make us the happiest. If you can identify what your small joys are and try to make them a priority in your day, this will make a HUGE difference! Is it stopping to meditate for 10 minutes? Is it taking half an hour to watch a Friends episode? Maybe it’s taking 15 minutes to read the new Twilight book (or any book)? Whatever it is that makes you smile, make it a priority in your day to do this. You are worth it!

Drink, drink, drink!

As they say, you’re basically a houseplant with complicated emotions! So take your glass of water and drink it in the sun. 😉 It will help both your emotions and your body. And seriously, if you want to increase your energy, relieve fatigue, improve your focus and concentration, be more alert, flush out toxins, improve your skin, basically just find a miracle worker, drink enough (which means more) water! 

Final thoughts

Hopefully these serve as good reminders of what you should be doing and are just simple and easy ways you can take care of yourself. What are ways you currently take care of your mental and physical health as an Etsy seller? Do you find it easy or difficult while working from home? Let us know below!

Happy taking care of yourself, everyone!