It’s been a rough year for many us. Being a small business owner during COVID has had many ups and downs, especially for auto repair shop owners. As the weather gets warmer and summer is approaches, it’s important to take some time to recharge. Summer is usually a busy season for car repairs, so let’s establish some good routines now before we get lost in the hustle and bustle.
It doesn’t have to be anything complicated, just focusing on the basics can do wonders. Like these plants springing up all around, we need lots of water, sunshine and sleep (Yes, plants sleep!).
Drink Up
Proper hydration is important (no, coffee doesn’t count!). At the very least, try to get the age-old recommendation of 64 oz each day. But if you weigh more than 128lbs, that’s not enough. The true recommendation (according to WebMD) is about half your weight in ounces. So, if you weigh 200 lbs, you should be drinking at least 100 oz per day. Consistently drinking enough water will increase your energy levels, help with digestion, and improve physical performance, among other things.
Get Some Sun
Make sure you’re getting adequate vitamin D. You could of course take a supplement, but did you know that most of the year you only need about 10-20 minutes outside per day to get enough vitamin D? Even on a cloudy day! Fun fact, some doctors even prescribe the outdoors for chronic disease, mental health, and well-being.
Prioritize Your Sleep
As for sleep, no one ever feels like they get enough. Try getting in the 7-9 hour range each night. Less than that and the body’s ability to function properly begins to decline. There are several free and cheap apps that can help lull you into a blissful sleep. Check out a list of the current best according to sleepassociation.org.
Prioritize Yourself
Eat well. Proper nutrition isn’t hard, it just may take a little extra planning than say, grabbing a bag of chips when you’re hungry. Just like vehicles, we need to have the right fuel to function properly.
Get moving. Not just for physical health but also for mental health and decompressing, stress reduction, and better sleep. Even garage-kept classics need to be driven around occasionally.
Have some fun. What do you like to do when you’re not working? Fishing? Golfing? Hanging with your family? No matter what it is, schedule it like you would a doctor appointment. Or a car repair. Otherwise time will fly by and it will never get done. When it comes time to retire, what would you like to be doing? Do it now! Finding your life’s purpose is an integral part to your happiness and success.
It seems so easy on paper, but taking care of yourself takes a real commitment. If it were that easy, everyone would be in good health and great shape! The key is not changing too many things at once and getting overwhelmed. Pick one thing and make that change. Stick to it until it becomes second-nature. Then pick another to implement. Slowly, you will create long-lasting good habits.
