Self Care for Business Owners (That Doesn’t Involve Face Masks and Matcha)

Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate … self care is not a $72 candle, a jade roller you forgot to use, or another “treat yourself” purchase you justified after a hard week. (No matter WHAT Gwyneth Paltrow or Kourtney Kardashian say.) If those things genuinely bring you joy, great. No judgment … but for business owners, especially small business owners, self care has been aggressively rebranded into something that often creates more pressure instead of relief.

When you own a business, there is no true off switch. Your brain is always half “on.” You are thinking about cash flow in the shower, client emails while brushing your teeth, and new ideas at 2 a.m. Self care for business owners has to actually help regulate your nervous system, protect your energy, and make running your business sustainable. Otherwise it’s just aesthetic coping.

This is a guide to self care that is practical, mostly free, and actually helpful. No face masks required (unless you really want one.)

Why Business Owners Need a Different Definition of Self Care

Most self care advice is designed for people who clock out at 5 p.m. Business owners do not clock out. The mental load does not end when the laptop closes. You are the marketing department, the finance team, customer service, and leadership all wrapped into one person (typically.)

That means burnout sneaks up faster. It also means that self care cannot just be about relaxation. It has to be about boundaries, systems, and habits that protect your capacity long term.

Self care for business owners is not about escaping your life. It is about making your life easier to live.

Daily Self Care That Does Not Take an Hour

Daily self care works best when it is boring, repeatable, and realistic. You do not need a morning routine that looks like a lifestyle influencer’s highlight reel (“GRWM to ???? all day in my $1,200 ALO set and the Van Cleef bracelet my ex bought me.)

Start the day without immediately checking notifications
This one is free and wildly effective. Give yourself ten to fifteen minutes before opening email, Slack, DMs, or analytics. Drink water. Sit quietly. Stretch. Stare at the wall. Let your nervous system wake up before the demands start piling on.

Create a “brain dump” habit
At the start or end of the workday, write everything rattling around in your head. Tasks, ideas, worries, reminders. Get it out of your brain and onto paper or a notes app. This reduces mental clutter and helps you actually rest later.

Eat something that is not eaten standing up
This sounds small, but it matters. Sit down. Eat a real meal. No laptop. No phone if you can help it. Treat eating as a pause instead of a refueling pit stop.

Step outside once a day
Sunlight and movement help regulate mood and energy. You do not need a whole workout. A five minute walk counts. Standing outside counts. Touching grass is free and underrated. (As a WFH Minnesotan, I know it’s tough during these winter months, but, you CAN do this!)

Decide when you are done for the day
Even if the work is not done, you need an end point. Pick a time. Close the laptop. Your business will still exist tomorrow.

Weekly Self Care That Actually Resets You

Weekly self care is about recovery and reflection, not productivity disguised as rest.

Have a weekly no-input block
Choose a few hours where you do not consume content related to your industry. No podcasts. No courses. No business TikToks. Let your brain rest instead of constantly learning and optimizing.

Do a weekly reset that feels neutral, not punishing
This could be cleaning your workspace, organizing files, or reviewing the upcoming week. Keep it simple. The goal is clarity, not perfection. Don’t make it painful.

Move your body in a way that feels good, not impressive
Walking, stretching, dancing in your kitchen, yoga videos from YouTube. You do not need to monetize your movement or turn it into another goal.

Have one non-business conversation that goes deep
Talk to someone about life, feelings, or anything unrelated to work. Connection is a form of self care that often gets overlooked. (If you can swing therapy, please, try it, the majority of us can benefit from talk therapy, I understand it’s often times cost prohibitive, but take a look into it, you never know what you may have access to!)

Take one full day off social media if possible
This can feel scary, but it is incredibly grounding. The internet will survive without you for 24 hours.

Monthly Self Care That Prevents Burnout

Monthly practices help you zoom out and check in with yourself before things spiral.

Do a personal and business check-in
Ask yourself what felt heavy this month and what felt energizing. Notice patterns. You cannot fix what you do not acknowledge.

Audit your workload
Are you doing things out of habit that no longer serve you? Are there tasks you can simplify, automate, or drop entirely?

Revisit your boundaries
Client boundaries. Work hours. Availability. Boundaries are not static. They need maintenance.

Schedule one thing to look forward to
It does not need to be big. A dinner with friends. A day trip. A movie night. Anticipation is a powerful form of care.

Free Self Care Practices That Are Actually Powerful

Some of the most effective self care tools cost nothing at all.

Saying no without explaining yourself

Muting notifications after business hours

Unsubscribing from emails that stress you out

Letting yourself be bad at something new

Taking rest seriously instead of earning it

Letting go of urgency when it is not required

None of these look cute on Instagram, but they work.

Inexpensive Paid Self Care That Is Worth It

If you have a small budget, here are options that offer real return.

A therapy or coaching session once a month

A coworking day pass for a change of scenery

A book that has nothing to do with business

A simple planner or notebook you actually enjoy using

A recurring massage chair session or stretch class

Think about what reduces stress or saves energy, not what looks luxurious.

Luxury Self Care and Budget Friendly Alternatives

Luxury self care is not bad. It just should not be the only option.

Luxury: Weekend retreat
Alternative: A full unplugged day at home with no obligations

Luxury: High-end spa day
Alternative: Long bath, early bedtime, phone in another room

Luxury: Fancy vacation
Alternative: A staycation with strict no-work rules

Luxury: Personal assistant
Alternative: Automating one repetitive task or batching work

The goal is restoration, not spending.

The Biggest Lie About Self Care for Business Owners

The biggest lie is that self care should feel indulgent. For business owners, real self care often feels boring, preventative, and sometimes uncomfortable. It looks like setting boundaries. It looks like resting before you are exhausted. It looks like choosing sustainability over hustle.

If your self care leaves you feeling calmer, clearer, and more capable, it is working. Even if it does not involve candles.

You do not need to buy a better version of yourself to deserve rest. You do not need to optimize every moment of recovery. Self care for business owners is about protecting the person who runs the business. Without you, none of it works.

So drink water. Log off. Say no. Take the walk. Close the laptop … and remember that rest is not a reward. It is part of the job.