There’s a common phrase in home care. “Caring for the caregiver.” It’s used to stress the importance of self-care for care providers. Usually, people say it in reference to unpaid family caregivers or to professional home care service providers. But it’s just as applicable to home care franchise owners, especially for new owners who’ve recently purchased a home care franchise opportunity.

If you’re considering a home care franchise opportunity, self-care should be something you keep in mind. Here’s why, along with tips on how to incorporate self-care into the busy months ahead.

Home Care Franchise Opportunities Demand Time & Energy

Starting your own business is never easy. A new business demands time. It demands focus. It demands energy. A home care opportunity is no exception. As rewarding as ownership may be, it takes hard work to make your location a success.

When you’re pouring so much of yourself into a new business, self-care becomes a kind of paradox. To put your best self into your business, you need to focus on your personal well-being. But when your focus is your business, taking time for yourself can seem counter-productive.

A better way to think of things is to recognize self-care as an essential aspect of your new business. It’s maintenance for the most important component of your business: you. Consider the work-life of a professional athlete. Their job is on the field. But the time they put in at the gym is just as much a part of their workweek.

A home care franchise opportunity doesn’t require five high-intensity gym days a week. But if an hour of self-care means you can perform more efficiently throughout the rest of your week, it’s worth it.

Effective Self-Care Strategies for Home Care Franchisees

If you’re looking for ways to build self-care into your schedule, here are some strategies to start with:

Try 5 to 10 minutes of meditation each morning or evening (or both).
Take a five-minute break every hour so that your mind can rest and recharge.
Find ways to build light and medium intensity exercise into your workday.
Pay attention to nutrition to prevent fatigue, anxiety, and reduced focus.
Ask for support from family and/or friends during especially hectic work periods.
Try to consistently get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.
Spend 15 minutes every morning planning your day and organizing your workspace.

Finally, remind yourself that self-care isn’t something that you’re doing just for you. If you’ve purchased a home care franchise opportunity, it’s something you’re doing for your office staff, caregivers, and clients. Just as caregivers cannot provide quality care without first caring for themselves, you won’t be able to build a quality franchise without doing the same.

Looking for a home care franchise opportunity? Contact Visiting Angels^® at 800-365-4189 or request information online for information on franchise opportunities in your area.