Owning a business is an incredible achievement, but following your passion can be time consuming and stressful. Plus, it’s hard to switch off when there’s always something to be working on, like deadlines, customer relations, marketing, and finances. So how do you find time to relax when the to-do list never ends?

A work-life balance is essential to avoid burnout, because when you’re burning the candle at both ends, you don’t have time to take care of yourself.

Just as you would take care of the health of your employees, you should also take care of yourself as an employee of the company. If you’re completely burned out, you may not be the best business owner you can be.

Whether you own a small business or run a large corporation, creating a corporate wellness program for your employees can have significant health benefits. Additionally, including yoga in your corporate wellness program or daily work routine will improve productivity, focus, morale, and energy in the workplace.

Practicing yoga during your workday can:

  • Increases energy by preventing fatigue and awakening the mind and body.
  • Reduce stress through breathing practices and meditation.
  • Improve focus, concentration, creative thinking and decision-making skills by focusing the mind.
  • Improve overall health, flexibility, and boost fitness and immune system.

Adding a yoga class, stretching or meditation session is the perfect way to find time to relax in your busy work life.

Take a yoga class before work or at lunch

Starting the day with a yoga class is a great way to activate both body and mind. Yoga not only stretches muscles, increases blood flow, and improves flexibility, it also awakens and draws attention to the mind through the mind-body connection. As a result, you’ll feel more energized, alert, and ready to start your day.

Yoga helps stave off fatigue, so a lunchtime yoga class is an effective way to stop the post-lunch energy dip many of us experience.

Begin each day with a meditation.

Yoga focuses on mindful breathing and meditation, which clears the mind and opens it to new possibilities. Starting your day with meditation allows for a quiet, settled time to think about what you need to accomplish and how you want to do it. It can help put tasks in perspective and priority and enable better decision making and creative thinking.

Make time for breaks.

Allow yourself regular breaks throughout the day to complete a five- or ten-minute meditation, as needed, to gather your thoughts and relax.

Working hard at your desk for hours is less productive than taking breaks, and stretching or meditating is the perfect excuse.

Take deep breaths and stretch during times of stress.

Workplace stress significantly affects business owners and can affect your health, productivity, and morale and the passion you feel for the business. Also, illnesses like cold and flu, infections, even high blood pressure and heart disease can be caused by stress.

A yoga practice focuses on slow, deep breathing and relaxing stretches. As your body relaxes, so will your mind. Bringing these skills into your daily life means you can find healthy ways to deal with stress.

Maybe you’ve just received an urgent email, an employee has resigned or a deadline has changed, and your stress is mounting. Take a moment to stretch, breathe, lower your heart rate, and re-center yourself to tackle this issue head-on.

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