Running a business is challenging. It is easy to experience burnout when you are the sole decision-maker. Because of that, practicing mindfulness while conducting business is just as important at the office as it is on your yoga mat.

Finding opportunities to take a breath, stay in the present moment, and practice gratitude can help you avoid the mental overload that comes with being an entrepreneur. Not only doing so offer you a brain break, but it can also help you to better manage your business and keep all the moving pieces running smoothly.

Know When to Ask for Help

Knowing how and when to ask for help can be difficult for anyone but especially for business owners. Many entrepreneurs go into business for themselves because they prefer to be their own boss, so it can be a struggle for an entrepreneur to ask for a helping hand. However, recognizing that you cannot do everything yourself doesn’t frame you as a failure somehow.

Practicing mindfulness can help you recognize where your strengths and weaknesses are. As humans, we are not all-knowing creatures. Our knowledge has many limitations. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to be a master of all things.

Delegating tasks, such as digital marketing for your business, is one less thing on your plate that can be left to professionals. Accounting, marketing, and social media management are all niche markets from which you could recruit professional help. Knowing an aspect of your business is being managed by an expert can allow you to more fully devote your attention to other areas of your business that require your expertise.

Intentional Finances

To best prepare your business for success, you must be able to have realistic financial goals. Entrepreneurs must be able to anticipate, recognize, and act quickly on inefficiencies in their business. The stress of managing business finances is enough to have you seeking out restorative yoga at the end of each day, but you can take some steps throughout your day to manage stress and be more mindful.

Keeping track of expenses can be a mindful practice, particularly when it comes to finding sources of waste in your supply chain. Think of focusing on such financial tasks as a form of meditation. Devoting time and space at least once a month will empower you with the knowledge of where you can cut costs or better manage your spending.

As a business owner, there are likely a number of automated monthly fees deducted from your business account. Be sure you are not wasting money by paying for services you do not actively use. Dedicating a block of time each day to mindful money management will ensure you aren’t calculating costs during your morning meditation practice.

Of course, as noted above, you shouldn’t rely on yourself alone. Depending on the size and scope of your business, it may be prudent to have an internal auditor examine the financial state of your organization. Unlike an external auditor, who will report their findings to the public, you can count on an internal auditor to keep your business’ finances efficient, compliant with regulations, and completely above board.

Mindful Communication

Meditation practices help to calm our minds to find inner peace. This can be a useful tool when applied to communication with clients, potential investors, and business partners. The stress of making business decisions or navigating customer service issues can cause anxiety. This anxiety can lead to poor decision-making or ineffective communication.

Implementing the stillness and breathing techniques you use in your meditation practice may enable you to revisit that space of inner peace and move forward with ease. Ideally, it will also remind you to integrate Metta mindfulness.

In business interactions, we are capable of being blind to the human element of conducting business. We fail to connect on a personal level with those we are navigating contracts with. We focus on the transaction instead of the person we are interacting with. Some of the most successful business owners are those who have the ability to connect with the individual.

Gratitude and Generosity

One of the most fulfilling meditations is the idea that we are enough — that we have all we need. Remembering to count our blessings may help you to feel more grounded at times when business feels stressful or overwhelming. Celebrate the small victories. You can do this alone on a day-to-day basis or enjoy doing so with your entire staff.

The bottom line of conducting business is to generate a profit so you can continue to stay in business, right? Although growing your business is what defines success for most, don’t forget to give back. Buddhist monks depend on the generosity of others as a lesson in karma. Giving in the now is beneficial for your karmic repercussions in the future.

Integrating generosity into your mindful business practices is more than just donating money; it is also freely giving your time. Provide ample volunteer opportunities for yourself and your employees. Creating a company culture of giving is a way to lead by example while healing your karma through the same process.

A major part of being a mindful entrepreneur is setting aside time for self-care. Integrating some of the following practices will allow you more space and time to be intentional throughout your daily routines:

• Set aside thinking time. Don’t spend this time checking or responding to emails or designing new contracts. Simply sit and think about your current business practices and how they can be improved upon.
• Get enough sleep. Being rested will empower you to be more patient, thoughtful and in the space of mind to be the best leader you can be.
• Keep a tidy desk to minimize clutter. A clutter-free desk facilitates a clutter-free mind.
• Be confident in your decisions but do not make significant decisions while in a heightened emotional state.

Whether you are in the conceptualization period or in the depths of managing your own business, practice being a mindful entrepreneur. The rewards for both your professional and personal life could be great.