Why Taking Care of Yourself Is the Most Overlooked Business Strategy
Oct 27, 2025
The Real Cost of Putting Yourself Last
Ten years into entrepreneurship, I’ve learned a lot of lessons — some through wins, and many through hard seasons. But the one that might have taken me the longest to truly understand is this:
If you don’t take care of you, nothing else works.
I know that sounds simple, maybe even cliché. But when I look back over my last decade in business, there were long stretches of time where I put myself last — behind my clients, my team, my kids, my partner, and my inbox. And every single time, it caught up with me.
For years, I told myself my business had to come first because it paid the bills. Then came my kids, my partner, and somewhere at the very bottom of the list, me — surviving off scraps of time and energy. Eventually, that became unsustainable. I hit a wall, and something had to change.
Today, my list looks different:
Me. My partner. My kids. My business.
And while that might not be perfect in every season, it’s the only version that actually works. Because your business should exist to serve you, not the other way around.
Redefining What “Success” Really Means
Yes, I’m ambitious. Yes, I have big dreams. And I know you do too — that’s probably why you’re reading this.
But those dreams shouldn’t come at the expense of your happiness or health.
We talk a lot about hustle, strategy, and scaling. But what about stability? What about showing up as a whole, healthy human for your clients, your kids, and yourself?
Because the truth is, entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a business — it’s about building a life. And that means asking yourself, Is this decision actually serving me, the person behind the business?
The Wake-Up Call
A few years ago, right after I closed my gym and was still reeling from the pandemic, I found myself completely frozen — emotionally, mentally, and physically. I was in survival mode.
During a therapy session, my therapist asked me, “Laura, what are your basic needs as a human being?”
And I couldn’t answer her.
I’d been so focused on everyone else — my clients, my family, my business — that I hadn’t stopped to think about what I needed to simply feel okay.
So I sat down and identified my core four non-negotiables — my bare minimums for feeling human again:
- Sleep – Real, restorative sleep, not five hours and a coffee.
- Good food – Meals that nourish me, not leftovers or kids’ crusts.
- Exercise – Not for aesthetics, but to move energy and feel strong.
- Connection – Real conversations with people who light me up.
When I’m not tending to those four things, I notice it. My mood dips. My patience shortens. My creativity fades. Those are my cues that I’ve fallen out of alignment with what I actually need.
What Are Your Core Needs?
If you’re reading this and feeling called out — good. That means it’s time to pause and ask yourself the same question my therapist asked me:
What do I actually need, as a human being, to feel okay?
Not as a business owner. Not as a mom. As you.
Maybe for you it’s time outside. Maybe it’s solitude, journaling, laughter, or creative stimulation. Whatever your “core four” looks like, get honest about it — and then make space for it.
And yes, there will be seasons where one or two of those things slip through the cracks. New babies, busy launches, tough seasons — I get it. But even then, you deserve to advocate for yourself. Ask for support. Ask for rest. You’re not weak for needing it — you’re wise.
The Entrepreneur’s Long Game
Entrepreneurship isn’t a sprint; it’s a lifelong practice.
And the only way to make it 10, 20, 30 years in is by taking care of the person steering the ship — you.
You are the heart and soul of your business. If you don’t protect your energy and your health, nothing else works.
It’s not selfish to put yourself first — it’s strategic.
And if you’re still telling yourself you “can’t ask” for what you need, I’ll challenge you to look closer. Is that really true? Or is it a story you’re telling yourself?
Because the truth is: the people who love you want you whole, not burnt out.
The Bottom Line
Your business can wait.
Your body, your mind, and your peace can’t.
Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury — it’s the foundation that everything else is built on.
So, lesson four?
Take care of you.
It took me a decade to learn that one — I hope it takes you less.
