{"id":348,"date":"2015-03-09T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2015-03-09T10:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/?p=348"},"modified":"2020-10-05T15:53:59","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T20:53:59","slug":"activities-improve-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/activities-improve-business\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Non-Work Activities to Improve Your Small Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

Small-business owners reportedly work twice as much as their employees with some of them putting in over 50 hours per week.1<\/sup> Most small-business owners go into business to gain freedom, but end up working more than ever. If you own a small business, you likely work these insane hours and have little time for leisure, much less hobbies.<\/p>\n

Small-business owners, entrepreneurs and overall career-driven individuals spend most of their time doing work-related things like networking, reading business blogs or honing a new skill. But what non-work activities could you do to improve your business even more? Many studies suggest that challenging your mind in different ways may expand your creativity, mental agility and emotional intelligence.2 <\/sup>Check out these five non-work activities that have been proven to develop skills for business owners:<\/p>\n

Read Fiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are over 400,000 books published each year in the United States. And while you may devour books written about your industry, when was the last time you read a classic novel? Studies show that reading fiction enhances a reader\u2019s ability to understand people\u2019s emotions in the real world.2<\/sup> So while reading bestsellers about bettering your business is excellent for professional growth, try not to neglect your emotional health.<\/p>\n

Expand Your Wardrobe <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a look at your ensemble. Why did you put on that specific pair of shoes? What statement are you making with that shirt? A series of studies have shown that other people\u2019s expectations appear to be partially based on your attire.2 <\/sup>So when you wake and are picking out your outfit, dress like the professional you aspire to be.<\/p>\n

Travel Often<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of the most common ways to increase your innovative thought process is by traveling more frequently, both near and far! A recent study has shown that even by daydreaming about foreign places leads to more creative ideas and various solutions to existing problems.2 <\/sup>So daydream away and book your bus, train or airplane ticket to explore a new and interesting culture.<\/p>\n

Become the Customer<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Do you know what its like to be your<\/em> customer? A common goal for small-business owners is to understand their customers better. Although brainstorming with your staff about what the customer wants is helpful, the benefit of going out and gaining experience as a consumer is unmatched. Learning and applying subtle techniques in your customer service will make a huge difference.<\/p>\n

Sleep In <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Those 12-hour workdays are draining. In order to perform well throughout the day, sleeping enough at night is essential. Studies show that after several days of skipping a good night\u2019s rest, a human being\u2019s attention span and overall mental abilities are impaired.2<\/sup> So although burning the midnight oil is sometimes necessary, try not to make it a habit.<\/p>\n

References<\/p>\n

1<\/sup>O\u2019Callahan, T. (2006 April 13). Business owners work twice as much as employees, survey finds. <\/em>Retrieved February 25, 2015 from http:\/\/www.inc.com\/news\/articles\/200604\/overworked.html<\/a><\/p>\n

2<\/sup>Bailis, R. (2014 June 21). Non-work activities to improve your business success. <\/em>Retrieved February 25, 2015 from http:\/\/quickbooks.intuit.com\/r\/psychology-of-success\/non-work-activities-improve-business-success<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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