You want to grow your local business and treat your employees and customers right. But sometimes it's hard to keep your mind focused on what you know you should be doing. We understand how easy it is to fall into doubt, worry, or even mental paralysis, especially when everything around you feels wrong somehow.

But we believe in you and in your business. That's why we've put together this list of tips to help you keep your mindset in the right place and stay focused on the things that matter most right now. Take a look.

Give Yourself a Break

If your mental intake is focused on doom, gloom, and uncertainty, your mindset isn't going to be a healthy one. Instead, give yourself permission to step away from current news, and open your mind to healthier input. That might be anything from funny YouTube videos to a chapter of a novel you've been meaning to read for years. You'll return to your tasks with a healthier mindset and renewed energy.

For more mental help supports and resources check our Main Street Recovery project click here

Focus on Helping Others

Thinking about others and what they need is a sure-fire way to get your mindset right. Whether it's overtipping your food delivery person with a kind note, checking in with the cleaning staff at your business to make sure they're okay, or driving by a child's house to wave them a happy birthday, you'll feel stronger when you express generosity and thoughtfulness to others.

Take Good Care of Your Body

It's easy to think of your mind as something separate from your body, but times of crisis make it clear how very interconnected they are. Stop every hour to spend 30 seconds breathing deeply. Even if you can't go to the gym, take a walk or do some light exercises at home. While a little comfort food is understandable, don't neglect the veggies and fruits that give you the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay healthy. And allow yourself to go to bed a bit earlier or sleep in a bit later to help boost your immune system as well as your mindset.

Write Things Down

Some people use lists to stay in control of their world — and it's also a good way to keep your mind focused. More broadly, it can also be helpful to write down how you're feeling in a time when everything feels a bit off. Write down the best and worst-case scenarios to keep your mind from spinning in circles, or start a journal to chronicle what you're going through. Often the act of writing something down on paper (or on a screen) can help you purge the associated feelings and get your mind back in gear.

When you adjust your mindset by focusing outward rather than on what seems wrong, you improve not only your own sense of focus but also your relationships with those around you. Bypassing the negative messages that sometimes seem to assault your mind to focus on the positive instead can help you face whatever comes next with hope and determination.

For resources and tips to help you market your small business check out MainStreetRecovery.ca  An initiative of the St. John's Board of Trade, support provided by the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
 
Accredited nationally with distinction, the St. John’s Board of Trade is a non-partisan, business advocacy organization. The principal voice of business for members in the St. John’s area. Its mission is to improve the local business climate, enhancing members’ ability to do business through advocacy and member services. stjohnsbot.ca