How often do we find ourselves feeling drained, juggling too many things, and running on empty? The life of an entrepreneur can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster ride without the cotton candy. Amid the rush and rumble of chasing customer orders and managing social media, it's easy to forget about our own needs and wellbeing.

Consider the otter, a delightful creature that spends a third of its time preening and grooming. The otter doesn't spend its time in front of the mirror admiring its reflection but understands the importance of self-care. This behaviour is something that we, as business owners, should emulate. Too often, we view ourselves as machines that must keep the business wheel turning at all costs. But we need to remember that we aren't just business owners; we are people, too. And people, like otters, need to take care of themselves.

The solution is simpler than you might think: schedule time for ourselves in our diaries. This doesn't mean carving out huge chunks of the day. It starts with just 60 minutes a week. That's less time than it takes to watch an episode of your favourite TV series, but it can make a world of difference.

Dedicating this time allows you to tap back into the passion and desire that first spurred your business journey. Remember the early days, when your business was a mere twinkle in your eye? Recapturing that initial excitement and enthusiasm can inject fresh energy and drive into your business pursuits.

Despite the simplicity of this approach, it can be difficult to pull off in practice. Our busy schedules and unending to-do lists often make it seem impossible to set aside an hour for ourselves. However, if we don't give ourselves the necessary space to rest and rejuvenate, we risk running our businesses (and ourselves) into the ground.

A well-rested mind is a creative mind. And creativity isn't just the lifeblood of our businesses; it's the heartbeat, the rhythm, the melody that propels us toward success. To keep this creative beat alive, we need to dedicate time to activities we love, even if they don't seem directly related to our business goals.

You might find joy in brainstorming new ideas, designing new products, or just chatting with your customers. Whatever it is, dedicate one hour a week to doing just that. In this hour, make sure there are no interruptions or distractions; just you and that one thing that makes you forget about the ticking clock.

The otterly amazing thing is that the more you practice this form of self-care, the more you'll want to continue it. You'll start to look forward to these moments, viewing your business with fresh eyes and renewed energy. As we strive to take better care of ourselves, we become not just better business owners, but better versions of ourselves.

We all have the capacity to be more otter - to prioritise self-care, to enjoy what we do, and to remember that while we may run businesses, we also need to run, play, and enjoy our lives. By incorporating a little more otter into our routines, we can navigate the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship with more grace and ease. So let's crack open the crabs of life on our bellies and be more otter, because life is too short to be anything but otterly amazing.