Burnout is a very real outcome of stretching yourself too thin, and small business owners are especially susceptible. If you’re feeling drained, overwhelmed, or overworked, it’s critical to refresh your mind and intentionally make time for activities that will lower your stress, increase your energy and enthusiasm, and help you reignite your creative spark.

Here are 7 ways to recharge your creativity as a small business owner!

1. Change your environment

Do you work in the same space day after day? Change it up! When I feel like I’m in a productivity slump, I get my laptop and head to a nearby coffeeshop. Changing your environment will feed your brain with new sights and sounds! Let yourself feel the buzz of the (caffeinated!) people around you, and let it fuel your own creativity. Don’t want to go to a coffeeshop? Just move to another room in your home – or even try sitting on the other side of your sofa! It’s a little change that can have a big impact on your energy for the rest of the day.

2. Take your brain for a walk

According to Stanford research, the simple act of walking can increase your creativity. The study found that compared to sitting, creative output increased by an average of 60% when walking!

So the next time you feel stuck or unmotivated, go for a quick walk. It doesn’t have to be long, and you don’t have to break a sweat. You will return to your workspace with a fresh mindset and new ideas.

3. Create something with your hands

In our tech-driven world, it’s easy to spend the whole day (and night) watching, typing, or texting into a screen. But if you’re looking to relax and refill your energy and creativity reserves, consider doing something physical with your hands.

Countless studies have shown that working with your hands improves mental health, boosts your mood, and relieves stress. Cooking, knitting, drawing, sewing, rehabbing furniture, gardening, painting, playing an instrument, making a collage, working on a bike… all of these manual tasks that have a tangible reward actually produce endorphins and serotonin and reduce cortisol levels. Next time you need to spark joy, creativity, or inspiration, get crafty!

4. Make a date with your business bestie

So many small business owners are solopreneurs and spend the majority of their work day alone. But humans are social creatures and both introverts and extroverts need social interaction to thrive.

If you’re feeling drained or overwhelmed, make a date with a friend or another business owner. Meet for coffee or lunch and talk about your lives and your business. Share your wins, celebrate theirs, and brainstorm solutions to your challenges together. You will feel energized and happier when you return to work.

5. Start journaling

Journaling daily is one of the best habits I’ve ever implemented for myself and my business. There’s magic in getting all of those thoughts and troubles swirling around in your head onto paper. Journaling can help you organize your thoughts, process your feelings, reflect on both your personal and professional life, and discover new ideas.

I find that journaling is most effective first thing in the morning. You can set a timer or an amount of pages that you want to write each day, but that’s the only limitation you have. Write whatever comes into your head and don’t second guess yourself or edit your writing. Just get it all out! This clears your mind and makes it so much easier to focus on the day ahead.

6. Clean your workspace

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or in an unproductive rut, take a moment clear or reorganize your workspace. If you’re like me, you collect empty mugs, papers, sticky notes, snack bags and all sorts of things around your computer. Clearing the clutter gives you a sense of control over your environment, which can translate to feeling less anxious and more capable of taking on your to-do list.

To change the energy of the space, I also like to add a fresh element – like a small bunch of flowers, a new picture, or a candle. These small changes can help liven up the space and make it an inviting and welcoming place to work.

7. Schedule time for self-care

When’s the last time you got a massage, a pedicure, or a hair cut? Or went to a yoga class or read a book? What are those activities that you do for yourself that bring you the most joy? Stop what you’re doing and put one of those activities on your calendar right now.

Self-care is not selfish. You must replenish your energy and creativity by doing things that you love before you can pour that energy and creativity back into your business.

What do you do to rest and recharge?