Focusing on Mental Wellness for Entrepreneurs: Prioritizing Responsibilities to Protect Your Energy

For entrepreneurs who wear many hats in their personal and professional lives - employer, community leader, parent, partner, sibling, friend - there is a tendency to take care of everything and everyone else without paying enough attention to one’s own mental and emotional wellness. A business cannot flourish if its founder does not prioritize their own well-being. Therefore, AWEC believes that women entrepreneurs must invest in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing the effects of stress that can arise from the competing pressures of balancing work and life as an entrepreneur.

Enter the new AWEC Wellness Initiative. AWEC, in partnership with Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri (Dr. May) of Pinnacle Medical Services (Nigeria) and AWEC Cohort 4 alumna is hosting a new series of collaborative sessions that support fellows’ wellness as a foundational tool in their entrepreneurial journey. In her debut session, Dr. May led Cohort 6 Fellows in a candid conversation about the significance of prioritizing responsibilities to protect one's energy. While time management is frequently discussed, the often-overlooked aspect of balancing one’s energy took center stage.

It’s unavoidable: we all have errands to run and tedious emails to send. For most of us, we can’t spend 24/7 lounging on the beach with a good book and a chilled bellini. As entrepreneurs, this is even more true. A leading expert on mental health, Dr. May spoke with Cohort 6 about the differences in energy fillers and drainers (being authentic versus people pleasing; being active and sunlight versus sitting around all day). She counseled Cohort 6 to be active in recognizing their energy drainers and offered tips on how to protect their energy:

  • Let go of things you can’t control
  • Avoid comparing yourself to others
  • Don’t be afraid to spend time alone
  • Speak kindly to yourself and to other people
  • Please yourself before trying to please others

Putting it all together, AWEC Fellows conducted their very own Energy Audit, where they analyzed a regular day full of work and life tasks, and reflected on energy fillers and drainers. Were there more energy drainers than fillers? How can we reduce our energy drainers and increase our energy fillers? 

Dr. May shared some benefits of protecting your energy, from enhancing productivity to improving decision-making to maintaining work-life integration, among others. For Dr. May, it’s okay to cancel a commitment. It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to take a day off. It’s okay to let go. There is no perfection, only constant improvement. Be aware of energy drainers, make small changes towards finding balance, and be mindful that you won’t always get it right. 

A seasoned speaker and presenter, Dr. May did not disappoint her audience, A testament to her expertise and delivery style, Cohort 6 Fellows shared some positive feedback:

  • “It was a good wake up call and I can now really reflect and prioritize and strategize accordingly.”
  • “I will remember that health is wealth and there is no health without mental health.”
  • “This session has opened my eyes. I have been drained emotionally over the past two months over things I can let go.”
  • “Thank you for this female safe space where we are learning how we can best be ourselves and manage our schedules properly. No more stress because of this insightful presentation.”

Thank you to Dr. May for sharing your expertise with AWEC! How will you prioritize responsibilities to protect your energy?

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