Making self care a priority
Running a balloon business is physically demanding, mentally exhausting and emotionally draining… sometimes all before lunch. So when Shelby of Sunny Day Party Art wanted to record an episode about self care for balloon business owners, I jumped at the chance to get real about what that actually looks like for people like us.
Shelby is a returning guest, a solo mom based in Lawrence, Kansas, and someone who has been open about her own mental health journey. She's not a therapist; she's a balloon decorator who has figured out what keeps her functioning. And the strategies she shares are so simple that we can incorporate them in a day. Here's what we discussed:
You Don't Have to Earn Rest
This one hit me hard. Shelby talked about how she used to feel like she had to earn the right to rest; like if she hadn't been productive enough, she didn't deserve to sit down. And I do that too. Vacations stress me out because all I can think about is the inbox waiting for me when I get home. But rest isn't a reward - it's a requirement. You literally cannot run on an empty tank, busy season or not.
Small Steps Beat Big Plans
Shelby's approach to self care isn't about booking a spa retreat or taking a week off. It's about asking yourself one question: what is one small thing I can do right now to help myself? Drink a glass of water, go for a walk, put your phone on do not disturb and go to bed. She also shared the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique for those moments when your emotions are running high; name five things you can see, four you can hear, three you can feel, two you can smell and one you can taste. It sounds basic, but it works.
Reduce the Friction
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was about reducing friction; those tiny annoyances you keep tolerating because fixing them feels like it'll take too long. I confessed that I wore the wrong contact lens prescription for years because I just kept putting off the eye doctor. Shelby pointed out that every one of those little things adds stress to your day. Her fix? Habit stacking, auto-replenishing supplies and making decisions once so you stop burning mental energy on things that should be automatic.
Ask for Help Before You're Drowning
Shelby also got honest about how hard it is to ask for help; both in business and in life. She recently hired teardown techs and brought on someone to inflate for her, which has been a total game changer. But she also talked about asking friends for help and not waiting until you're fully underwater to do it. You don't have to be in the deep end to raise your hand. You can be in the shallow end just struggling a little, and that's enough. More than likely, your friends and family will feel honored to help.
Your Business Is for You
Shelby said something toward the end of our conversation that I always think about, too: "My business is built to fit into my life, not the other way around." We spend so much time serving our clients that we forget this whole thing is supposed to serve us too. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish... it's how you keep going.
Listen to the full episode for all of Shelby's strategies and a very honest conversation about what it actually takes to stay well in this industry.
