Nurture what you’re growing

Why your business (and you) need care to thrive

No matter what stage of life or business you’re in, growth always asks for one thing first – care.

This week, self-care was top of my list. I’d planned to spend time with my kids and take things slow, but life had other ideas. Stress crept in, and by Thursday I was wiped out with a migraine. Not quite the week I’d hoped for.

So instead of forcing my way through, I stepped back. A morning of Reiki with my lovely guru Rachel at Attitude Wellbeing, followed by a long, rainy walk in the woods, gave me the reset I needed. That pause reminded me how important it is to nurture yourself before you can nurture anything else.

And then I looked back at this photo – me and my sister comparing “bumpkins” at the local pumpkin patch with our kids. It made me smile, but it also made something click.

Growing a business isn’t all that different from growing a baby. Both take time, patience, and energy. Both have moments of discomfort, late nights, and unexpected hiccups. And both need space to grow in their own time.

You can’t rush a baby, and you can’t rush meaningful growth either.

Growth takes care, not chaos

When you’re building something – a business, an idea, or even a new version of yourself – it needs consistent care, not constant pressure.That means knowing when to push and when to pause. It means accepting that progress isn’t always visible, and that the quiet, steady days matter just as much as the busy ones.

In the same way a healthy pregnancy depends on nourishment and rest, a healthy business depends on sustainable effort and self-care. You are the vessel. If you’re drained, distracted, or burnt out, everything you’re growing will feel the impact.

Why nurture matters

We all juggle a lot in life, that might look like illness, moving house, school holidays, caring for family, or just trying to stay afloat when everything lands at once. In business, it could mean launching something new, diversifying your services, training a team member, or implementing new systems.

Both sides require energy. And if you’re constantly pouring from an empty cup, neither will get the best of you.

That’s why nurture matters. It’s about recognising that growth doesn’t happen in isolation – your personal wellbeing and your business success are connected. The steadier and healthier you feel, the stronger the decisions you’ll make, and the better your business will perform.

Nurture isn’t indulgent. It’s strategy.

The takeaway

If you’re building something right now, give it the space, time, and care it deserves – and give yourself the same. Whether you’re launching, refining, or simply keeping things ticking, be intentional.

Because the things we grow with care are the ones that last.

A task you can do this week: Choose one thing you can do to nurture your business and yourself. Maybe it’s blocking out time for creative planning, taking a proper lunch break, saying no to something that drains you, or revisiting an idea that lights you up.

Small, mindful actions add up – and they’re what keep both you and your business growing strong.