Hey Luxe Queen!

Welcome to your weekly Luxe Queen Letter! 

This week, we're all about the power of hitting pause. We discuss why rest isn't just good for you. It's essential for keeping your business thriving. Plus, we've got some super practical tips on how to sneak more downtime into your crazy schedule.

Also, don’t miss out on our chat with Meghann Conter from The Dames. It's packed with golden nuggets on building a supportive community for women in business. Check out the full video to get the scoop!

Grab your favorite drink, kick back, and enjoy the insights. Thanks for hanging out with us today!

Stay Luxe,

Luxe Trivia

Who founded an e-commerce non-toxic, subscription service for diapers and baby wipes?

(check your answer at the bottom)

In today’s email:

• Luxe Health: Slow Down to Speed Up

• Luxe Business: Is it Time to Collaborate? (video)

Luxe Health

The Essential Role of Rest for Women Business Owners

The quest for success often translates into long hours, constant connectivity, and the unrelenting pressure to perform. Neglecting rest can have detrimental effects on both personal well-being and business performance. 

Understanding the importance of rest, recognizing the consequences of neglecting it, and implementing strategies to incorporate more downtime can significantly enhance an entrepreneur's effectiveness and longevity.

The Consequences of Inadequate Rest

Burnout: Continuous work without adequate rest can lead to burnout, which is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Burnout not only affects your health but also diminishes your capacity to run your business effectively.

Decision Fatigue: Overworking and under-resting can impair judgment and make decision-making more challenging. This can lead to poor business decisions that may have long-term negative effects.

Decreased Productivity: While it might seem counterintuitive, overworking actually decreases productivity over time. Fatigue slows down cognitive processes, leading to slower reaction times and a higher propensity for errors.

Tips for Incorporating More Rest

1. Establish a Routine: Set a consistent bedtime and wake-up time to regulate your body's clock. This consistency will improve the quality of your sleep, making your rest more restorative.

2. Prioritize Quality Sleep: Ensure your sleeping environment is conducive to rest. Consider factors like mattress comfort, room temperature, noise levels, and light exposure. Investing in quality bedding can also significantly improve sleep quality.

3. Power Down Before Bed: Create a pre-sleep routine that involves winding down without screens. The blue light emitted by phones, tablets, and computers can disrupt sleep patterns, so try reading a book or practicing relaxation exercises instead.

4. Learn to Delegate: Outsourcing less critical tasks or delegating them to trusted team members can free up your schedule, reduce stress, and allow for more downtime.

5. Schedule Downtime: Just as you schedule meetings and work tasks, schedule regular breaks and stick to them. Whether it's a short daily walk or a weekly no-work day, having scheduled downtime can help ensure you take the rest you need.

Acknowledging Barriers to Rest

It's important to recognize that certain factors, such as the fear of falling behind, economic pressures, or even societal expectations, can make it difficult for women entrepreneurs to take adequate rest. Addressing these issues may require setting clearer boundaries, improving time management, or seeking support from peers or mentors.

While the demands of entrepreneurship are high, integrating adequate rest into your routine is crucial for sustained success.

Rest is not just a personal indulgence, it's a fundamental building block for long-term business resilience and vitality.

Luxe Business

The Power of Collaboration: A Conversation with Meghann Conter of The Dames 

In our latest Luxe Queen Letter Conversation, we had the privilege of sitting down with Meghann Conter, the visionary behind The Dames, an organization dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and business professionals. Our conversation unearthed valuable insights into the power of community and collaboration, 

Meghann shared her journey, starting from her initial venture as a marketing consultant to founding The Dames, an organization that thrives on creating spaces for women to support each other through growth and challenges in business.

She stressed the importance of not just building a network but fostering a community where competition is replaced with collaboration.

Key Highlights from the Interview:

• The Origin and Mission of The Dames: Meghann discussed how The Dames started with the mission to help women scale their businesses from six to seven figures, emphasizing the need for a sustainable business model and easier access to capital for women.

• The Unique Model of The Dames: Unlike traditional networking groups, The Dames focuses on 'power partnering'—a concept where members collaborate to elevate each other without the pressure of sales pitches. This approach fosters genuine connections and mutual growth.

• Growth and Adaptation: Meghann highlighted how The Dames adapted over the years, particularly how the shift to a global virtual platform in 2017 helped them expand and support their members more effectively, especially during the pandemic.

• Future Plans: Exciting developments are on the horizon for The Dames, with new chapters opening and an enhanced focus on providing targeted resources to meet members at their point of need, whether they're early in their business journey or scaling to new heights.

• Personal Reflections on Women in Business: Meghann encouraged women to reflect on their views about other women in business, suggesting that overcoming personal and societal limitations can lead to more profound collaboration and success.

This interview is a must-watch for anyone interested in learning how to navigate the complexities of women's entrepreneurship with grace and strategic acumen. Meghann's insights are not only inspiring but also a testament to the power of community in achieving business success.

Watch the full interview in our video section and connect with Meghann Conter and The Dames through their website The Dames or on LinkedIn to learn more about their empowering platform.

Luxe Trivia Answer

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba co-founded The Honest Company with a mission to provide safe, eco-friendly products for babies and homes. Motivated by her own experiences as a mother and the lack of options for non-toxic, healthy products, Alba helped create a brand that valued transparency and social responsibility.

Source: Forbes.com