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As a solo founder, things that are “nice-to-haves” for others are table stakes for your emotional health, stamina, and ability to execute effectively. For the last couple of years as a solo founder, these are the things that I found to be essential [THREAD]:
CREATE COMMUNITY. Building a company is lonely. Without a co-founder, it's important to develop a community for yourself. Find founders at a similar stage and meet on a bi-weekly basis. Get advice, share your struggles, and celebrate your wins. You will grow together!
HIRE FOR YOUR WEAKNESSES. You are one person, and cannot do it all. The magical thing is this: you can hire an entire team around your weaknesses. These are things that you aren’t good at, or importantly, *don’t like doing*. You’ll be happier, and your team will be stronger.
PRIORITIZE MENTAL HEALTH. As the sole leader of your company, there's a pressure to be at the top of your game at all times. The emotional load can be intense, and it helps when you can share it with someone. Weekly therapy helps unpack those feelings, and relieves pressure.
PICK ONE "GOOD THING." Sleep, exercise, meditation, and healthy eating are all good things. But, it feels difficult to do them all. Pick one "good thing" that has an outsized impact on your performance / mood. Never compromise on it, and build up to the others over time.
INVEST IN YOUR TEAM. Your team is as close as you'll get to a co-founder. Invest in them that way! Schedule weekly 1-on-1s, receive and deliver feedback every time, and provide opportunities for growth. If / when things don’t go according to plan, you want them in your corner.
SET BOUNDARIES. There is always more to do, but you need time when you’re not “on the clock” to prevent burn-out. Set boundaries to re-charge, like no checking emails after 8PM. Boundaries will get thrown out the window sometimes (fundraising!) but stick with them otherwise.
ADOPT A MARATHON MINDSET. There are days when you feel like working late, or weekends where you’re excited to catch up on projects. If you have the energy and momentum, use it. If not, don’t push it. Rest. Preserve your energy for the marathon.
FINAL THOUGHTS: When you're part of a founding team, you have some flexibility and can cut each other some slack - but solo founders are held to higher standards. You are doing the emotional (and often mental) work that's usually spread out between two or three people.
It's a lot! Take care of yourself, and you'll be better equipped to take care of your team, your investors, and your customers. 
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