A 2022 study revealed that over 40% of small business owners had experienced burnout in the month leading up to the survey. Almost 50% of those polled cited rising inflation rates as the most significant source of stress.
There are several challenges facing business owners. It can be extremely difficult to manage stress and nourish mental health when you have a hectic schedule and obstacles to overcome. In this guide, we’ll provide some tips to help you enhance well-being and get through tough periods.
Take control of your schedule
A lack of time is one of the most common reasons business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs feel stressed and anxious. If you feel like you’re always in a rush, or there are too many plates to keep spinning, it can be overwhelming. Take control of your schedule and organize your time in a way that provides a healthier balance between work, socializing and taking time out to relax and unwind. Block out hours to take a break or go to a spin class or see friends, as well as inputting meetings and work events into your diary.
It’s essential to set aside time for yourself. Working long hours isn’t always productive. If you are tired, you can’t concentrate or you’ve lost motivation, you won’t achieve as much, no matter how long you spend at your desk.
Seek professional advice
Many business owners experience stress as a result of factors that are not directly linked to the day-to-day running of their companies. Examples include poor health, a breakdown in relationships and financial issues. If you’re going through hard times, seek professional advice. Take advantage of expert help and don’t be afraid to let people help you to navigate challenging circumstances. If you’re going through a break-up, for example, and you’re worried about losing touch with your children, make sure you’re aware of child custody laws and find a law firm that specializes in family law.
If you’re concerned about your health, see a doctor. It’s not always easy to take that step, especially if you’re anxious about the outcome, but in many cases, the earlier you act, the better the prognosis. Whether it’s a physical issue, or you have symptoms of anxiety or depression, there is help available. If your financial situation has deteriorated, speak to advisers and work together to plan your next move.
Be proactive in protecting your mental health
A lot of people are proactive in taking care of their bodies, but they don’t apply the same level of energy and commitment to nourishing and shielding their minds. We all have mental health and there are many things we can do to try to prevent or reduce stress and feel relaxed and happy.
Focus on what lifts your mood and helps you to feel calm, motivated or enthusiastic. Make time for your interests and passions. From reading, doing yoga, hiking, painting and playing team sports to cooking, fishing, hanging out with friends and running, it’s crucial to make time for hobbies. Another important step is to build and maintain positive relationships. Spend time with people who make you happy and limit contact with those who make you feel anxious, upset or worthless. It’s better to have a few really close friends and a tight-knit family than loads of friends who are more like acquaintances.
Learn to say no
Most people who have successful careers in business have personality traits that make it difficult to say no. Entrepreneurs are traditionally very hard-working, they are driven and determined and they like to fill their schedules. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with devoting time and energy to your business, and this is essential to achieve success, but it’s also beneficial to learn to say no.
It’s impossible to be in two places at once, and if you work long hours every day or you fill every free moment with work commitments, other aspects of your life will suffer. Your relationships may break down, you might lose contact with other people and your physical and mental health may deteriorate. Prioritize invitations and requests. Politely decline those that are not essential if you’re already busy or you haven’t seen your family all week.
Look for ways to free up time
If you’re always swimming against the tide, it’s advantageous to look for ways to free up time. Examples include delegating, making use of advanced, modern technology, hiring additional employees and outsourcing. Delegating can be beneficial for employers and employees. You can save time and make your schedule slightly less hectic and your employees will be able to gain new skills and play a more influential role in the business. It’s critical to have confidence in your team. Delegating can help to demonstrate this and encourage progression in employees who have ambitions to climb the ladder.
Today, business owners can also boost efficiency and save time and effort by taking advantage of modern technology. From automation software and accounting apps to doing a grocery shop online, there are multiple ways to free up valuable hours.
For growing businesses, it’s often necessary to increase staff numbers or think about outsourcing. If your team is working at full capacity and the business is thriving and expanding, you could take on more employees or free up time for your core team and access skills and services you don’t have in-house by outsourcing. Popular services that small companies outsource include digital marketing, IT support, cleaning and logistics. For many firms, outsourcing is more cost-effective than recruiting new employees and it can improve outcomes, performance and customer service.
Running a business is stressful. It involves keeping multiple balls in the air while juggling taking care of a team, working, raising a family, making money and trying to look after health and well-being. Stress and burnout are common among entrepreneurs.
To manage stress and protect mental and physical health, it’s important to take control of your schedule and free up time where possible to devote to hobbies, socializing and relaxing. Seek professional advice to tackle sources of stress and learn to say no.
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