Life as an entrepreneur is challenging. Yes, it’s exciting, and certainly fulfilling, but most entrepreneurs face periods of stress, exhaustion, and hardship. There are many advantages to starting your own business and working for yourself, but it can also be easier to get stressed out. As an entrepreneur, the buck stops with you. You are responsible for your successes and failures, and it’s you that needs to make things happen. Despite the obvious benefits of being able to do things your way, and work to suit you, this can lead to stress.
Over the last few years, more people than ever have started their own businesses, and this trend is sure to continue as bigger companies struggle in the post-economy, and redundancies are more common. Whether you are new to entrepreneurship, just trying to adapt your workplace after covid in a positive way or an old hand, here’s a look at some tips to help you manage your stress levels.
Pay Attention to Stress Signals
Our bodies all respond differently to stress. Knowing the signs can help you to take steps to get things under control. You might find that you struggle to sleep or lose your appetite when you are stressed out. Your heart rate might increase, and your blood pressure might rise. Keep an eye on how you are feeling and consider a blood pressure monitor from medical-supermarket.com.
Confront Stressors
A lot of the time, the cause of stress is obvious if we take the time to think about it, but we ignore it and hope it will go away. Try to understand the causes of your stress. Are you working too hard? Not taking enough time off? Not getting enough rest? Are you angry or frustrated with a specific area of your work? Or annoyed with a person or practice? Confront stressors straight away, making changes and having discussions when needed.
Let Go of Perfectionism
Most entrepreneurs are perfectionists to some degree. You feel responsible for your business, you want to succeed and so you feel that everything needs to be perfect. But remember, growing a business or an idea is a journey. It’s okay to make mistakes, it’s okay to learn, and it’s okay that everything isn’t perfect the first time.
Manage Your To-Do List
To-do lists are a great way to manage stress and organise your time, but only if you use them effectively. Find what works for you, whether this is a weekly list, a daily list, a list with times or in order of importance, or a ‘right now’ and a ‘one-day’ list for jobs that need doing but aren’t as important.
Find Balance
One of the reasons that many of us want to work for ourselves is to spend more time at home with our families. The reality is often quite different. If you work all the time and never take holidays or days off, it’s time to reassess your work-life balance.
Make Some Lifestyle Changes
A healthy lifestyle, both in and out of work is one of the best ways to control your stress. Small changes like adding exercise, eating well, and getting plenty of sleep can make a huge difference to your emotional well-being.
Talk
Being an entrepreneur can be very lonely. This loneliness increases stress and pressure. Speaking to your family and friends about your work, your worries and your hopes for the future can help.
Stress is normal but, left unchecked, it can ruin your enjoyment of your work, interfere with your home life, and even lead to more serious physical and mental health issues. Use these stress management tips to keep things manageable.
