As a hardworking business owner, you’re probably more accustomed to feelings of stress and anxiety than most people. After all, your livelihood depends on a complex and fragile system of people and processes; the success of which lies heavily in your hands. Managing, maintaining, and moving this system forward is no small feat.
Studies have shown that stress has a lasting impact on many aspects of our lives. It can negatively affect your health, relationships, comfort, performance, and overall well-being. This is why it’s important to find ways of keeping stress from taking over. Of course, prevention is better than cure, so start by identifying the sources of your stress.
Perhaps it is caused by conflicts between employees. Maybe you’ve become too accustomed to putting off deadlines. Your habits and attitudes can also contribute to higher stress levels. That said, not everything is in our control and we can’t entirely prevent or avoid all sources of stress, especially when running a business.
One thing that we can always do is to choose how we react. With this in mind, here are six effective ways to manage entrepreneurial stress.
Sweat it Out
Countless studies have proven the mental health benefits of regular exercise, showing that it’s an ideal outlet for negative emotions like resentment, frustration, and anxiety. Your solution doesn’t have to come in the form of an hours-long, high-intensity daily cardio workout.
Even a brisk stroll will effectively release some endorphins and give you an energy boost to start your day or a pick-me-up to end it. To ensure that you stick with it, make exercise something you’ll enjoy doing on a regular basis, be it a morning run with the dog, an afternoon swim at the gym or an evening game of soccer.
Connect
Sometimes, you simply want to vent about a problem or obtain feedback about a pressing issue from someone who has faced the same challenges. It helps to know that others have been in your situation and it can put things into perspective. For this reason, it’s a good idea to network with other entrepreneurs or find a mentor.
Quieten the Mind
Another effective solution is to find a way to get out of your head and spend some time away from the stresses of work. Meditation and deep-breathing exercises are the go-to options here. They’re simple, easy to pick up and can be done anywhere. Granted, it’s not for everyone.
Perhaps your escape can take on a more modern form. For instance, you can watch relaxing videos on the internet or play a few games. As a hardworking business owner, you’re probably more accustomed to feelings of stress and anxiety than most people. Cash flow management, delegating tasks, marketing strategy, hiring independent contractors, and firing underperforming employees, are some of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs today. Since they’re proven stress relievers, there’s never been a better excuse to get your game on.
Write it Down
In our digital age, the power of putting your thoughts on paper is far too often underestimated. There’s a strong sense of serenity that comes with writing down what’s bothering you, which can serve as an effective outlet for your emotions. Moreover, techniques such as journaling can help you get clarity and find unseen solutions to your problems.
Avoid Perfectionism
Being passionate about your business can make you prone to stressing over trivial things. It’s also a common reason why entrepreneurs try to work themselves nonstop day after day. While that approach may produce short-term results, burnout is a real thing and will eventually diminish the payoff.
Pushing yourself and being a perfectionist is no way forward. It will wear away at your creativity and leave you feeling exhausted. For this reason, it’s important to know when to throttle back a little and take a break. Following a routine that doesn’t put your health under the rug will help you achieve more in the long run.
Use That Stress Ball
It may seem like nothing more than a silly and dated gimmick, but that stress ball collecting dust in the drawer actually does work. The idea is that it gets your blood pumping, thus improving circulation which benefits the heart and mind. Combine it with a short walk outside for bonus relaxation points.
Remember that more often than not, the cause of your stress is something you can prevent or workaround. It’s always worth looking into the sources of your woes first, as this can make a much bigger difference when it comes to managing your stress.