Your business is a source of stress and worry. Whether it’s lack of sales, too much debt, or not enough money, your brain will be constantly going. And what about problems with employees or equipment? These items can cause stress too. Each part of your business has the potential to keep you up at night.
It’s no secret that the demands of running a business can be wearing. It can be frustrating to constantly increase your revenue, as you never know just how much is enough. Cutting your costs and reducing expenses can help, but the pressure is always there.
Stress is a well-known problem for small business owners. The sooner they can learn how to manage their stress by finding ways to relax, the better. Finding time to unwind, setting realistic goals, staying patient and being self-aware are all helpful ways to keep anxiety at bay when running a small business.
Below are my top five tips to manage stress for small business:
#1 The bright side
It can be tempting when getting a start-up to worry about the mistakes and problems. When you first set out, there may be things that need to be fixed, behind schedule, or not well funded.
You’re the boss. You deserve a pat on the back. Let’s break down all the things that have been going right. Start by listing everything that you accomplished and any milestones you reached while running your own show. Probably more than you think. Don’t forget about those little accomplishments, either.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything that’s going wrong, look over your list of successes. Remembering all the good things will calm you down and make you feel more in control.
#2 Categorize your work
One of the fastest ways to feel overwhelmed in business is when you’re not able to accomplish anything at all. The more that you try to do, the fewer tasks you complete. Avoid this by focusing on one job or a small number of jobs at once. You can easily achieve so much more!
Your goals are what makes you standout therefore they should be at the forefront of your mind. What do you want to achieve? When you have a plan, you can prioritize your tasks better. Write down everything that you need to complete and rank them by greatest importance, not least importance. You should start with the most important tasks and work down the list. That way, you are setting an agenda for yourself to follow.
It’s easy to get stressed when you see how many things you need to do. Take your time and try not to get overwhelmed by the length of your list. Focus on what you need to work on next, and don’t forget to take care of yourself as well.
#3 Put your brain to rest
I’ll be lying if I said that as a business owner, you can find separation between work and home. You’ll always be thinking about your business, especially while you’re trying to sleep. Your brain can’t break away from it, even when you want it to.
When I can’t turn my brain off, I write down everything my mind is telling me. I’ll write about what my problem is, possible solutions, and any other notes. Sometimes writing it all out means it takes a while, but it’s worth it in the end. Once I finish writing everything down, I can relax and sleep.
I love how I can put my thoughts on a shelf. That way, my brain doesn’t have much to process. I know my business is safe for a time because there is nothing waiting for me to do. I also don’t have to worry about forgetting anything because it’s all on the shelf.
#4 Nothing is better than taking breaks
Here’s a scenario, you are a hunting giant, just established your online business 6 months ago and sales aren’t going well. What do you do next? Simple, start working even harder at your business day and night to grow, make sales and profit.
As a business owner, it’s important to create space and time for yourself. If you are constantly working, not getting anywhere, and worrying about your problem, taking a short break might just be what you need. Even 10 minutes of stepping away from your stressor can refresh and calm you. Taking a break can prevent burnout.
When you get away from your business for a little while, do something that calms you. Take a walk, have coffee, talk to a friend, or watch a funny video. This will give you a clear head and fresh energy to tackle the task. Plus, stepping away may even show you a new and better way to complete the task.
#5 Self caring is not selfish
Building a small business can be both challenging and exhausting. It’s hard enough to keep your brain going, but you also have to be careful to maintain your health. The long nights, early mornings, no weekends, and no sick days can really start to show on your body. To prevent this wear and tear from showing, make sure you take care of yourself and don’t add more stress to an already difficult time.
It’s time to take care of yourself. You know this. Sometimes the tedious actions can make all the difference. Drink water throughout the day, eat healthfully, and get enough sleep. You also need to pay more attention to your general health. Visit a health food store and buy some natural supplements. Reduce your caffeine consumption, too. When you’re healthy, it will be easier for your body to handle stress.
Wrapping up
As a small business owner, you are under a lot of stress. You need to be stress free in order to continue. Exercise is a positive step towards releasing your stress. It’s a proven method to reduce anxiety and frustrations. In addition, exercise can also clear your mind and relax you. All you need is a bit of courage, time and the gentle push to exercise.