Stress Management Tips for Business Owners
For as many perks as there are to being your own boss, there are just as many stressors that come with running a business: a lack of sales, that email you forgot to reply to, issues with employees, or backordered inventory are only a few examples. With an enormous amount of responsibility and an ever-growing to-do list, it’s no wonder that so many business owners struggle with work-related stress.
With so much time and energy put into managing their businesses, many entrepreneurs never learn how to manage their stress levels. So in honor of National Stress Awareness Month, we’re giving you five tips to help reduce anxiety and improve your mindset.
Remember what’s going right. Research shows that people are more likely to focus on the negative aspects of their personal and professional lives. And because it’s so easy to dwell on the technical issues you had today or the meeting that didn’t go as planned, it’s especially important to remind yourself of your accomplishments. Take a few minutes at the end of every workday to jot down or remind yourself of what you and your team did well. Even if they’re only small wins – like finally tackling that financial report or making a major sale – it will put the negatives into perspective and help you enjoy the daily grind a little bit more.
Prioritize your tasks. Do you ever feel like there’s so much to do that you don’t know where to start? Or that you’ve been working all day but nothing’s been done? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything on your to-do list, but trying to do everything at once is a futile mission even for the most experienced multitasker. You need to prioritize your daily and weekly goals. Write everything down that you need to complete, then rank items from “do immediately” to “delegate.” Getting everything out of your brain and on paper will give you the capacity to focus on the task at hand instead of worrying about what’s next.
Learn to say no. For such a small word, “no” carries a lot of weight, which is why so many of us are uncomfortable saying it. It’s easy to pack your days with coffee dates, lunch and learns, Zoom calls, and extra projects, but constantly raising your hand is almost guaranteed to end in burnout. Recognizing the value of your time is one of the most important things you can do for your schedule (and your sanity).
Take breaks. If you’ve been staring at a blank document for the last 30 minutes or are practically seeing statistics when you shut your eyes, a break might be all that you need to reset your mindset. Try the Pomodoro Technique: work for 25 minutes straight, take a five-minute break to relax, then repeat. When you take your break, go for a walk, get a cup of coffee, or chat with a coworker – whatever helps you relax so long as it’s not business-related. When you get back to your work, you’ll have a clear mind and fresh energy.
Take care of yourself. Running a business usually means long nights, early mornings, no weekends, and no sick days. That’s why it’s especially important that you make the most of the personal time you do have. It’s ok to close the laptop at 8 and not be on your phone at all hours of the day. Spend your evenings resting, exercising, hydrating, and catching up with friends and family. When you’re healthy, your body can better handle stress.
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