Best Ways to Cope with Entrepreneurial Stress

Despite the potential for physical, emotional, and mental stress, you can learn to lead a sustainable and healthy lifestyle as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs face an inordinate amount of stress when starting and running a business. Here I've listed a few key tips to help alleviate some of the daily stress that running a business can create.

INVEST IN HELP!

As entrepreneurs, we passionately believe in our vision and often have the strong personalities to go along with it. This leads us to frequently think we can do everything ourselves, which is why it’s important to know your limits and look for outside help early on. If you can’t invest in hiring part-time or full-time employees, you should consider outsourcing certain functions of your business.

If you’re working 24/7 and can’t hire a full-time employee yet, take a small step to give yourself more breathing room. Consider a Virtual Assistant to answer the phone or do administrative work while you tend to other business needs. Another option is hire an accountant so you wouldn't need to spend extra hours on the administrative tasks. You’ll sleep better at night knowing that your books are being managed by an expert and that your invoices are out.

SEEK SUPPORT TO STRENGHTEN YOUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH STRESS!

This tip in my opinion is one of the most important factors to consider! Having a strong, solid support system makes any idea or business easier to achieve. Naturally when you think of support system you immediately picture your loved ones, family, or friends. It's very rare job or organization is thought of as a support line. A lot of times leaders don't get to hear that applause that they are providing others. Sometimes it can wear on you.

That’s part of why getting support from peers or from a business advisor is beneficial to get perspective. Surrounding yourself with other CEOs, presidents and leaders can be one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. Having a trusted advisor is another way to deal with stress. Talking with your advisor can help you unpack the truth, without judgement, which is one of the most effective ways to sort through what’s real and what’s a story we’ve made up in our head.

TAKE A BREAK!

This is probably the simplest piece of business owner stress management advice -- take a break. Studies have shown that your employees are more productive and happier at work when they use all of their vacation time. It should then be no surprise that the same goes for business owners and managers.

When you take a break, do something that relaxes you. Go for a walk. Get some coffee. Call a friend. Watch a funny video. Don’t do anything business related. When you get back to your business, you will have a clearer mind. You will have fresh energy to tackle the task. And, stepping away might even open your eyes to a new and better way to complete the task.

MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY!

Good health is important when you’re an entrepreneur. Running a business takes a lot out of you. Your small business comes with long nights, early mornings, no weekends and no sick days. Your nonstop life puts strain on your body, and then you add stress on top of that.

You need to take care of yourself. Don’t forget to do the simple things. Drink water throughout the day. Regularly eat. Get some sleep. Try to do some additional things, too. Go to a health food store and buy some natural supplements. Reduce your caffeine consumption. When you’re healthy, your body can better handle the stress. The best way to stay healthy is to fix your diet. The truth of the matter is that eating healthy does not take that much time. It simply takes a little more attention. There are certain foods that you should eat if you want to decrease stress levels, such as foods that are high in fiber. Healthy foods not only fight stress, they also lower the levels of hormones in your body that are most commonly tied to triggering an increase in stress.

EXERCISE MORE!

If you can, regularly exercise. While exercise will make you physically fit, it is also a great method of small business stress management, Through exercise, you can release your anxieties and frustrations. You can clear your mind and relax. Even a small amount of exercise can reduce your stress. It's a proven fact that increasing your daily physical activity is a great way to reduce stress. Any type of physical activity can help in reducing your stress levels.

If you have 30 mintues to spare- spend it wisely! Don’t sit around looking at your phone or thinking about work duties. Go out and take a walk around your office. Take a break from work and perform five minutes of stretching every other hour to get your blood flowing.

Another myth about exercise is that if you’re already tired, sweating it out at the gym is going to make you even more tired. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Physical activity increases your endorphin levels. These are the neurotransmitters that your brain produces that help you to feel better. The greater your endorphin levels, the more relaxed and satisfied you are generally. And the more energy you will have as well. Exercise also improves your mood and gives you more self-confidence to conquer your everyday tasks.

PRIORITIZE SLEEP!

Business owners are often chronically tired because they don’t get enough sleep every night. Getting enough sleep is an absolute necessity, not just for business owners but human beings in general. A good night’s sleep can truly do wonders when it comes to reducing stress levels. Not only does more sleep equate to less stress, it’s also helps you to better manage the unavoidable stresses of running a small business. Tired people tend to lack the patience and clarity of mind needed to properly function in high-stress work environments. The point is - get as much sleep as possible. Not only will it enable you to become a productive leader, you'll be overall a happier person!