10 Tips for Managing Stress as an Entrepreneur
While entrepreneurship can be an empowering and exciting experience, it can also be incredibly stressful. In order to maintain one’s well-being and manage the ongoing stressors that will inevitably arise, business owners need to have a few handy stress management tools in their back pockets. Here are some of my favorites.
1. Reduce stress with diaphragmatic breathing.
Diaphragmatic breathing is often referred to as belly breathing. It entails taking slow deep breaths that cause your belly to expand as though there’s a balloon being blown up in your belly. When we engage in this type of breathing, we are able to get out of our heads and back into our bodies and the present moment. Diaphragmatic breathing also allows us to calm our physical bodies which can in turn calm down our emotions. One thing that I love about diaphragmatic breathing is that nobody knows you’re doing it. Nobody will know that you’re trying to reduce your stress or calm yourself down.
2. Reduce overwhelm by getting organized.
When we try to store too much information in our brains, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. When we can get things out of our heads and onto paper, it frees up mental energy and allows us to visually see what we need to do. If you don’t already have a system that entails a calendar and a task list, I encourage you to start using them.
Create a system that helps you prioritize the most important tasks that need to be completed each day. Both will help you feel more organized and less overwhelmed. And, if your physical environment is out of order, spend some time organizing that too. An organized physical environment will help you feel more focused too.
3. Process and release your stress with creative outlets!
There are many ways that we can process stress and get it off of our bodies. The important thing is that you find strategies that work for you. These can include expressing your feelings with writing, drawing, painting, danging, singing, or playing a musical instrument. All of these options allow you to process your emotions while also getting them off your body.
4. Delegate + hire support
Business owners are notorious for trying to do everything on their own. This often leads to long work hours, stress and frustration, efforts to do work that is not within your zone of genius, and getting caught in the weeds of your business rather than engaged in the visionary aspects of it. Delegating and hiring can both be scary, especially if you’re concerned about finances or being new to hiring. Delegating and hiring, however, allows you to work regular hours while doing the work that you do best.
5. Stay connected to your support system.
Work can become all encompassing for entrepreneurs, so it’s important to prioritize time with the people who matter to you most. These are the people who support you, listen to you, celebrate with you, and will call you out when you’re overworking. If you need additional support, you can consider weekly therapy with a licensed therapist.
6. Build community with other business owners who “get it.”
There are times when friends and family members just don’t get the stress, responsibility, or drive you feel as a business owner. Many business owners sign up for retreats, Masterminds, and/or community-oriented coaching programs to meet other business owners, learn from them, and get support from them.
7. Resist the urge to overwork.
When you’re passionate about the work you do, and you enjoy doing it. It’s easy to fall into a pattern of overworking. Resist this urge. A balanced life means making time for a variety of healthy activities outside of work. Working too much will only contribute to your stress!
8. Allow time for rest, relaxation, and fun.
In order to feel rested, restored, and energized, it’s important to have regular opportunities for rest, relaxation, and fun. Allow yourself to have free time on your calendar with nothing planned. This free time allows your brain to rest, process, and come up with creative ideas without being under pressure. Novel and fun activities can also provide us with inspiration that keeps us feeling energized, excited, and innovative.
9. Prioritize the most fundamental of self-care practices.
As adults and entrepreneurs, we sometimes fall into the trap of believing that we can put our own self-care back on the back burner without experiencing consequences. I promise, that’s not the case. Be sure to prioritize a consistent sleep schedule that allows you to get an adequate night’s rest. Make sure that you are staying hydrated and that you are eating regular meals. If you are not doing these things, you simply cannot expect to feel good.
10. Find ways to move your body in enjoyable ways on a regular basis.
Not everybody enjoys exercise which is why it’s important that you are able to find some form of movement that you do actually enjoy. Many entrepreneurs are bound to their computers all day, resulting in little movement. Enjoyable forms of movement allow us to release stress, feel better, generate creative ideas, and even problem solve. If you’re grumbling here, know that I dislike exercise too, AND that walking while listening to audiobooks or talking to friends and family has become a regular part of my day.
In order to maintain a business, it’s crucial that entrepreneurs find sustainable ways to take care of themselves. As a business owner, your well-being will have a direct impact on your business. If you want your business to succeed, you’ll need to rely on tried and true strategies for managing stress and for maintaining your overall well-being.
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Interested in Online & In-Person Counseling for Stress, Anxiety, Burnout, or Compassion Fatigue?
If you’re a Marylander who knows that counseling is the direction you need to take, the therapists at LifeSpring Counseling Services are here to help. We offer online counseling services for mindfulness, depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief and loss. We also offer Brainspotting as a specialized service, and Brainspotting can be done online, too!
Here’s how you can get started! Online and in-person counseling for stress, anxiety, burnout, & compassion fatigue aren’t the only services offered at our Monkton, MD office
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Written by: Melissa Wesner, LCPC
Melissa is the Founder of LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland, and she is a Certified Brainspotter and Brainspotting Consultant who specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and sex therapy.
