It’s become the norm for small business owners to feel very stressed out while running their businesses. If you are a business owner, I’m sure you will agree that it is hard work, and not everything is always going to go smoothly. There are bumps on the road to growth, lots of them. Those bumps cause stress, frustration and lots of pressure.
As a small business owner, there are so many things to get done. If you are a solopreneur or have a very small staff, then you have to do most of the work yourself. This includes taking care of clients and customers, employee recruiting and retention, troubleshooting issues and putting out fires, marketing yourself, meetings and so much more.
However, there are some stress management methods that have been proven to help many business owners who have experienced the pressures of being too busy.
Here are 5 tips for helping with the stress.
Take Breaks
I know, I know. You don’t have time for breaks. Did you know that one reason why many small business owners get so stressed is that they don’t take enough time off? Some take 0 days off in a year. That is not healthy for your body, your mental health, or your relationships. When you spend too much of your time working, it takes a toll. Taking time away from work will help you to recharge your batteries. So take a day off! The business will still be there when you go back!
Self-Care
Self-care is vital for stress management. Again, I know, you don’t have time. If you aren’t eating right and your sleep schedule is off, then you’re going to feel it, and it’s going to affect your health over time. I also know business owners who get so busy that they go all day before realizing they haven’t eaten and it’s now 11pm so they binge eat junk food before going to bed. That’s also not a good idea for the waistline. So, take time to at least get lunch and get enough sleep each night. You should also try to get some exercise in when you can. Yoga/pilates is a great stress reliever and good for the body.
Don’t Neglect Those Most Important to You
Make sure you separate work from home life. I know many business owners, I have been guilty of this as well, who feel like they need to think about work or work on projects even after the work day is over. Many business owners also work from home now, which can lead to even more work. It easy to get lost in constant work when your office is in your home. But when you’re at home spending time with your family, it’s important to leave work at work, even if that work is only steps away to your office. Set business hours and only work inside those hours, unless a business emergency happens.
Focus on the Positive
It’s easy to see the negative things and all of the challenges of running your small business. For some reason, our minds see the negative more so than the positive. It’s normal human nature. But we can adjust our thinking. We can choose to focus on the good. Being intentionally grateful and counting your blessings can make a huge difference in how you feel. Maybe set a reminder in your phone for every single day to stop for 1 minute and say 3 things you are grateful for that day.
Hire a Virtual Assistant
Maybe you are simply doing too much. Maybe your business is growing and you simply can’t keep up anymore and it’s stressing you out. Maybe it’s time to get some help. A virtual assistant is a great way to get some of those general admin, website, social media, scheduling, email marketing, and other tasks off your to-do list, so that you have more time, and more productivity.
Here are a few things hiring a virtual assistant can change for you:
- Delegate those time-consuming tasks that keep you from growing your business.
- Free up your time to focus on the things that are most important to you.
- Check off those tedious tasks that never seem to get done.
- Feel calm, productive and a lot less frustrated!
Schedule a free consultation with me today so we can see if what I do as a Virtual Assistant may help you in your business. Let’s Talk.
