Being a sole proprietor, small business owner, or entrepreneur can be invigorating and stressful at the same time. Running a business can be rewarding eventually, however, it will most likely be incredibly stressful to start. This can be down to the expense of building a business up from nothing, especially if you’ve not got much capital to begin with. When working with a small budget, it can seem impossible to purchase everything that might be needed to create a successful business. Some of the most important things to think about are office space, equipment, and contact methods. Every business requires contact methods to help them stay in contact with their clients and to bring in potential clients. To purchase a phone line for your business, you could click here to view Eatel Business’s pricing information to see if it’s within your budget. Phoning clients is a great way to get them talking about your business.
Whilst it can be extremely rewarding to own a business, it can also cause health issues if you don’t keep your life and work balanced equally. Most small business owners have invested the majority of their money and time into these businesses, which is why they want them to be successful. Due to this though, some people might take advantage of the smaller budgets that these businesses have. That’s why it might be in your best interests to invest in a strong door and storefront which will make it more difficult for thieves to break in. Aluminum doors are one of the strongest, you could look into them by visiting a website like Https://www.industrialdoorcompany.com/aluminum-doors/ for example. Make sure your business is securely locked, giving you peace of mind that your business is safe whilst you’re not there. This might help you to relax more.
Additionally, there is a necessary drive to create and sustain revenue as your paycheck is tied to your productivity. This reality can drive a person but can also break down and destroy a person emotionally, mentally and physically. If you find yourself struggling to run your business because it just doesn’t seem to be picking up any leads or new clients, then you might want to consider looking into a pr agency such as NGPIMC, for example. These companies help to increase your brand awareness and publicity, which might decrease your stress levels.
However, here are some tips to help ensure your healthy stress management that can help you run at the top of your biopsychosociospiritual (a cool word meaning physical, mental/emotional, social, and spiritual) business game:
Sleep Well
Sleep is important. Though there is a cool mug that says, “There is enough time to sleep when you are dead; until then drink coffee,” the truth is that without proper sleep our thinking isn’t as clear, our stress management tanks, and our decisions become poor.
Avoid interacting with an electronic device with a screen (television, computer, tablet, smart phone) at least an hour before bed to optimize your sleep quality as you aim for your effective sleep quantity.
Exercise
Aim to put in at least 30 minutes of focused physical exercise during the day. In addition to being in better physical shape, exercise has been demonstrated to reduce stress and increase healthy moods. Setting aside this short amount of time can pay off with better business productivity during the day. On the topic of business productivity, it is worth noting that there are a number of ways it can be boosted. For example, the use of a business dashboard saves time for users across your company.
Quiet Spot
Don’t let your life be defined by your business or work. You are a “human being” not a “human doing”. Social interactions are healthy and provide great support systems (even for introverts), so ensure that you have a time and place where work is not allowed to invade.
Fun
Have fun. Schedule fun. Develop a habit of locating non-work related activities that bring you healthy pleasure and energy. For those who are more extroverted by nature, these will likely be people-related, and for those more introverted by nature, these will likely be more non-people related (but let’s not confine ourselves to a stereotype of what introverts and extroverts do for fun). Whatever you do for fun that is healthy, plan and do it as your biopsychosociospiritual health will thank you.
Meditation
Some people use meditation as a way to clear their minds and relax. Others use meditation as a form of spiritual practice that helps them mentally and emotionally and spiritual recenter themselves on God. Either way, studies have shown that taking time, even 10 minutes, to pause and meditate helps a person recenter and reduce stress.
Big Picture Thinking
For the small business owner or entrepreneur the idea of self-care can be scary. Thoughts like, “I could have been doing so much more if I wasn’t doing [insert the above healthy tips]” rattle through the brain. Rather than feeling guilty over proper self-care, see self-care as part of a successful business plan.
For more ideas and help with healthy stress management, please contact CornerStone Family Services at 614.459.3003.
Note: Photo by Nina Frazier; article concept adapted from “Stress Management and Rest for the Entrepreneur” by Anthony Centore.