While being an entrepreneur comes with the freedom to control your destiny, you also have to deal with enormous stress. This is because you are responsible for the day-to-day running of the business and the outcome, which can adversely impact your physical and mental wellbeing.
According to research by Judith Weissman, a research manager in the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, about 8.3 million American adults — about 3.4 percent of the U.S. population — suffer from severe psychological distress. Previous estimates put the number of Americans suffering from severe psychological distress at 3 percent or less.
As the continual contamination therapist, Amanda Pratt, said, coping with stress is essential for a business owner. You are sole proprietors or have few employees. This means that if you burn out, it may ultimately slow down business momentum.
You also recognize that if you cope poorly with stress, it can worsen your physical and mental health. Therefore, you need to prioritize stress management as an entrepreneur.
The human stress response is vital; it alerts us of hazards and keeps us safe. Stress is inevitable. Proactively looking after yourself and coping with stress are essential elements of staying healthy. You can become more resilient by utilizing self-care strategies that give you the results you want. For instance, you can try stress inoculation – a cognitive approach to stress management that prepares you for upcoming demanding situations.
1. Choose the best Productivity Tools.
Productivity tools maximize your time. In today’s dynamic and busy data-centric world, we’re increasingly relying on tools to boost our productivity.
As entrepreneurs, we are constantly juggling so many activities that it can become challenging to stay focused. This is where we can make a huge difference by using productivity apps that best suit our situation.
Our experienced team can help you select the best productivity tools based on your requirements and ongoing issues.
2. Stay optimistic.
Having a positive mindset is immensely beneficial. If you have a good attitude and an optimistic perspective, you could deal with pressure and unfavorable conditions in a far healthier manner.
Developing a positive outlook will result in a more constructive view of any situation and help you make better decisions.
You’ll cope with disappointments and issues more effectively. A positive outlook will help you enjoy your life and work. You’ll approach each day with a grateful attitude. All of this will have a positive impact on your business.
3. Identify and remove your stressors.
For proper stress management, identifying the stressors is essential. To identify your stressors, become aware of them early on and determine what triggers them. Some of the ways stress manifests itself are over-tiredness, headaches, or migraines.
Don’t take on an excessive amount of unplanned work. Sometimes you can pass over some tasks to an employee who is good at those activities. So, delegate and share your workload with others and outsource some activities if needed. It would help to prioritize tasks and re-organize your work and lifestyle.
4. Schedule your tasks properly
In general, you need to know that scheduling tasks properly maximizes productivity. Various articles and books claim to recognize the “ideal schedule,” but the truth is, there may be no perfect technique for everyone. We all have unique strengths and weaknesses regarding time management and productivity. What works for one person can be a total catastrophe for another.
History has shown that the most influential humans use wildly unique scheduling strategies relying on their situations, personalities, and strengths. Winston Churchill, for example, worked late into the night and filled his day with whiskey and naps. However, a vast majority of successful entrepreneurs and business owners live a very routine life and concentrate on work at the beginning of the day.
5. Learn to Say ‘No’
Humans are social animals who thrive on reciprocity. It’s in our nature to be socially obliging, and the word ‘no’ seems like a disagreement that threatens our perceived capability. However, while we dole out an easy “sure” in place of a hard “no,” we tend to over-commit our time, strength, and budget.
According to Vanessa M. Patrick, a professor of advertising and marketing at the University of Houston, “the capacity to communicate ‘no’ honestly offers you a sense of empowerment.”
Being able to say “no” implies that you have established positive guidelines for yourself, suggesting conviction and balance.
6. Spend some time on a hobby
Mitigating pressure is an ongoing job, with most entrepreneurs putting in an average of 16 hours a day. Therefore, if you could indulge in at least one creative hobby, you may discover greater relaxation than even passively sitting on the couch and watching the latest Netflix series.
There are so many creative hobbies like playing the piano, cooking a favorite dish for family and friends, listening to your favorite music, etc., which positively impact cortisol levels. Studies show that working on your creativity will make you more productive at work and allow you to destress at the same time.
We are all different as individuals, and therefore, our solutions to coping with stress will also differ widely. However, if you follow the tips discussed in this blog post, you will deal with stress more effectively and boost productivity.
