As all entrepreneurs know, running a small business can be tough at times. In fact, it’s tough most of the time. Of course, there is a lot of good that comes from being your own boss and making money doing something you love, but the stress that comes with it can get pretty overwhelming. As common as stress is, it is far from healthy, so if you want to stay fighting fit and be in a condition to run your company well, you need to do what you can to manage and reduce your stress. To help you do this, here are thirteen useful tips.
1) Let Stress Motivate You:
Too much stress is unhealthy and can cause a number of problems, both physically and mentally. That being said, a little bit is important and can be pretty useful. Stress, as bothersome as it may be, ensures that you stay motivated and keeps you working, even when you’re doing something particularly boring. As a business owner, this is incredibly important, as it stops you from slacking off. This means you should let your stresses to motivate you instead of scare you.
2) Ensure You Eat Properly:
When you’ve got one hundred and one things you need to get done each day, eating tends to become less of a priority. However, if you want to keep your stress low, it’s vital that you sit down to eat three healthy meals each day. When you eat junk food, or simply don’t eat at all, you don’t get the nutrition you need to stay energised. This makes it difficult to focus on your work and get things done, which will make you worry and increase your stress.
3) Exercise Every Single Day:
Exercise is a great way to keep your stress levels in check. This is because physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, which combat negative feelings and allow you to feel calmer and happier. It also distracts you from whatever is bothering you and keeps you feeling healthy and energised. Because of this, it’s crucial that you do at least thirty minutes of exercise every single day. This could mean jogging through your lunch break or lifting weights in your office.
4) Sleep Well Each Night:
Your body needs sleep to be able to function properly, but, unfortunately, stress can make it difficult to get a good night’s rest. Because of this, you need to do a few things to make sleep easier. You can find lots of tips at https://www.helpguide.org, but you can start by exercising during the day and limiting the amount of sugar and caffeine you ingest. You can also create yourself a bedtime routine to follow each night.
5) Take Plenty Of Breaks:
Working non-stop for hours without a break may seem incredibly productive, but it’s actually the exact opposite. Although you’re working in this time, you’re not doing it as well as you could, because you simply don’t have the energy or focus to. It’s important that you take regular breaks and get away from your office. This will give your eyes a rest and means that you can get back to work feeling energised and focused.
6) Start To Delegate Jobs:
Running a business isn’t something that you can do alone. Granted, in the early days, you may have been able just to manage it, but as your business grows, it’s crucial that you start delegating jobs to other people. This means that there is less pressure on you, so you can focus on the tasks that are most important. Start by outsourcing a few jobs here and there and then consider hiring a few permanent staff.
7) Automate What You Can:
Technology is an amazing thing. In fact, it’s so amazing that these days, there are ways to get jobs done that don’t require you to outsource or hire staff. Automation is one of these ways. Rather than hiring someone to order your office supplies, you could set up a recurring order. This way, you get a regular delivery of pens, pencils, and whatever else you need, and don’t have to worry about remembering to order them yourself.
8) Make Sure You’re Legal:
Lawsuits are one of the most stressful things an entrepreneur can face, which is why it’s so important that you do whatever you can to avoid them. Granted, there are going to be times when you can’t do this, but ensuring that your company stays on the right side of the law is a pretty good start. Because of this, you should make sure that you have all of the right permits, licenses, and insurance that you need to run your business.
9) Consider Changing Your Address
When you form your company, you’re required to provide a registered office address. Most companies use an agency like https://yourvirtualofficelondon.co.uk and use their service address, rather than offer their actual office address. You should consider doing the same, as it ensures that your private address stays private, which means that you don’t have to face unwanted junk mail and cold callers each day. This saves you time and a lot of frustration.
10) Learn To Say No:
Business owners have to wear a number of hats and juggle a lot of different jobs every single day. If you want to avoid too much stress, it’s important that you don’t put much more on your plate. Because of this, it’s crucial that you learn to say no. If someone asks you to do something and you know you don’t have the time or energy, then you have to tell them so. Of course, you should be polite about it, but make sure that you’re clear and firm too.
11) Do Things You Enjoy:
One of the best ways to fight stress is to have some fun, which is why you should make time to do things you genuinely enjoy to do, whether that is walking your dog, baking cakes, or simply watching television with your family. When you know how much work you’ve got to do, this can be difficult, but you need to try to put the business out of your mind for a while. If you don’t, you’ll constantly be worried, and this will start to affect your home life, as well as work.
12) Don’t Always Expect Perfect:
Entrepreneurs tend to be incredibly strong-willed and determined people, and as great as that is, it can turn you into a bit of a perfectionist. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting things to go as good as they possibly can, but you shouldn’t expect more than that. Perfect is rarely achievable, so stop trying to make it happen. All you can do is work as well as you can and plan for the expected. Trying to do anything more than this will only waste time and stress you out.
13) Take A Step Back:
When everything seems to be getting on top of you, and you can’t focus or get anything done, it may be time for you to take a step back from your company. Everyone needs a break now and then, so take a couple of weeks off and spend some time with your family. Of course, this is going to be scary, but it’s unlikely to cause any harm to your business. Just make sure that, while you’re away, you have someone you trust in charge of keeping things up and running.
Running a small business can get overwhelming, to say the least, but with these tips, you should be able to manage your stress.
