As a business owner and entrepreneur, you make a lot of tough decisions everyday, wear many hats and often take on a lot of risk, accepting these as a normal part of doing business. Of all the threats out there facing your business, the biggest killer is the one you cannot see or do not think about: stress. No matter how carefully you plan your days or how well you think you are handling it, chronic stress and the inability to manage it can lead to more than just a little body ache. It is your body’s way of saying, “Slow down. You are doing too much.”
I know the feeling all too well — for years, I managed risk pretty well, running from one appointment to the next, working well into the wee hours most nights. I thought I handled everyday pressures with ease: I ate well, exercised daily and took excellent care of myself. My chief problem: not getting enough sleep. And the lack of sleep made handling everyday stressors more difficult. Until the day I came back to the office feeling unusually and extremely fatigued and nauseous, I felt on top of the world. My wake-up call has since prompted me to set firm boundaries and make sleep and cutting stress a top priority.
Busyness and the demands of running an office or a business will always be a fact of life in the world of work. But in order to stay in tip-top shape, you have to remember to take a step back and take care of your own, like I have done. You are no good to your business when you have to call the paramedics. Keep the ambulance out of the picture with these tips:
1. Schedule Time for Stress-Relief
The technique you use need not be time-consuming, but it needs to be effective. Build meditation, physical activity, deep breathing exercises, or even a hobby into your schedule, whether you have two minutes or 20 minutes to spare.
2. Reduce Time Urgency
Give yourself ample time to get to where you need to go or as a cushion between appointments. And if you are not able to accomplish all you set out to do, it is not a matter of life or death.
3. Set Firm Boundaries
Working 16 to 18 hours a day is just not sustainable. Know when you have reached the “enough” point and be firm about not going beyond that.
4. Listen to Your Body
This is a no-brainer, but insomnia, heart palpitations, and anxiety issues are your body’s message that something is not right and you should get it checked right away.
5. Hire an Extra You
Entrepreneurs love doing everything themselves, but doing so can cost them far more than the price of a helping hand. Delegate for health’s sake.
6. Take a Step Back
Mental overload? Your brain needs resetting every 90 minutes, so take a step back from the computer monitor or your smart phone and take a walk. Regular breaks help disrupt stress in progress, reduce fatigue and increase mental functioning.
7. Have a Life Outside Work
Know of anyone who takes their work with them on vacation? Or brings it home? You are better off leaving it behind. Go to a park, roast marshmallows and share stories, build a snow fort, or start a new hobby. Remember when life could be that fun?
Image credit: Tracy Carpena
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