Looking from afar, the life of an entrepreneur seems extremely exciting, liberating and incredibly rewarding. At least that’s how entrepreneurs are depicted in movies or in the media. And of course, it can be all of those things, but there’s another side to the story that is often ignored by this romanticized version of the entrepreneurial life that the media offers. Deadlines, difficult projects, demanding clients, financial stress, long working hours are also part of the picture. And if you’re an entrepreneur you already know where this leads – to serious amounts of stress.
Some might argue that stress is a given, no matter what kind of activity you perform, and everyone should just get used to it by now because it’s not going anywhere. In a way, this is accurate. Stress has very much become an integral part of our lives, and we’ve grown so accustomed to it that sometimes we don’t even realize how stressed we are. But not all of us have to deal with the responsibilities and pressure an entrepreneur has to handle, so it’s easy to see why so many business owners are on the brink of burnout and prone to making irrational decisions that can have serious consequences.
If any of this sounds familiar to you, it’s time to address stress once and for all. It won’t be easy, as nothing ever is for entrepreneurs, but with the right approach and some useful tricks, you can keep stress at bay and get on with your life and business.
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Find the right help
As an entrepreneur, you’re used to doing everything by yourself, which might be fine in the beginning, but as your business grows, so do your responsibilities and the amount of work you have to handle, and that’s when stress rears its ugly head. The thing is, you can’t possibly do it all alone, and you don’t have to do it either. A business needs an entire team to function properly, and responsibilities should be shared between team members.
Don’t be afraid to let go of the reins and delegate tasks to your employees. That doesn’t mean you’re not going to be in control anymore. It only means you’ll let go of the tasks that someone else can do and focus on those that require your attention. This will help you be more productive and reduce stress levels significantly.
Set boundaries
When you’re an entrepreneur, work-life balance usually goes out the window. This happens because most entrepreneurs aren’t able to hold their perfectionism in check and they obsess over their work to the point where it takes over their entire life. It’s great if you have the energy to work from dusk till dawn, but it doesn’t mean you should. There’s more to life than managing your business, and if you devote all your time to your job, stress will finally get the best of you. Even if you are your own boss and you work for yourself, you must set some clear boundaries and learn how to separate work life from personal life.
Take a break
Wondering what a break means at this point? Then you should take one, or several. When there are so many things to do and so little time to do them? That’s right. We know there are only 24 hours in a day, but you’ve got to set time aside for something other than work. Think about it: will your business crumble if you take a bit of time for yourself every now and then? Probably not. If you follow the first recommendation and learn how to delegate tasks, your absence won’t cause any inconvenience, but it will definitely help you alleviate stress. So, make it a habit to take short breaks throughout the day or take a few days’ vacation every once in a while.
Invest in your health and wellness
Stress is usually a hidden enemy that can really damage your health without you even noticing it. Then one day you wake up wondering why your mental and physical health has deteriorated. It’s important to recognize stress symptoms early on and take action before it’s too late. It wouldn’t hurt paying your doctor regular visits and making lifestyle changes to support your overall wellbeing. You can create a workout routine, rethink your eating habits or practicing meditation can be a good starting point. If you’re into alternative treatments, you can try CBD products and learn about the benefits of different cannabis strains such as Pineapple Express to help you reduce stress and boost energy.
Get some shut-eye
Sleep is essential for a person’s health and wellbeing, yet so many entrepreneurs work until the wee hours of the morning and put sleep on the backburner. Yes, it can be tempting to cheat on sleep in order to get more things done, but it can only work for so long. Because if you turn this into a habit, not only you won’t be able to fulfil more tasks in a day, but you’ll also put yourself at risk for a number of health problems and stress is definitely one of them. Sleep deprivation forgives no one, so being busy is not an excuse for skipping on sleep. Try to maintain a strict sleep schedule and strive to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep every night.
Get professional help
Sometimes stress just catches you in its clutches and no matter what you do, you can’t find a way to escape it. When stress becomes a chronic problem and you can’t fight it on your own anymore, it might be time to look for professional help, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed or afraid to take this step. Talking to a therapist about your issues can help you understand what you’re dealing with better and together you can find viable solutions to keep stress at bay. As long as you’re willing to put in some effort, there’s always a way to stop stress from ruining your life.
About Carson Derrow
