Do you often experience stress as an entrepreneur? Do you have to deal with all kinds of business-related issues? And does this make you feel overwhelmed?
Probably one of the main reasons you became an entrepreneur was having more freedom. But it’s so easy to get lost in the forest of daily tasks which require your attention!
You should be careful when it comes to finding the balance between your personal and professional life. Being an entrepreneur means working hard but it also means doing what makes you happy. Allow yourself to enjoy the good sides of it!
It’s easier said than done, I know, but listen up… There are a couple of steps you can take so that you feel more enthusiasm and less stress about your small business. If you’re looking for a way to relax and find zen in the chaos of everyday life, this article is for you.
1. Find time to relax
When you have your own business, you bear a great responsibility. But with responsibility comes stress! That’s why it’s important to do something relaxing every single day. You can also repeat this as a mantra, this is how important it is.
Don’t forget to take your breaks and never eat in front of the computer. Go outside, listen to some music, meditate or stretch. If you struggle with finding the time to unwind or you feel guilty to interrupt your working process, perceive this as a task.
Yes, a task! Your break is as important as any other business-related activity. Because you can’t be productive if you’re exhausted!
So whatever time management system you’re using – a cool app or the good old notebook – plan your breaks along with the rest of your to-do list.
Related: 6 Simple Tricks to Ditch the Freelance Guilt
2. Set your life priorities right
As you’re working for yourself, most probably all of your goals are business-related. You find the energy and motivation to pursue them day after day. But what about your personal life?
You should also find time and space for what matters most for you, regardless if it’s money-related, or not. This way, you’ll feel less stress as an entrepreneur. Maybe it’s something you enjoy doing, like a hobby or a sport. Or it’s spending time with your family and friends.
Whatever it is, you shouldn’t let it sink to the bottom of your priority list. Instead, make sure you see it as something as important as paying your rent or phone bill on time. You wouldn’t postpone these tasks, would you?
Currently, I’ve set three important priority categories for myself: business (duh!), self-care, personal growth. What would yours be?
3. Work ON as much as IN your business
That’s a difficult one! Difficult but extremely rewarding, working ON your business is crucial for the long-term success of your business. The tiny daily tasks pile up until you can’t breathe from their weight.
You feel like a hamster running on its little wheel – putting so much energy into it but getting nowhere.
The truth is, you’re certainly getting somewhere by finishing up all these small tasks. They keep your business up and running. But in order for them to actually matter, you have to see the big picture.
Working on your business concept, development plan, and bigger goals will help you stay on top of things. You’ll notice that you’ll come up with great ideas much quicker.
Furthermore, you’ll have more room to implement actions that make you as effective as possible. You’ll achieve more with less effort as your focus will be on the right spot.
4. Follow your heart
Give yourself permission to do what you love. Always remember why you started this business in the first place, and never force yourself do something you hate.
If you think that it must be done, consider delegating it to someone else. This way you’ll free up some mental energy which you can invest in the things you’re good at and enjoy doing.
I know it can be difficult – if you’ve just started and you don’t have a stable income, you might think this is a waste of resources. The real waste of resources though is dealing with something you hate or you don’t have any experience with. Do you think that this way you save money and avoid unnecessary expenses? It’s time to change your mindset!
Related: Become a Successful Freelancer by Getting Into This Mindset
The truth is, if you focus on doing what you’re good at, and delegate the tasks which bother you the most, you’ll achieve better results. For example, when I established my company – Zen Content Studio – I was trying to deal with everything alone. Big mistake!
At a certain point, I had to deal with things like business administration and social media management which led to sky-rocketing stress levels. Due to this fact, I had no energy and inspiration to write the blog or think about how I can grow my business in The Netherlands.
I was considering finding some professionals from these fields to help me. At the same time, I was afraid that outsourcing part of my business will cost too much money. Nevertheless, I decided to do it and it actually provided me with two other valuable resources: time and energy. Not to mention, I felt less stress and more satisfaction!
5. Overcome your perfectionism
Set goals and focus on achieving them but don’t let self-imposed deadlines fool you. Do you feel like you have a lot to do? The key to feeling less stress as an entrepreneur is to remember the following thing:
You are your own boss.
Who makes decisions related to your workload and deadlines? You. I suspect that you’re experiencing a lot of pressure, most of it created by you. By your expectations of yourself.
What if your best friend tells you that their boss is treating them without respect and requires too much of them? You’ll advise them to take care of themselves and stand up for their rights.
Working towards your goals is great for your business but it shouldn’t make you feel stressed. It’s easy to set the bar so high that you can’t even see it. It’s only natural to be strict to yourself. But don’t let your perfectionism ruin the whole experience.
Related: 6 Ways to Overcome Perfectionism That Really Work
Try changing your perspective and assessing your expectations. Are they realistic? Are they necessary? Adjust them in order to feel less stress as an entrepreneur.
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