Entrepreneurship is almost synonymous with stress. It is only natural that when one has taken the onus of running one’s own show, stress is going to be the constant companion. Being your own boss has its perks, but also along with that comes mighty responsibility of not only your future but also everyone else’s who is part of your venture. The process of thinking of ways or looking for opportunities to grow your business is never on a break; a part of your brain is always working round the clock. These are just some things that add to an entrepreneur’s stress levels, which can damage mental health.
Stress management in entrepreneurship
Why is stress management for entrepreneurs essential?
A healthy mind is crucial to a person’s overall well-being and successful running of entrepreneurship; hence it is important to take some active measures to ensure that this entrepreneur stress is kept to a bare minimum!
Let’s look at some of the ways in which dealing with entrepreneurial stress can be beneficial for one’s mental and physical health.
- Positive thinking:
- A routine/ daily plan:
- Daily exercise:
- Meditate
Maintaining a positive attitude is one of the most important aspects of stress management in entrepreneurship. A lot of stress is caused due to negative thoughts regarding specific outcomes or the fear of failure. During such times, one must remind themselves why they started and that they need to have faith, patience, and perseverance. These are some of the most significant virtues that anyone is deciding to take up entrepreneurship must-have.
Creating a concrete plan and having a routine or a schedule to be followed can give one so much clarity and avoid landing in stressful situations. Something as simple as TTD lists for the next day or weekly goes a long way in ensuring that no urgent matter to be taken care of was missed that could add to one’s stress. Having a schedule makes sure one has time allotted to them when one can exercise, listen to music, go for a walk, clear the mind, make space for new ideas and a new thought process.
Some form of exercise of one’s own choice that lets them have an hour of me-time is great for clearing the head. For some people, it’s a run or yoga, for some boxing or just the gym, when they can just let go of every thought, every worry, and put all their focus and energy to sweat it out. It is almost magical how endorphins work and how zealous one emerges from a workout.
Meditation is the single most calming activity one can pursue. Some people start their day with a short 5-10 minute meditation; some do it at the end of the day, for some whenever they find the time or in a situation when the mind needs to be empty of any thoughts, be it positive or negative. Switching off for a couple of minutes or even hours a day can work wonders during a stressful work situation. When dealing with entrepreneurial stress, meditation can help one centre their thoughts, calm the mind and shift focus from mulling over the problem to solving it!
Many people work better when put under pressure or when in a stressful situation. However, it is important to understand the repercussions of such a high-stress work atmosphere and how damaging it can be in the long term. Stress management for entrepreneurs, in my opinion, should be made a mandatory part of life for every entrepreneur for a brighter, healthier future for not only themselves but their business and employees as a whole!
