Running a business is not easy. While it is rewarding it can certainly be frustrating, challenging, and stressful. If you’re a business owner, then you understand that sometimes all you want is to give up. Forget everything, move out, and find another source of income.
While there’s no perfect solution, there are some ways that help minimize stress. In recognition of Stress Awareness Month, here are some tips to reduce your stress while running a business:
1. Don’t overthink. And don’t aim for perfection. Avoid “paralysis by analysis.” Thinking too much about your actions and plans often generates stress, making you stuck on something. While it’s important to plan and assess options, don’t drain your energy on them. Understand the pros and cons of a decision then make a move. Period.
2. Learn to say no. If you can’t say no, you can’t focus on your business. If you can’t say no, you’ll be bound to too many commitments. And this leaves you stressed. The point is to focus on what’s essential – your business, your people, your family. Other than that, say no. Steve Jobs famously said, “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”
3. Simplify. The tools, process, instructions, and everything you do in your business – simplify all of them. Don’t complicate if it can be done easily. Don’t opt for more things if a single thing can do the work. And don’t add something if it doesn’t serve a real purpose. When you simplify, you eliminate all unnecessaries. Less stuff is less stress.
4. Keep your life organized. As much as you declutter your workplace, your life, too, should be kept organized. Follow a routine and stick with it. Schedule your day and upcoming appointments, meetings, and family time. Your life is not your business. And your business is not your life. Strike a balance.
5. Delegate or outsource. The saying, “No man is an island” may sound old-fashioned. But still, it’s true. If you’re attempting to climb Mt. Everest, you can’t do it alone. You need people to help or work for you. Hire professionals who can relieve you from some of your repetitive tasks in life.
6. Stay healthy. Your success is nothing if you’re unhealthy. Don’t sacrifice personal health for financial wealth. Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and get enough sleep. No need to hit the gym 24/7 or join the marathon and become a vegan. Just find what works for you. The point is to prioritize your well-being.
