Entrepreneurs
5 Quick Ways to Combat Stress as an Entrepreneur
As an entrepreneur, it can feel impossible to find time in the day to get anything done. When you’re working so hard to achieve your dream, you might not want to take time for anything you deem unnecessary. Health usually falls into this category, which is a huge mistake! You can’t let your health fall to the wayside. If you do, your long term success will have an expiration date. Stress increases your risk of heart disease by 40% and your risk of stroke by 50%, and 3 out of 4 doctors visits in the U.S are stress-related.
You need to take stress seriously! The good news is that below are five fast ways for you to combat stress in your day-to-day operations and routine:
1. Take a break
This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people ignore the ample benefits of stepping away from work. “Taking breaks means you can work smarter, not longer,” says Nexa. “You need to shake up your routine, get your blood flowing, and give your brain a break from the constant stream of information in the workplace.”
If you aren’t consciously resting throughout your workday, the quality of your work and your productivity will notably decline. Get away from screens, stand up every 20 minutes to stretch, and make sure your breaks aren’t filled with checking email.
2. Stay connected
Being an entrepreneur can be incredibly lonely, especially if you work from home. While the flexibility of remote working can be a huge benefit, you can feel isolated very fast. This is a huge problem for your long term health.
Combat this loneliness by getting into a coworking space! This will allow you to benefit from having a routine and a set place to work. It also helps you meet other motivated professionals and can be an excellent opportunity to network.
Also, make sure you’re connecting with friends and family on a regular basis. It can be tempting to isolate yourself in the hopes of being more productive, but that will only hurt you in the long run. You need support; don’t be afraid to ask for it!
“Carve your name on hearts and not on marble.” – Charles Spurgeon
3. Eat well
Here’s another no-brainer, but it has to be said. You will perform at your best if you’re eating well! Working hard means you have less time in your day. That also might mean hitting the drive-thru and eating junk. Don’t let this become a habit, or you’re going to suffer.
An easy way to get a much-needed boost is to eat superfoods like acai, kale, and goji berries. We’ve shared before that, “A boost in brainpower can enhance your memory, sharpen your reflexes, improve your attention span, and ward off mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and more.” That’s a lot of benefits coming from one snack!
4. Rely on mentors
If you don’t currently have a business mentor, now is the time to find one. The benefits of a mentor are undeniable because they become your sounding board for new ideas, you get to learn from their mistakes, and they pass on their knowledge.
Mentors can help you learn to embrace a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset. Instead of letting your pre-existing skills determine your future success, you will learn more skills, broaden your horizons, and improve on what you and your mentor already know.
“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” – Bob Proctor
5. Ignore the hype
This final tip is probably going to be the hardest to execute, but it’s crucial to your overall success. You have to ignore the “rise and grind” mentality that consumes so many other entrepreneurs.
Why? Simply put, it’s not productive in the long run. You’re probably used to your peers bragging about how they’re always on, how they never take breaks, how little they sleep. You might have fallen prey to this yourself.
Here’s the thing– you know yourself. You know your process. Odds are, you work much better when you’re following the tips above, rather than suffering through all-nighters. Your long term health and success hinge on your ability to achieve a work-life balance today. Stress can literally kill you, so don’t work yourself to death!
Stress is an unavoidable part of life as an entrepreneur. That’s just a fact. The good news is you don’t have to let it destroy you. By carefully following the steps listed here, you can build a solid foundation for yourself. This foundation will make sure you avoid burning out. Take breaks, stay connected, eat well, rely on your mentors, and ignore the hype! These steps will ensure your success grows over time, and that you can enjoy it.