The entrepreneurial spirit is one that drives creativity, ambition and influences generation after generation. We can thank that spirit of ingenuity for the development of tools and businesses that gave us the cell phone or laptop you’re reading this from. And while the positives of entrepreneurship have led to innovation and advancement, it cannot be discussed without the mention of the difficult work that goes into building businesses. The truth is that as a business grows and expands, the levels of stress increases along with it.
Nearly half of entrepreneurs are stressed
A 2018 Gallup Wellbeing survey showed 45% of entrepreneurs admitting to having feelings of stress while running their businesses. Stress can come from all areas including over-thinking, too many calls and emails, challenges with team building, finances or just the expectations and demands of clients on a daily basis. The same survey also found that 29% of business owners say they lack focus in crucial times of decision making and planning. Any type of distraction can adversely affect business and overall company success. We’ve all been there and we’ve all had those days where you feel like calling it quits. But, there is hope in combating stressful situations that can not only improve your performance as an entrepreneur, but also your whole being.
20 minutes of meditation a day
Wellness experts are in agreement with the age-old practice of meditation to alleviate stress and anxiety. Studies show that just 20 minutes of meditation a day can help reduce levels of stress hormones and allow for clearer headspace and focus. That number is remarkably low compared to the time most entrepreneurs spend doing other activities. For instance, the average working adult spends about 209 minutes checking their emails everyday (Wouldn’t you be curious to know how many of your minutes are spent in the inbox?). The time and anxiousness of reading and responding to email after email after email leads to distraction and lack of cognitive skills needed for optimal decision making. With routines that induce the stress hormones, it’s easy to see how work becomes harder to manage.
Scheduling time to take a break
Entrepreneurs would benefit from scheduling time in their day to actively reduce stress in their lives. A neurological study in Massachusetts showed that after just 8 weeks of regularly practicing meditation, participants reported lower levels of fear, anxiety and stress as well as stronger levels of mindfulness and ability to pay attention. Eight weeks, two months or sixty days–however you’d like to think of it–could change your life. The results of that practice could unlock potential for you and your business.
Stay active—even for just a few minutes
Other ways that business owners can improve their overall health and lower stress levels is by adding another 7 minutes of exercise to their day. Exercise could be a walk around the neighborhood if you work from home, a quick routine before a shower, or something as simple as breathing exercises at your chair. Okay, you might say, that’s all fine but my work still needs to get done! It is true that none of these activities will make the workload disappear. They can, however, allow room for you to consider every option in front of you–including outsourcing certain tasks and development tools that can dramatically reduce stress while increasing growth and productivity for your business.
Polishing the professional—build your brand to alleviate stress
If you find that your brand and business isn’t seeing the type of growth that your hard work and effort has put in, you might think that you should work harder. That’s not always the case. More work could cause you more pain and problems. You need to work smarter and manage what you can. Think of it like this, your business should work for you–not the other way around. Brand awareness and visibility consulting will get the right eyes in your view to reach new projections and ROI. Nurture your growth in the public: Plant the seeds for awareness to growValidating your business in the public eye—building your business as a credible, logical place for your customers to do business—is a time-tested way to build awareness and build your brand. You can grow your business while maintaining a peace of mind when you find the right agency to help you achieve your goals while keeping your stress low. Here are 5 questions to consider before hiring a PR agency.
Sources:
https://www.shopify.com/enterprise/the-dark-side-of-entrepreneurship-that-nobody-wants-to-talk-about
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/22/heres-how-many-hours-american-workers-spend-on-email-each-day.html
https://www.honeybook.com/risingtide/benefits-of-meditation-for-entrepreneurs
https://ryanjackson.org/blog-post/meditation-for-business-leaders-and-entrepreneurs/