Though seemingly self-sufficient and resilient, entrepreneurs are particularly vulnerable to struggling with mental health challenges. A 2015 study for the University of California suggests that nearly a full half of people who start a company say they have struggled with some form of mental illness.
Whether its anxiety, stress, or depression, the pressure of running a business takes its toll on even the most hard-working leaders.
Entrepreneurs develop the misfortune of being perceived as stable motivators in their industry. What many people don’t know is that 9 out of 10 start-ups fail. Trying to get your business to scale brings an enormous amount of pressure.
Maintaining your mental health is just as important as succeeding in your professional life. If not addressed, this can have debilitating side effects in decision-making, lead to further anxiety, which may detrimental to the business itself.
Read on to learn more about overcoming any hurdles at work that can affect your emotional and mental wellbeing.
Work smarter, not harder.
The “never-not-working” and always mobile mentality is what leads to stress and burn out for many young entrepreneurs. From planning and strategizing, to managing employees, and attending numerous meetings, it will start to feel like the workload never ends. You need to set realistic expectations for yourself and your company. To manage your time well, learn how to prioritize different goals and assign minor tasks for each project. Many managers today, though they may not admit it, often micromanage their employees. You need to depend on the skills and experiences of the people you hired so you are free to move on to duties that are suited to your position and leadership.
Create a support system
They say it’s lonely at the top. Though not entirely accurate, this can be true in cases when the CEO of an organization does not always have individuals supporting them and looking out for their mental wellbeing. When under a lot of stress, mental health issues show in signs of withdrawal from friends, changed sleeping habits, or developed drug and alcohol addictions.
A successful business world runs on social connectivity, expanding networks, and fostering good relationships. Reach out to your friends, family, even colleagues, solve any issues you may have, and move on.
Set aside some time for yourself
Often, our positions and responsibilities at work fuse with our identity and personal lives. This has managers and business owners forgetting to do things for their own personal pleasure, such as spending time with the family and hobbies they enjoy. When this happens, one can no longer distinguish his personal accomplishments outside of the workplace. This can lead to higher depression when a sale doesn’t close, or deadlines are not met. Create fixed schedules for vacations, self-care, and recreational activities and make sure to stick to it.
Weekly massages and meditation time
The daily grind can bring a person down. Taking a pause at work in the middle or before the end of the week can not only help mental health, but the physical health of massages or meditation can be meaningful. This will not only relax you but give your staff something to look forward to at work. Keeping employees happy and healthy generally keeps the boss happy, and this will help curb issues of absenteeism and disengagement.
Everyone knows being an entrepreneur is not easy, and you are naturally under intense stress and pressure. Hence, taking care of your mental and emotional health is important for you keep your business growing.