The Hidden Battle: Navigating Entrepreneurship with Anxiety, Depression, and Chronic Fatigue
Hey there fellow entrepreneur!
As online business owners, we're no strangers to pressure and stress - but what about when anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue make it difficult to even get started? In this blog, we'll explore the constant struggle of pushing through mental and physical barriers to achieve success.
Pushing Through the Mental and Physical Barriers to Success
Damn us, online entrepreneurs, we're often faced with the pressure to consistently produce content, maintain an online presence, and grow our businesses. But what happens when anxiety, depression, and/or chronic fatigue make it difficult to even get out of bed in the morning? How do we push through the mental and physical barriers to success? Let's dive into the struggles that many entrepreneurs face but don't often talk about. (God forbid anyone knew, right?)
Pushing Through the All-Consuming Fatigue
One of the most challenging aspects of growing a business while dealing with anxiety and depression is the constant fatigue that comes along with it. Even simple tasks like responding to emails or posting on social media can feel overwhelming and draining. It's a constant battle to push through the exhaustion and keep going. So, we often keep putt-putt-putting along.
Too Much on the To-Do List
Golly, our to-do lists can be never-ending. There's always something that needs to be done, and it can be challenging to prioritize tasks when we're already feeling overwhelmed. The pressure to keep up with the ever-changing algorithms can feel like a never-ending cycle of stress and anxiety. I mean really, when was the last time you put yourself on the to-do list first? Every action we check off our to-do list often results in us adding 2 more in its place - guess what? It's never going to be entirely complete - the sooner we stop trying the less exhausted we'll be.
Sacrificing Health and Wellness for Consistency
In our quest for consistency, it's easy to sacrifice our health and wellness. We may skip meals, work late into the night, or push ourselves to the brink of exhaustion to meet our deadlines or to do just one more thing to help us build and grow. So, we continue to check just one more thing off that to-do list so we can keep everything going for another week… It can feel like we're in a boat with a hole and we're constantly bailing out water just to stay afloat in the big blue sea.
While it may seem necessary at the moment, it can lead to burnout and even more anxiety in the long run. So now we’re kind of looking like quite the basketcase –– undernourished, overworked, and then we wonder… “Why do I feel like giving up?” Am I right? Yes. I thought so, too.
Getting Frustrated with Our Kids
When our anxiety is at an all-time high, it can be stretching to manage our emotions around our children. We may get frustrated or angry over small things, leading to feelings of guilt and shame. Hushing our kids until we finish our work… only to feel guilty about it later. It's a constant battle to balance our business with our responsibilities as parents.
Crashing and Losing Days
Some weeks, we may completely crash and lose days to anxiety and fatigue. We may struggle to do even the most basic tasks like eating, sleeping, and showering. It can feel like we're losing days, weeks, or even months of our lives to our mental wellness struggles.
Taking Care of Ourselves
Despite the constant struggles, it's a now or never moment. We’ve got to take care of ourselves as online entrepreneurs. We need to prioritize our mental and physical wellness to prevent burnout and ensure long-term success. Here are a quick few tips to help:
- Set Realistic “Small Increment” Goals: Instead of overwhelming yourself with a never-ending to-do list, set realistic goals for each day. Focus on the most important tasks and don't beat yourself up if you don't get everything done. Baby steps. BAY-BEE STEPS.
- Stop Being A Do-It-All & Outsource When Possible: If you can afford it, consider outsourcing tasks to lighten your load. This can be anything from hiring a virtual assistant for a few hours a month to delegating tasks to a family member or friend. Even a college kid looking to gain experience could help, too!
- Take Care of YOU & Practice It: Take time each day to prioritize self-care. This can be anything from taking a walk outside to meditating to reading a book (this one is my favourite form of self-care and I make sure to indulge every day). Whatever helps you relax and recharge. But do it, and do it a lot.
Takeaway
There is no set timeline - you choose your own pace. It's not a race - and not worth sprinting every day only to end up ill. Small consistent steps will keep you and your business healthy.
Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and burnt out? You don't have to do this alone. We can work together to build a business that supports your health along with your vision and goals.
Book a free discovery call with me today.