9 Ways to Cope With Entrepreneurial Stress

Ways to Cope With Entrepreneurial Stress

Hey there fellow entrepreneur!

Being your own boss is an incredible feeling, but let's be real…

…entrepreneurship can be stressful. 

From managing finances to meeting deadlines, and balancing personal and professional life, the challenges can quickly add up. However, the good news is that you don't have to let stress take over your life! There are plenty of effective ways to cope with the pressures of entrepreneurship, so whether you're just starting out or have been in the game for a while, these tips will help you stay focused, productive, and most importantly, mentally well.

Cope with Entrepreneurial Stress—9 Essential Ways

1. Counteract your fear with trust

Accept and surrender. No, this doesn’t mean giving in or giving up - but stop fighting - take a step back and breathe, because acceptance can lead to awareness and new ways to tackle the problem or new actions to try.

Taking a walk (without my phone) is always a great way for me to process what's going on in my head and come to terms with what I’m struggling with. Stop fighting what “shouldn’t” be happening or “shouldn’t” be so hard—accept that it is happening or it is hard and open your mind to out-of-the-box ideas to help move you through it.

2. Meditate

Now I’ve shared before that I struggle to meditate, but using guided meditations and a self-hypnosis app can help me to decompress.

Here are some of my faves:

Note: I am not an affiliate for any of the above recommendations. They are simply the tools I use and love.

Studies have shown that regular meditation practice can lead to a variety of physical and mental health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved immune function, and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, meditation has been shown to improve focus and concentration, which can help to increase productivity and reduce stress levels in the workplace.

You don’t have to spend hours in meditation. You don’t even need to commit to 20 or 30 minutes. Short 3 or 5-minute sessions can be incredibly effective. Find whatever tool and duration works for you and see how much better you feel.

3. Mindless activity

Listen to music and find a mindless activity that takes you away like coloring or a puzzle. Drawing, painting, flipping through a magazine or reading (though you probably won't want music on for that unless it’s instrumental music).

Note I did not suggest listening to a podcast or scrolling on social media this can just add to the entrepreneurial stress with information overload!

4. Lean on your community

I’m an introvert so there are a select few that I lean on for support, but I know on any given day when I’m stressed I can go to them and they’ll listen. Depending on what I’m asking for they’ll either give me support, help me brainstorm or simply be a sounding board for my ranting.

5. Throw away the timeline

Take things one step at a time - just focus on the next step, the next piece. You'll get to where you’re going, there’s no rush and we’re all on different paths. It’s better to get there at your own pace and arrive healthy than to push for someone else's timeline and arrive burnt out (or give up on the goal or project along the way and not arrive at all).

That big vision that you have is great, but sometimes we need to set that aside and just focus on the next thing without worrying about the “how” for the next 10 steps. (sidenote: I still struggle with this which is why I work with a mindset coach to help remind me of this every single week!).

6. Create a plan

While we all agreed to throw away the arbitrary timelines we’ve set for ourselves, we still need some sort of plan – with lots of buffer room. You can alleviate stress by having a plan in place.  How detailed this plan is is entirely up to you - what do you need to feel less anxious? Then make sure to estimate how long each piece will take (and then double that estimate because we notoriously underestimate leaving us stressed and pressed for time).

Next step - block a spot in your calendar for each task. I personally have blocks for calls, admin, client work, writing, marketing, and my passion projects.

Craft your plan based on what feels right for you.

7. Break things down into even smaller steps

That next step on your path to your goal - break it down into smaller steps. Write down the smaller actions or tasks that lead to that next step.

For example: Are you planning on engaging in email marketing? What do you need to do first to build your list? How are you going to acquire your customer base? You have to get your list before you start nurturing them, right? So take it step by step…

…and then celebrate each little accomplishment no matter how big or small, no matter whether it's business or personal (I’m serious about this). Celebrate!

8. Keep momentum

No matter how small - keep moving forward. Don’t avoid your anxiety - address it - work through it - and then pick up where you left off (without judging yourself or shaming yourself). Think about the fact that maybe the thing setting off your anxiety is something that needs to be outsourced or maybe you need to break that task down even more or ask for support from someone in your home or business. Keep this kind of mindset going to help you reel in more success.

9. Meet your basic needs

It’s also important to make sure your basic needs are met.

… Did you eat lunch? 

… Are you getting enough sleep at night? 

… Drinking enough water? 

… Stretching your body if you sit at a computer all day? 

… Wearing your blue light blockers?

These are all critical elements of maintaining our health and well-being.

Takeaway

Coping with stress as an entrepreneur can be challenging, but there are plenty of strategies you can use to manage it effectively. From practicing mindfulness and meditation to breaking down tasks into smaller steps and prioritizing your workload, these tips will help you stay focused, productive, and mentally healthy.

Remember, taking care of yourself is essential to running a successful business.

Want to tackle your entrepreneurial stress together? Book a free discovery call with me today for unlimited laser coaching.

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