Stress is a normal part of life, especially when you own your own business. There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of responsibility that falls entirely on your shoulders. However, stress can get out of control and can really wear you down. If this continues on for too long, it can get in the way of you meeting your business goals. Not only this but it can also impact your non-work life negatively, too. 

Identify What is Working

When you identify what is going right it puts you in a positive mindset. This helps you reorient yourself and look at things from a different perspective. Sometimes when we’re stressed, it can be easy to focus so much on the things going wrong that you miss the good things. The good things are why we do this! 

Prioritize Self-Care

Taking time for yourself helps promote a healthy mental state. It reminds you that you are separate from your business and reaffirms your belief in what you are doing. Sometimes it may seem like you don’t have time for it. It could also seem like it’s taking you away from other things that are important to you. But remember that if you’re running on empty, you can’t be fully present for the other things in your life. Being exhausted and stressed can take away from you being with your family. It can take away your enjoyment of your business. Self-care does not have to be time consuming or expensive and it is not optional!

Identify Sources of Stress

It is important to know what is causing us stress in order to tackle it. If you don’t know what is contributing to your stress, then you won’t be able to come up with an action plan. If the problem is you have too many clients, it may be time to look at your schedule and see if you need to downsize. Or maybe you need to expand to a group practice, for example. 

Delegate and Outsource Task

We are not meant to do it all and outsourcing is essential for business growth as well as focusing on what you do best. Not delegating can contribute heavily to your stress. Your business is going to grow over time and you can’t be expected to do everything yourself forever. Look at what tasks don’t necessarily have to be done by you. Billing? It’s time consuming and can be easily outsourced. The expense of hiring someone is worth your peace of mind. 

Develop a Schedule That Works for You

Following a routine provides you peace and a sense of control over your time. If you don’t feel like you have any control, that can contribute heavily to your stress. Part of the reason we go into business for ourselves is to have control over when and how much we work. This means you have to really look at your schedule and determine if it’s working for you. If it isn’t, it’s time to look into HOW to make it work for you. 

Unplug During Time Off

We all need time to recharge in order to remain productive and present. If you’re checking your business emails during your off hours, are you really off? You need to have time away from the business in order to be your best.  

Find Tools That Streamline Processes

Finding the right practice management tool can increase efficiency and effectiveness. You don’t want to be spending time on little tasks that could easily be automated by the right tools. Knowing what tool to use for which parts of your business could save you a lot of time, money, and very importantly stress, in the long run. 

Get Comfortable Saying “No” and Sticking to it

Although it is not always easy at first, being selective about what you say yes to reminds you of what you value and prevents burnout. It could be that your stress is piling up because you’re saying yes to too many things. You could be putting way too much on your plate. Saying no means you get to prioritize the things you said yes to. It also means you’re prioritizing your mental health and your life outside of work. 

Consider Us

The consultants at Compassionate Consulting Company are licensed independent clinical social workers located in Massachusetts who have been running successful counseling practices for years. Here are testimonials from clients that have worked with us. We enjoy working with entrepreneurs that are starting their business, expanding and hiring team members, as well as those who are considering diversifying and adding different income streams. Schedule a free consult so we can learn more about your business goals and share how we can help. Read this post to learn about the differences between a coach, therapist, and consultant.