Stress Management

Running a business can cause stress for you and the people around you, especially if you do not manage it properly.

In home-based business, feelings of stress can often arise if you spend too much time working and don’t give yourself enough time to relax.  Feeling helpless and as if you cannot control what is happening in your business, also contributes to stress.

One of the most important ways to counteract stress is to be as healthy as possible.  Exercise regularly and eat plenty of fresh, wholesome food.  Another important factor is to manage your time effectively so that you feel in control of each and every day.

Tips to Control Your Stress

• Plan and prioritise regularly.
• Plan each day and stick to the schedule, as far as possible.
• Don’t concentrate on a task for longer than an hour before taking a break. Do stretching exercises, let your eyes rest on the horizon, go for a walk. This is also the advice to avoid RSI (repetitive strain injury).
• Get yourself organised. If you have to hunt through a mound (or several mounds) of papers before you find what you are looking for, your stress levels increase. Imagine the serenity that would come from being able to immediately put your hands on what you’re looking for.
• It is very easy for bad habits to slip in. By regularly reviewing how you spend your time, you can put a halt to that practice.
• Take time out each day.
• Meet your friends for lunch occasionally.
• Talk to people close to you about your problems and concerns.
• Reward yourself with small treats, especially when you finish a difficult task.
• Offer support to others if they need it – helping others makes you feel great.
• Stephen Covey suggests that one source of stress comes from not living life in harmony with your principles and values. His book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” is a very interesting read.
• Scientific evidence has proved that if you pay attention to your physical health, you can withstand stress much better than if you don’t take care of yourself.
• Laugh - a sense of humour allows you to take pressure off yourself, even though you take your business and work very seriously.
• Get enough sleep – if you are having trouble sleeping, see a doctor.
• Eat breakfast.
• Reduce coffee or alcohol intake and avoid smoking or taking drugs.
• At the end of your working day, change out of your work clothes, have a shower and play some music or do other leisure activities that you find relaxing.
• Try some specific relaxation techniques eg yoga, meditation, music or art therapy, massage and certain exercises.
• Remember why you started your business in the first place.
• Ask for help if you need it.
• Network with other businesspeople.
• Don’t be afraid to say “no”.