One of the most significant considerations of all for business people today is stress, which has been identified as a growing problem for owners of small firms.
Accounting software provider Xero surveyed 500 small business owners and found that more than four out of five respondents (83 per cent) had experienced stress in the past six months. Nearly one in five (17 per cent) described themselves as “highly stressed”.
The research found that the most common stress factors are:
– Managing staff (42 per cent)- Admin (35 per cent)- Feeling responsible for the success of the company (31 per cent)- Keeping up with compliance (26 per cent)- Paying for overheads and expenses (24 per cent)
Anne Allen, director of people experience at Xero, said it’s clear that many small and medium-sized enterprises are “[feeling] the pressure of changing times”, but she also noted that having “the right technical, emotional and personal support can ease the strain”.
With that in mind, here are just five of the many things business owners can try to ease stress and protect their mental wellbeing…
Don’t ignore your work/life balance. Finding a good work/life balance is becoming increasingly important to workers today, and it’s just as significant for business owners and leaders as it is for employees.
Making a success of your enterprise is likely to be one of your biggest priorities in life but running the business shouldn’t come at the expense of other things like having a social life and spending time with family.
Eat and drink healthily.
What you eat and drink has a huge impact on your physical health, of course, but it also plays a major part in how you feel mentally, and how you deal with stress.
As hard as it might seem during busy working days, make time to get away from your desk for healthy, regular meals. Drinking plenty of water and going easy on the coffee are also good ideas.
Stay active.
Just like healthy eating and drinking, staying active can go a long way to improving your mental health and combating stress.Exercise doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym every day or running at lunchtime. Just getting out of the office for a short walk or simply trying to be on your feet more, rather than constantly sitting at a desk, will improve your general wellbeing.
Talk to people.
Running a business can sometimes feel like a lonely endeavour, but it’s important if you are feeling stressed, anxious or emotionally overwhelmed not to suffer in silence.
Find someone you can talk to, whether it’s your partner, a friend, a family member or a fellow businessperson, who can empathise with what you’re going through. Having a chat and voicing your worries often proves highly effective in easing mental strain.
Be honest about how you feel.
Arguably the most important step in combating stress is acknowledging that it’s a problem and confronting it, rather than trying to ignore it or carrying on regardless, which can lead to more serious issues in the future.
Being honest about the challenges of stress and looking for positive solutions will help you to maintain your mental wellbeing and, consequently, increase the chances of your business seeing results.
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