Many people dream of owning and managing a business. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be your own boss and break free from the 9-5 routine? Or make money doing what you love most?
And let’s not forget the financial freedom that tends to accompany entrepreneurial success.
Yes, entrepreneurship can be very rewarding, and the sky’s practically the limit when it comes to success. But no entrepreneur would ever call what they do easy.
While it’s true that entrepreneurs may have the edge when it comes to freedom and finances, they aren’t without their own challenges. Ask any entrepreneur and they’ll tell you that stress is an inevitable part of the journey, especially when things go from 0-100 real quick and you have no choice but to do damage control, regardless of whether it’s past working hours or even on Sundays.
Fortunately, there are quite a few things you can do to cope. Here are just a handful of them.
Identify What’s Going Well
Businesses tend to have several moving parts, so entrepreneurs usually do a lot of problem-solving. This is a very proactive approach, but dwelling too much on what went wrong (and what could go wrong) can be disastrous for your mental health in the long run.
So, every once in a while, identify what’s going well in your business rather than what isn’t.
For instance, instead of stressing over your team’s errors, appreciate their ability to address these on time. Rather than complain about the amount of work, be grateful for the orders coming in.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not encouraging false positivity here. But expanding your perspective just a little bit can help you appreciate all the progress you’ve made so far – even when you’re having a tough day.
Build a Solid Schedule – and Stick to It
You either run your day – or it runs you. If you’re a natural at staying organised and managing your time, it might not be a problem. However, if you’re like the rest of us who get easily overwhelmed with tasks at hand, it can be really stressful. This is where a good working schedule comes in.
Start by having a regular routine. For example, you can allot Mondays for client meetings and Wednesdays for weekly remote team check-ins. Once you’ve got a regular routine down, the relative predictability can help you feel less anxious and more relaxed.
Delegate or Outsource Tasks
Most entrepreneurs start out having to do everything on their own. While this can help you save on costs at the beginning, it’s hardly sustainable, especially as more clients come in.
You can do anything you set your mind to, but you can’t do EVERYTHING. It just wouldn’t be a good use of your time and skills. Sooner or later, you will have to hire additional people on your team so you can leave the tedious tasks to them and focus on what you do best – growing your business.
Besides, it’s not like you need to hire 20 people at once. You can always start with a versatile and skilled remote worker, such as a virtual assistant. *wink* *wink*
Trust me, so long as you hire a good one, you’ll wish you’d have done so earlier.
Unplug During Non-Working Hours
Sure, you might feel obligated to answer every email that comes in or jump into every video call, but don’t overextend yourself. Running a business shouldn’t get in the way of cultivating a healthy work-life balance. If nothing else, poor health will just get in the way of growing your company.
You don’t even need to go on long, luxurious vacations at a time. Why not spend, say, half an hour doing physical activities or even just bonding with your loved ones? If you respect your clients and remote employees’ boundaries outside work, you shouldn’t forget about yours.
After all, rest can help you return to work refreshed and in better shape to make crucial decisions.
Entrepreneurship can be a very fulfilling career, but it can make a lot of demands on your body, mind, and time, especially at the beginning. However, don’t forget that you also need to take care of yourself so you can better take care of your clients, customers, and employees.
Need help delegating tedious tasks? Remote Staff has been providing AU SMEs and entrepreneurs like you with skilled remote workers from the Philippines for the past 14 years and counting precisely for that purpose. Aside from finding the best talent for your needs, we also assist with onboarding – giving you one less thing to worry about.
Call us today or schedule a call back and let’s get started.
Serena has been working remotely and writing content for the better part of the last decade. To date, she's written for Pepper.ph and Mabuhay Magazine, among others, and has churned out more than a thousand articles on everything from The Basics of Stock Market Investing to How to Make Milk Tea-Flavored Taho at home. Hermits, aspiring hermits, and non-hermits with interesting project propositions may email her at serena.estrella10@gmail.com.
