Mind Your Business: 8 Ways to Keep Your Stress Levels Down
Mindfulness tips for entrepreneurs
Growing up, most of us aren’t taught how to cope with stress in the workplace. Instead, we were taught to “work through it”, and that was my stress management method for many years. But working through stress when your body is telling you to rest isn’t a successful method. Many times this ultimately leads to burnout — especially in start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Mindfulness at work sounds great. But it’s easy to get swept up in all the emails, Slack messages, Asana tasks, Zoom calls, networking events, and a general sense of emergency in all things. There are always a million things you can and should be doing, but only so many hours in the day.
As someone who is hard-wired for burnout, I’ve learned that I have to make my mental health a priority each day. Mostly because I am the only one running this business. If I get burned out or physically ill, I don’t have a substitute to take my place. This means that prioritizing my mental health is vital to my own business.
Stress management used to mean powering through stress. Now, when I’m feeling early signs of burnout, I use a few more tools.
With the rise of remote work, the gig economy, and the pressure to constantly be connected, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance. As an entrepreneur or freelancer, it's even more critical to take care of your mental health as you're often the only one running your business.
In this blog post, we'll discuss eight tips to keep your mental health in check, including turning off notifications, using automation, blocking your calendar, taking breaks, setting realistic expectations, going outside, and finding mentors and freelance friends. By implementing these tips, you can prioritize your mental health and find a healthy balance between work and life.
1. Turn off your notifications
Constant notifications from emails, messages, and social media can be overwhelming and distracting. Consider adjusting your phone's settings so that you only receive notifications at specific times or for specific contacts.
Look I know that it’s going to sound like a foreign concept to physically go into your phone and adjust your settings so you don’t get notifications at every point of the day and night. But promise, this will help you out so much. How often are you enjoying your midweek evening when an email or Slack message comes through with an emergency for you?
2. Use automation (it’s your friend)
I know a lot of the professional community is scared of automation and AI robots taking over our jobs. But robots really can be our friends. But there are ways to make your life easier with automation.
I’m often working well past 5 pm EST. But I don’t like to send emails outside of working hours, so I schedule emails to send in the morning. It’s a simple way to respect people’s time and use automation.
I’m also a big fan of scheduling out your social media, blog and/or podcast content in advance using HubSpot. It’s less authentic, but it helps your mental health. Block out time once a month to build and schedule your content. It will save you a ton of time.
3. Block Your Calendar
Prioritize your time by scheduling in breaks, creative time, and other activities that help you relax and recharge. Be sure to also schedule time for invoicing and administrative tasks.
As a creative, I like to find time to be creative and felt time blocking would get in the way of creativity. I found the opposite to be true. I am more focused and able to get to task because of time blocking. Now I block out my schedule and give myself creative time, outdoor time, and even reading time. I use Reclaim to time block.
4. Take a break
When you finally block out your calendar, be sure to schedule breaks in every day. It’s easy to work through lunch or spend time each evening checking emails and finishing up work tasks. It's important to take regular breaks throughout the day, even if it's just for a few minutes.
Consider taking a walk, doing some stretching, or practicing mindfulness exercises. If your body is exhausted, take a nap. Listening to your body when it needs a break is key to creating a successful business.
5. Set realistic expectations
Finding the proverbial balance to get all your projects done (plus all of those last-minute requests) is an art, not a science. I’m still learning how many projects I can handle, and this changes from week to week.
I’ve found that communicating when you can get each piece of a project done is the best way to alleviate unnecessary stress as a freelancer. I'll also recommend adding some padding to your deadlines. Even if you have the best of intentions to get something done, you never mind having a little bit of extra time to complete a project. Just add an extra day or two on top of your realistic estimated day.
6. Go outside
Spending time in nature has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health. Try to get outside for a walk or hike, or even just spend some time sitting in a park or garden.
I know not everybody finds enjoyment in spending time outside, but there’s a lot of scientific evidence that supports nature being a great way to unwind and avoid burnout. For me, taking walks and hikes is the best way for me to get through creative breaks, stress, or burnout. Block out time in your calendar to take a walk with your dog, or just ride your bike to work.
7. Find A community
It’s no secret that being an entrepreneur and/or freelancer can get a little lonely. Jobs provide a piece of community to most people, but if you’re contracting, this might not be the case for you.
I've been a remote worker since 2017. I found that joining a co-working office (The Speakeasy) helped me get out of the house and go get a bunch of work done. Coffee shops are a great place to get work done, but I’ve found that coworking offices are a great place to meet new people and be a part of a community while being a freelancer.
8. Prioritize self-care
Make sure to take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in activities that bring you joy. Remember that your mental health is just as important as your work, and taking care of yourself will ultimately make you more productive and successful in the long run.
Find activities and hobbies that allow you to unwind and relax. For me, it’s reading a book at night, or going to visit a new place. These are things that help me get through the stress of freelancing.
In today's fast-paced and demanding work environment, it's essential to prioritize mental health to prevent burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. As an entrepreneur or freelancer, it can be challenging to step away from work and take time for yourself, but it's crucial to do so to avoid reaching the point of burnout. By taking care of yourself, you can perform at your best, prevent burnout, and ultimately find success in both your professional and personal life.
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