When you own your own business, there are ups and downs. There are successes and challenges. There are good days and bad days. There are days filled with motivation and days filled with swear words.
Okay, you get the idea! And you probably know what I mean, right? Business ownership is a huge blessing but can bring a new level of stress to your life. So how do you cope?
Below I’ve outlined my three most effective ways to keep stress under control:
1. Clarity and Action
I find that stress often causes inaction in me. It causes me to freeze. So instead of taking steps to finish a project and relieve some stress, I end up doing nothing and feeling worse. Does that happen to anyone else? It’s so counterproductive to fixing a stressful situation.
If you’re feeling stressed, get really clear about next steps. Write them down if you need to. What needs to happen first? Second? Third? These don’t always have to be big rocks. Clarifying what needs to get done will help you take action.
It’s easy to exaggerate what needs to get done so that your to-do list becomes a mountain in your head. It’s usually better than what you envisioned. Once it’s written down, circle your top tasks and take action!
2. Positive Mindset
Stress is a not so funny thing. It can form out of one small task and seep into every area of your life. That’s why it’s important to stop stress in its tracks. One way to do this is by acknowledging what is going right and what is working well. Sometimes it helps to recite these things over and over. This is how you create a positive mindset.
Celebrate these wins and keep them at the forefront of your mind. Because stress manifests itself in many ways, we sometimes blame our emotions and physical ailments on other things. But you would be amazed at the number of body, mind and health-related problems that are caused by stress.
3. Deep Breathing Technique
This might sound silly if you’ve never tried it but I promise it helps! A simple exercise that I utilize all the time is breath release.
Step 1: Take a deep breath.
Step 2: As you release your breath, envision your stress and anxiety leaving your body. Step 3: Repeat at least three times (or more if needed) and you will begin to feel calmer.
Use these tips to keep stress at bay in your business and your personal life. Do you have any tried and true ways to ditch stress?
Looking for a better work-life balance? Check out this article.
Reach out to me on Facebook or send me an email at lisa@lisashawver.com.