Why did you start your business?
If you’re like many small business owners, you quit the 9 to 5 and went the entrepreneur route so you could do what you love, spend more time with the people who matter, and have a better work-life balance.
It sounds great, doesn’t it? But then, the realities of business ownership set in and you realize…this is A LOT.
That vision you had for yourself is achievable, but it takes time to find your way. If you’re in the stage where you’re feeling overwhelmed and ready to give up, or pushing yourself way harder than your boss ever did, it’s time to remember that your business should serve you, not the other way around. Here’s how you can prioritize your mental health while still building a successful business.
Prioritize Your Mental Health and Build a Successful Business as a Solopreneur
Narrow Down Your To-Do List
Being a business owner can be overwhelming. Every small business owner has been there (including me) so just know that you’re not alone. One of the things that’s help me is to narrow my to-do list down by identifying what’s essential and what’s not.
Some helpful questions include:
- Why did I start my business?
- What are my goals for this business? For myself? For my clients?
- What parts of running my business bring me satisfaction?
- What parts of running my business do I struggle with? Are all of these essential? If they are, what can I do to make them easier? (Maybe take a course so you have a better grasp of blogging basics, or outsource your website design).
Create a Work Sanctuary
One of the worst things about my previous jobs was that I never had a dedicated office space. I wanted a space that felt comfortable and inviting, where I could really settle in and do my best work. But it’s tough to personalize a shared workstation.
Working from home though, I’ve been able to create a good-vibes kind of work area, what I like to call a work sanctuary. And you can too!
While you can get your work done at the dining room table, surrounded by breakfast dishes and kids’ homework, you’ll probably benefit from a dedicated workspace. And since you’re going to be spending a lot of time there, don’t be afraid to invest a little time, money, and creativity into making it your own. It can be very empowering to carve out a place dedicated to the business you’ve created, and can also help you be happier and more productive.
(By the way, you don’t have to have an entire room devoted to your workspace. That’s not practical for everyone. If all you have is a desk, that’s fine! Just make it your own, and if possible, use it only for work. That way, just being in that space will put you in the right frame of mind to get stuff done.)
Set Boundaries
This was one of the toughest lessons for me to learn. I struggle with saying no at the best of times. And when things were tight it seemed crazy to set firm boundaries with potential clients…or even turn them down. What I found out the hard way is that it’s better to know when my client and I aren’t a good fit for each other, and to politely be upfront about it.
I’ve also learned that it’s important to set boundaries for yourself, like not checking email once you’re done with work. Setting clear boundaries, both for yourself and for others, is better for your mental health and better for your business too.
Don’t Work Overtime
Long hours and no breaks is a recipe for burnout. And sometimes working from home can make it harder to draw the line between home life and work life. Again, that’s where those boundaries come in! However you choose to do it, make sure you set regular hours AND give yourself breaks, days off, and vacations.
There’s no need to stick to a traditional 9 to 5, M-F schedule for this, by the way. What works best for you? What hours did you wish you had in your jobs before you became an entrepreneur? I always found that 5 days felt really long to me, like the weekend would never come. And I was also much more productive working part-time. So, when I designed my work schedule, I took all of that into account. My current schedule (with weekends and Wednesdays off) works great and keeps me from going into the weekend exhausted or dreading the beginning of the next week.
Taking time off isn’t neglecting your business. It’s making sure you come to each workday fresh, creative, and feeling your best.
Don’t Neglect Basic Self-Care
We all know how important it is to get enough sleep, exercise regularly, stay hydrated, and eat right. And yet, when business and life start to feel overwhelming, basic self-care is one of the first to get bumped to the bottom of the to-do list. And that should not be the case, because taking care of ourselves is one of the best things we can do to deal better with day-to-day stressors.
So, if you feel like you’re going to crash, go back to basics. Create a relaxing bedtime routine, get some physical activity every day, keep a glass of water on your desk, and make time for nourishing meals.
Basically, make it a priority to take care of your body. It’s one of the best ways to nurture the well-being of both yourself and your business.
Bookend Your Business Day
I don’t know about you, but I love routine. While owning my own business allows for a lot of flexibility (which I do take advantage of sometimes), I find that I’m happier and more productive when I have a clear beginning and end to my workday.
When you work in an office, the workday rituals are usually set up for you—and they’re not always a lot of fun. Commuting to work, clocking in, or checking messages from the night before might signal the start to your day job, but they probably don’t make you excited about it. Working for yourself, you have more power to set yourself up for success each day with a ritual that feels good.
Before you start your workday, do something to put yourself in the right frame of mind. (For me, this is some verses of scripture. Reminds me to be grateful that I get to run my own business while also keeping my work in perspective.) And when you clock off for the day, take a few minutes to do something you enjoy. (This usually involves books and pets for me!)
Bookending your business day with a simple ritual gives it a clear beginning and end—and makes it easier to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Lastly, Don’t Go It Alone
Solopreneuring can feel pretty lonely sometimes. But it’s less so if you have a business buddy—someone to bounce ideas off of, be accountable to, and share challenges and successes with. A business buddy doesn’t have to be in the same industry as you. They don’t even necessarily have to be a small business owner themselves, although it helps.
Feeling overwhelmed sometimes comes from feeling alone, so try connecting with others to get yourself out of your little sole proprietorship bubble and recognize that you’re not alone in this sometimes scary world of running your own business.
It’s true that being a small business owner can be harder than you envisioned when you decided to quit your day job. But it can also be the best decision you ever made. Just make sure that part of your job description is to be kind to yourself and take responsibility for your happiness and well-being.
I hope these mental health tips for small business owners have been helpful and that you’ve found some inspiration for changes you can make in the day-to-day of your life as an entrepreneur. I’d love to hear about your experiences incorporating these ideas, or other self-care tips you’ve had success with as a small business owner. Feel free to share in the comments!
