Stress is unavoidable for entrepreneurs, but those able to handle it well can rise above the rest. Financial professional Scott Crockett of Everest Business Funding says that stress that isn’t managed well can lead to burnout.
When burnout occurs, reduced performance is likely to follow, and the future of the startup could be in question, too. Entrepreneurs must understand the fact that stress is inevitable and that, more importantly, stress that isn’t managed well can be completely destructive.
That’s why all entrepreneurs need to have a plan in place for how they will manage stress and keep it at bay. Below are some tips for how you can do that.
Start the Morning Off Right
When you start your morning on the right foot, you’ll be better prepared to tackle the day’s stresses. This begins the night before by going to bed at a reasonable time, making sure that you have decompressed and disconnected before hopping into bed, and getting ample sleep.
When you wake in the morning, take a few deep breaths, smile, and either think or say out loud what you’re thankful for. Spend some quality time with your significant other and children — if that’s your family arrangement — and ease into your day.
Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast packed with quality nutrients, and drink some water to get your cells and mind functioning properly. By doing all of this, you’ll start the work portion of your day with a positive mindset.
Find Balance While at Work
Many stress management experts will tell you that it’s important to find balance in your life, and that’s true. Many of the suggestions are to find things you like outside of work to enjoy so that you can take your mind off work and reset your batteries.
But it’s equally important to find this balance while at work. Sometimes, entrepreneurs can’t leave the office to “find their balance” when they’re feeling stressed. As such, it’s very important that they can do so while at work.
This could include shutting your door and practicing meditation or deep breathing, which can be practiced at any time and anywhere. Whatever method you choose to find your balance, know that there are times when you won’t be able to do it after work ends.
Pace Yourself
Scott Crockett knows that entrepreneurs can be impatient at times. They want to get a million things done at a time and check everything off their To Do list.
While multi-tasking and working at the speed of light may sound like a good idea, it can actually be very counterproductive. In fact, working non-stop and not taking a minute to breathe can lead to extreme exhaustion and, eventually, burnout.
Everyone needs a break from time to time. A human body simply cannot perform without getting proper rest. Your mind also can’t function to its fullest potential if you don’t give it a break.
So, pace yourself. Be realistic about what you can hope to achieve in a day, and get comfortable with things taking longer than you might have originally anticipated. Patience is a virtue that can help entrepreneurs handle stress well.
About Scott Crockett
Scott Crockett is the founder and CEO of Everest Business Funding. He is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in the finance industry. Mr. Crockett’s track record includes raising more than $250 million in capital and creating thousands of jobs. Scott has founded, built, and managed several finance companies in the consumer and commercial finance sectors.