Dealing with Anxiety as a Business Owner

You wake up before your alarm clock. Brain working at 100% and your heart racing like you just ran 3 miles.

Its hard to breathe and the only thing you can think about is that next meeting or that difficult client you will be seeing in a few hours.

Still, despite the adrenaline spike, you lack the motivation to even get out of bed.

Do any of these symptoms (or all of them) sound familiar?

It does to me. If you know what I’m talking about you have probably dealt with some sort of anxiety or depression as a small business owner.

Most do at some point

Here are a few things that may help

Identify the root issues

Can you sit down and write down the EXACT things that are giving you anxiety?

Instead of grouping it all together as “running a business”, get specific.

Is it the lack of profit?

Jobs are not getting completed on time or to your standards?

Low online visibility for your business?

Difficultily managing employees?

The list can go on but as soon as you can identify what these might be you can move on to the next step

Write down solutions (or possible solutions)

You may not have all the answers but after some deep thought and research you may identify your solution to each issue.

Even if the solution is not presently in your power, write it down. This will be useful for the next step.

For example, do you find yourself no longer able to handle all the work coming you way? Maybe the perfect solution would be to hire another technician. But you don’t have the money right? Thats ok. Write it down

Problem solving is an essential skill a business owner should have so if you are struggling to find these answers its time to put on that thinking cap.

Research

Talk with your team

Talk with your mentors and other experienced professionals

Writing down what would solve the problem or make the problem more manageable will put you in line for the next part of the process

Create a step to step goal sheet

After you write down your problems, you can start to see the steps you can take to overcome these problems

Think about just a few things that will get you out of your situation. Even if it seems like something you can’t do now, write it down.

Keep an eye out for our comprehensive problem solving sheet thats available on our resources page

Find activities to minimize stress

At the end of the day, no matter who we are we need to control our stress.

It has been shown as stress is damaging to our health. If we’re not in good health, we can’t continue to serve our customers at our best.

So take care of yourself!

Identify a low stress, activities or stress, relieving activities.

Some find that it is a simple as taking a walk.

Others like myself get a lot of our stress out by going to the gym.

And don’t be fooled about what they say, you’re never too old for some video games if that helps.

The key is find something that helps you to reduce your stress (hopefully something that’s not destructive) and make a part of your regular routine.

We need you out there on the front lines!

Remember your why

Last but at least to remember your purpose.

Why did you start this business?

Who or what are you doing it for?

The reality is not every day will you feel passionate or motivated. But despite how you feel, if you can focus on your why it will help you to keep going.

These are just a few things we had in mind. Take it or leave it. Either way we hope you can find something here that will help you.