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Entrepreneurship can create fantastic opportunities for you and all your employees and customers. It allows you to incorporate innovative ideas into valuable products and services that create jobs and serve customers.
However, if you have ever started and operated your own business, you know it also comes with great stress. Not only do you have to invest substantial amounts of money to open your company, but you must work hard for many months and years to make it successful.
How can entrepreneurs help manage their stress better? Any successful entrepreneur will tell you that adequately training your mind is the key to handling chronic entrepreneurial stress and anxiety. All you need to learn is the best ways to approach this objective.
Related: 11 Effective Ways to Cope with Entrepreneurial Stress
Here are six actionable tips I use to manage entrepreneurial stress, which you can adopt as well:
1. Use visualization techniques
Visualization is a powerful technique that many successful entrepreneurs use to deal with stress and achieve their goals. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), guided visualization can induce a state of relaxation and calmness, particularly when experiencing high levels of stress.
Visualization can improve performance and reduce stress by making it clear what you want to achieve and how you will do it. Take a few moments each day to imagine your professional aims coming true; this will keep you motivated and help combat tension.
Related: 11 Effective Ways to Cope with Entrepreneurial Stress
2. Follow the two-minute rule
The two-minute rule is a method for managing anxiety and increasing productivity. If something can be completed within two minutes, then just do not put it off until later but instead take care of it right now! This prevents little tasks from snowballing into big ones, which causes more stress.
Adhering to the two-minute rule has the potential to simplify work routines while ensuring they do not become overwhelming. Many people have found that taking care of small tasks immediately allows them to concentrate on more important work later.3. Create a personal advisory board
A personal advisory board can give you insights, encouragement and direction in dealing with entrepreneurship's challenges. Your advisory board should include wise mentors, knowledgeable industry professionals and some trusted friends who can provide you with advice on different areas of your business as well as give their opinions about anything concerning it.
Entrepreneurs need support to endure tough times. Meeting regularly with your advisory board will help you see things from new angles and make better choices based on your accumulated knowledge. It will also reduce the usual loneliness associated with being self-employed.
4. Play puzzle games
Playing puzzles is an excellent distraction from the stresses associated with running a business. They can redirect your focus away from the stressors of your business and direct it toward fun and challenging puzzles.
A study published on the National Library of Medicine (NLM) demonstrates that puzzle games can alleviate stress by improving cognitive performance. It doesn't matter which puzzles you play as long as they are interesting, engaging, and entertaining. Everyone may have a different preference regarding which puzzles they prefer to play.
Some examples of popular puzzle games include Jigsaw Puzzles, Candy Crush, Bejeweled, Solitaire, Tetris, Crosswords, Word Puzzles, and Minesweeper. I prefer playing Minesweeper during stressful times for its mental and cognitive benefits. You can search the internet to learn how to play Minesweeper or any of the other games on this list. Each game presents a different challenge, which challenges the mind and keeps you engaged until you finish the game. By doing this, you can temporarily escape from your daily entrepreneurial worries and stresses.
5. Embrace physical activity and exercise
Physical activity is not just good for your body; it's also crucial for your mental health. Engaging in regular exercise can significantly reduce stress levels, boost mood, and improve overall cognitive function
For entrepreneurs, incorporating a regular exercise routine can provide a healthy outlet for stress. Whether it's a brisk walk, a gym session, yoga, or even a quick home workout, find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your daily routine. This not only helps in managing stress but also enhances productivity and mental clarity.
Related: 4 Expert-Backed Strategies for Managing Anxiety
6. Practice mindfulness and meditation
Mindfulness and meditation are excellent techniques for managing stress and maintaining mental clarity. You can combine mindfulness and meditation in your practice. Mindfulness meditation is a method that has been scientifically proven way to reduce stress, as per the American Psychological Association. It has the potential to positively impact brain function and activity, particularly in the areas of emotion regulation and attention.
Learn to focus on one thing at a time while doing your daily activities. You don't have to meditate for hours to practice mindfulness; try simply being present while washing dishes or taking a shower.
Start small with 5 to 10-minute sessions each day where you sit quietly and pay attention to your breathing. Don't be concerned when thoughts arise; simply observe them without judgment before refocusing on the present moment. Take advantage of the many free or inexpensive resources available online, such as guided recordings, which can help deepen these practices even more.
Handling entrepreneurial stress is the key to succeeding in your business. If you follow the actionable tips mentioned above, you will have the best chance of reducing your stress levels. Remember, managing stress is an ongoing process, and integrating these strategies into your daily routine will help you maintain a healthier and more productive journey.
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