7 Stress Management Tips for Small Business Owners

‘No Gain Without Pain’ – this saying summarises the struggle of small business

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owners perfectly. From the pressure of meeting qua...

7 Stress Management Tips for Small Business Owners
Lethabo Moodley Image
Lethabo Moodley
Updated: Thursday 21st of April 2022
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‘No Gain Without Pain’ – this saying summarises the struggle of small business owners perfectly. From the pressure of meeting quarterly objectives to the tension of holding the fort, every challenging business situation can lead to sleepless nights. Entrepreneurs are always loaded with responsibilities and the burden to perform in adverse conditions makes them weary. The anxiety stemming from all the fuss creates constant stress, which affects their mental health.

Thus, it is imperative to have a healthy and stress-free work environment that evokes progress and productivity. Budding entrepreneurs who wish to purchase a business for sale in South Africa must ensure that they do not get trapped in these hassles or feel mentally exhausted. So, here are seven stress management tips that can help you move over the worry barriers and enjoy a lively and blissful entrepreneurial journey.

1. Start Organising and Prioritising

The first step to reducing stress is to get organised. Schedule your day in advance with the help of time management tools, such as Google Calendar and daily to-do lists. Most successful entrepreneurs follow the Pareto principle or 80/20 rule, wherein they get 80% of the tasks completed within 20% of their time. It involves delegating and automating most of the work to capable team members.

Prioritise work by putting crucial tasks on top that need immediate attention. When dealing with urgent matters, you must prioritise them as per importance and devote your time accordingly. Get rid of all the distractions when dealing with significant matters and stay focused on completing the task. Do not feel stressed by the list you have created. Maintain your focus on the top one and keep moving down as the day progresses without feeling overwhelmed.

2. Find People You Can Trust

Since organising is dependent on delegation, you need to hire people who can take responsibility and complete their tasks without supervision. Allow the senior management to become a part of every decision and strategy so that they consider themselves an integral part of the organisation. They must put their best foot forward to achieve the business goals and must be in alignment with the vision and mission.

Build relationships with your team members through regular interactions and exchanging ideas and suggestions. Make them accountable and take charge of work when you need support. It will aid in building a collaborative and cohesive work culture.

3. Take Breaks Often

Repetitive work can make you fatigued and bored. Thus, automation can work wonders in eliminating tasks that consume a lot of time and effort. Besides this, you need to refresh your mind after every few hours. Breaks help switch off your brain and come back with a renewed vigour to your desk. Use the breakout zone, coffee machine or cafeteria to take a break and hang out with colleagues or call family members and friends.

If you have struggled to resolve a problem, moving away from the situation for a few minutes can give you a fresh perspective or open new windows. It is also possible that you may not find a solution, but you will still get some respite from the seriousness that may become engulfing.

4. Learn From Failures

Entrepreneurship is a bumpy ride, and everybody must go through the ups and downs. Do not get worked up by the impending dangers or competitors’ success. Failures are a part of life, and you need to learn to conquer them. Use them as case studies to be prepared for such challenges in the future and steer clear of them.

Stay positive by meditating and reading inspiring books, and do not lose sight of your goals. Stop obsessing over getting the perfect results and accept that minor upheavals do not mean the end of the road. These roadblocks must make you stronger and wiser.

5. Concentrate on Your Well-being

A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. Thus, staying fit and agile is significant to becoming more dynamic and active in the office. Your energy will ensure that everyone is enthused to work, and you feel motivated to give every task your best shot. It is essential to include at least 20-30 minutes of exercise in your daily routine to keep your mental health in check.

You can utilise your morning or evening time to go for a run or walk around the house with your dog. You can take your kids cycling or enjoy swimming instead of snacking in front of the TV or spending time on social media. Reduce your screen time and utilise it to dance, stretch or do yoga. It will help to reduce your stress levels and keep lethargy away.

6. Engage in Fruitful Conversations

Business owners need to network and build relationships with a variety of people, including their employees, clients, suppliers, partners, vendors, mentors, industry veterans, investors, stakeholders, freelancers etc. Utilise your free time in meeting new people that are important for your business and build a rapport with them that helps in scaling up.

Talking to people and engaging in healthy conversations that may or may not be related to work is vital for a healthy mindset. It helps in broadening your horizons and being vocal about your feelings, opinions and emotions. It relieves stress and helps you feel lighter as you share your problems and get to hear a new point of view.

7. Emphasise Work/Life Balance

Spending time with family and friends is the biggest stressbuster. Thus, you need to make ample time for them in your daily schedule. Restrict your work hours to 9 to 5 and do not go beyond that limit. You may take a 30-minute break before dinner to check an important email or finalise your schedule for the next day, but do not let it eat into your family time.

When you are at home, forget about the office and checking your emails after every few minutes. Give your full attention to your family members and indulge in activities that make you joyous, such as cooking an exotic dish together, playing Lego with kids, going for a drive, eating ice cream, etc. These moments fill your heart with gladness, and you start appreciating life and the little things that make it special.

Conclusion

If you wish to purchase a business for sale in South Africa to realise your entrepreneurial dream, you must ensure that you are ready for the grind. Prepare yourself mentally and follow the tips mentioned above to stay happy and stress-free.

Author Info
Lethabo Moodley

A business expert, Lethabo Moodley is a management consultant who has been working across domains since 2005. His rich experience includes a Masters degree in business administration from the prestigious Gordon Institute of Business Science and Doctor of Business Leadership degree from Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership. He has been actively working as a consultant with the biggest firms in South Africa and his contribution in the growth of these organisations is considered invaluable. He has saved a lot of small businesses from going bankrupt and has renewed the lost success streak of the big fish in the market. Business2Sell is delighted to have him onboard for his insightful blogs. 

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