Stress is a critical feeling; it can help motivate you to reach your potential, or it can cause you to become overwhelmed and give up. The right amount of stress can push you to achieve your goals, but too much stress can adversely affect your business and your health.
The last few years have been more stressful for business owners than ever before; in fact, 52% of business owners felt stressed during 2021, a seven percent increase from the previous year. The pandemic has exacerbated daily stress and tasks, such as finding the right staff, reaching your target audience, and hitting your goals. In addition, we’ve seen the economy rise and fall since March of 2020, and many businesses, and their profits, have done the same. So, as a business owner, how do you handle stress? And how do you know when to ask for help?
It’s one thing to be stressed at work, especially if you’re the owner. It’s another thing to bring that stress home with you and let it affect you all hours of the day. Many hobbies can help you unwind when you get home: exercise, meditation, reading, limiting screen time, and practicing self-care. If these simple hobbies can help you relax and relieve some of that built-up stress, you are in a good position. If you can’t enjoy these activities or are too busy or stressed to give them a shot, you should start looking for help.
Your business should be something that you love and devote yourself to, but don’t forget to focus on yourself. Eleanor Brown said it best, “Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” If you don’t make time for yourself, your quality of life and your business will suffer.
So, if you are constantly stressed out, and nothing helps you relax, it’s time to ask for help. At ABCO Group, we can help with day-to-day tasks, big picture items, or anything in between. The primary services we provide to our partners are helping with accounting management and finances, access to mass-market retailers, and strategic growth approaches. Call us if any of these areas can lessen your stress and help take tasks off your plate. While you are passionate about your business, you must remember that it is a business, not your life. Your life lives outside of your business, and we think it’s time you enjoy it.