7 Ways to Run to Open a Business Without Stress
1. Keep A Clean Work Space
One of the best ways to resist the stress associated with starting a new business is to
keep your desk clean. Clutter has been scientifically proven to affect your ability to focus and complete tasks.
According to a study by The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), the average person wastes over four hours per week looking for papers in a cluttered environment. This same study found that getting rid of clutter could reduce the time you spend cleaning by more than 40 percent. Think about how much time you can save, and the stress you can prevent just by having a clean work area.
2. Let Go of What You Can’t Control
While starting your own business, there will be many events outside of your control. It's important to be able to identify these events and have the ability to develop robust action plans to mitigate the impact of them. Obsessing about things that are outside of your control will take its toll on your business, in addition to your health.
3. Develop A Plan
Without having an actionable plan, you’ll be driving blind. Creating a daily to-do list will help you stay on track, and reduce the stress associated with forgotten deadlines and last-minute emergencies. Your to-do list should be used as a guide, not as a binding agreement. There will be times when you don’t complete every task on your list, and that’s okay. Allow yourself some flexibility, and you'll be surprised by
how much stress you can avoid.
4. Don’t Overspend
Overspending is a common mistake made by new entrepreneurs. Although there will be some unexpected costs, it's important to stick to your budget whenever possible. It may be tempting to overspend on advertising, technology, and inventory right away, but it's important to remember that opening a business is a marathon, not a sprint.
Learn from the major spending mistakes of other entrepreneurs and understand that it’s okay to open your doors without having all the items on your wish list purchased.
5. Prioritize “Me Time”
You probably hear from family and friends that you need to
make more time for yourself. They aren’t wrong! One of the best ways to help you stress less while starting your business is to make time to focus on yourself. For instance, you could take 30 minutes each day to focus on a personal activity or hobby. It may seem impossible to step away from your business, but you’ll become a better business owner if you lead a balanced life.
6. Delegate When Possible
As an entrepreneur, you view your business as your baby. You've grown it from the ground up, which is why it's difficult to give control to other people. However, not delegating to your employees or partners could result in decreased levels of productivity.
Delegating is a great way to de-stress and reduce the mundane or tedious tasks off your plate. If you’ve hired competent employees, you should be able to trust them to do an excellent job and relieve you of some unnecessary stress.
7. Find Time to Exercise
According to the American Psychological Association,
exercise can reduce stress and improve cognitive function. Unfortunately, even with these proven benefits, most adults don’t make time for exercise. In fact, only 17 percent of adults exercise on a daily basis. Although incorporating exercise into your life won’t entirely eliminate the stress associated with starting a business, but it can help you unwind after a long day.
Start a Business – Stress-Free!
Building your business from the ground up is a reasonable cause for stress. Still, there are many productive ways that you can you combat it. If you allow stress to fester, it could be detrimental to your health and the future of your business. It's entirely possible to overcome start-up stress and build your business into something amazing!
Do you have any other tips for new business owners during Stress Awareness Month? Let us know in the comment section below!