Almost every small business owner has, at one point or another in the course of running their companies, found themselves in a position of burning themselves out and getting too stressed about a particular problem they're facing. This is just a fact of life when you're an entrepreneur. However, it's important to also not let these issues cloud judgment or otherwise adversely affect the day-to-day operations of a company. The problem is that it's probably easier than one might think to fall into this unfortunate circumstance.
Peer advisory and business coaching group The Alternative Board recently conducted a poll which found that close to 20 percent of small business owners regularly work 60 or more hours per week, and more than three in every four have some kind of symptoms related to workplace stress, according to a report from New York Newsday. Unfortunately, these things can take a toll on the ways in which both a small business and a person's life are running.
"The biggest struggle all of us go through is finding the right balance," says Jason Zickerman, chief executive officer of The Alternative Board, told the newspaper. "It's at the root of what every business owner seeks."
Fortunately, there are a number of ways in which owners will be able to avoid many of the behaviors that can lead to stress, which, in turn, can have a negative impact on the running of a business, the report said. For instance, taking a quick assessment of things in one's professional or personal life that could be causing stress is a great way to see problems coming before they actually arrive.
Individual stressors that can be cut out
One of the things that many owners find themselves doing, and which can lead to significant stress, is that they tend to space out their work over the course of a day – but do not ever take the time to go have lunch, take a walk, or do other things that might allow them a breather, the report said. It's probable that these types of people might benefit simply by finding a new way to get their work done. For instance, setting hard and fast personal deadlines by which they will take a few minutes away from their desks might help owners get their work done more quickly, and thus, give them a little extra time to decompress.
In fact, getting away from one's desk at least once an hour can likewise go a long way toward helping owners feel less like they're tied down, which can increase stress levels, the report said. Further, it's important that entrepreneurs take a little bit of time away from their virtual office when they leave for the day; the fact of the matter is that even when people aren't actually at the office, they may be laboring on business projects at home, or at least consistently checking, composing, and replying to emails. Setting a deadline by which they will stop doing this at home every day — for example, 9 p.m. — can help owners to feel a little freer from their responsibilities on occasion.
One thing that's often a source of constant worry for owners in particular is the cost of running their companies. However, it's possible to do more to reduce their expenditures, improve their bottom lines, and in doing so, boost their mood. For instance, finding more affordable small business insurance policies, including those for general liability insurance or consultant insurance, may go a long way toward shoring up any enterprise's bottom line.
