Busy Entrepreneurs and Stress: 4 Ways to Feel Better and Work Smarter

By Guest Blogger Jennifer Mcgregor

Photo via Pixabay

​​Stress affects millions of Americans every day, leaving us feeling out of control when it comes to our personal and professional lives. It can be difficult to get through those emotions and to the other side, where we can focus on setting and fulfilling goals. And when you’re an entrepreneur, that can have life-altering consequences. It’s important to think of the best ways to get feelings of stress and anxiety under control and to reduce activities that bring them on as much as possible. Staying organized will certainly help, especially if you work from home. It’s not always easy to separate business from personal matters when your office is located inside your house, but doing so is crucial for keeping stress at bay.
 
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make things a bit easier for yourself. Maximizing your productivity is essential, both so you can fit as much into a day as you can and so you’re not completely exhausted by the end of it. Having some downtime is crucial when you lead a busy life, so keep this in mind where your schedule is concerned.
 
Keep reading for a few tips on how to combat stress and anxiety when you’re a busy self-starter.
 
Design Your Home Office for Maximum Productivity
 
The space you work in should be clearly separated from your living area so there aren’t any distractions. Having the television on may seem like background noise that won’t keep you from working, but it can actually be a huge distraction that draws your attention away from your job. In addition, natural lighting can be a wonderful addition to any workspace, as it helps keep your circadian rhythm on track so you can get better sleep at night. 
 
Treat Your Body Right
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It’s all too easy to neglect your body and mind when you’re busy with work, but it’s essential to make sure you take care of yourself no matter what’s going on in your professional life. Getting daily exercise — even if it’s only 30 minutes of activity — and eating right are great starts that can help you stay on track in every way, so look for ways you can get active even when you’re busy. Keep a yoga mat in your car so you can practice some poses on your lunch hour, or go for a brisk walk with the dog after dinner. Cook up a few healthy meals for the week and freeze them so you can eat well even when you’re pressed for time.
 
Create a Routine
 
Creating a routine can help you stay focused and energized no matter how busy the day-to-day grind gets, even if it’s only a morning schedule that allows you to get everyone ready and out the door smoothly. You might focus on things like responding to emails at the beginning of the day, then take care of purchase orders and invoices before lunch. The more you can introduce order into your day, the easier it will be for you to get things done stress-free.
 
Recognize When You Need a Break
 
We’ve all had moments when work is piling up and it seems impossible to take time off, but it’s crucial to make sure you take breaks when you start to feel overwhelmed. In fact, taking a timeout well before that point is encouraged, even if you have to schedule it. Keep in mind that you don’t have to go on vacation; simply walking away from the computer for 10 minutes to clear your head will suffice when things are super stressful.
 
Staying busy as an entrepreneur is something that simply comes with the territory, but it doesn’t have to go hand-in-hand with a decline in your mental health. Look for ways you can feel better each day, including changing your surroundings if necessary. Doing so can help you focus on the most important things at the right moments.
 
 Jennifer McGregor is a premed student, is passionate about health and wellness topics and would like her writing to help make the world a better, healthier place. She  co-created a Public Health Library to write about health and wellness topics and to create a forum for sharing reputable health and medical information.