You're an entrepreneur. You're driven, you're passionate, and you're determined to succeed. But what you may not have considered is that this often comes at a cost: your mental health.
In fact, a recent study found that entrepreneurs are more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population. But why? And more importantly, what can you do about it if you’re a super-stressed entrepreneur?
The reality is that many entrepreneurs struggle with mental health problems. In fact, a study by the Harvard Business Review found that 50% of entrepreneurs reported experiencing at least one major depressive episode in their lives.
This isn't surprising when you consider the stresses of entrepreneurship. You're constantly putting yourself out there, taking risks and facing setbacks. There's no guarantee of success, and you often have to work long hours with little sleep. It's no wonder so many entrepreneurs feel overwhelmed and exhausted.
Stress and Anxiety
You may not know this, but 60% of entrepreneurs report feeling stressed all or most of the time. And this stress can take a serious toll on our mental health.
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue for entrepreneurs. And this can be due to the fear of failure, the pressure to succeed, or simply the stress of running a business.
Personal Health Goals
Entrepreneurs are not just CEOs at work: we’re the CEO of our own lives. We have to be your own advocate and make sure that you're taking care of yourself both physically and mentally.
One way to do this is by setting personal health goals. But this can be tricky, especially when you're dealing with the stresses of entrepreneurship. How do you make sure that your goals are realistic and achievable?
Here are a few tips:
1. Make a list of the different areas of your life that you want to focus on (physical health, mental wellbeing, etc.)
2. Set realistic goals for each area
3. Break down each goal into smaller, more manageable steps
4. Take action on at least one step towards each goal every day
5. Celebrate each accomplishment, no matter how small
The Importance of Self-Care
It's important to balance the need to manage work with taking care of ourselves both physically and mentally. Burn-out is a vey real issue and often we ignore the signs and only pay attention when it is too late - and we’re overwhelmed, unable to concentrate and unable to do our job.
The Best ways to find balance and prevent extreme stress and burnout is to make time to do things that make us happy. This might mean going for a run, reading a book, or spending time socialising.
Self care is also about eating healthy and getting enough sleep. When you're running your own business, it can be tempting to work around the clock, but this isn't sustainable and putting in lots of long days and skipping sleep is the quickest route to burning out.
Coping Strategies
It's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, take time out every day and stay connected with your support network. And it's helpful to keep things in perspective and make time for activities outside of work. Finally, if you're struggling with your mental wellbeing, don't be afraid to seek professional help. There's no shame in admitting that you need help, and there are many resources available.
If you feel like you might be experiencing some mental health struggles, the most important thing is to be honest with yourself. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed, take some time to reflect and assess what might be causing these feelings.
Once you have a better understanding of what’s going on, you can start to look for ways to address the problem.
If you’re having a tough time dealing with your mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are plenty of resources available, both online and off, and there’s no shame in seeking out assistance. Remember, you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs have struggled with their mental health, and you can get through this.
A no-obligation call will establish if we're a good fit to work together and is the best place to start if you're an entrepreneur, startup or SME owner and you're struggling with overwhelm or stress.
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