This article was originally published in 2016. Some rules, rates or tools mentioned may have changed since — contact us for current guidance.
As fun and exciting as running your own business is, it can be stressful sometimes. Stress in other areas of your life can negatively impact your work too. Regardless of your sources of stress, there are a few ways to reduce and prevent it. We bet that some of your stress is avoidable. By this we don't mean ignoring client emails or avoiding your wife, but preparing for stressful events and choosing to not place yourself in an unnecessary stressful situation.
An example of unnecessary stress is being stuck in morning traffic. If you choose a different route or time to go to work, then you won't experience that stress. Or you could listen to podcasts during commute to make good use of the time, which will help to lessen your stress.
Here are our 3 tips for avoiding unnecessary stress:
Make a Decision
When faced with a stressful event, you should consciously decide whether to change the situation or your reaction to it. Not all situations can be changed. Ask yourself whether or not it's necessary to address the problem. You don't want to avoid an important issue. If it's something that can't be changed, you may choose to react differently to it. Try to view it in a more positive light, and find the good in the bad.
Say "No"
People who have trouble saying "no" often lead stressful lives because they're taking on too much. Learn to say "no" when you don't want to accept a responsibility or have too much going on to add anything else to your plate. This should apply to your work life as well as personal.
Follow a Plan
Planning ahead of time reduces stress in your life and improves your chances of success. You should have a business plan, social media marketing plan, and content marketing plan. If you're into personal growth, create a plan for that too. When working with clients, consider creating a backup plan in case you run into an unexpected problem. This will reduce stress on both sides.
A good portion of stress can actually be prevented through making intentional decisions, saying "no" when you need to, and planning ahead. By implementing these three stress management tips, you'll feel a weight lifted off of your shoulders. Those tense lines on your forehead may vanish too.
We can help reduce the stress in your life by handling your bookkeeping and payroll needs. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.
