Stay Stress-Free During Hectic Times

The life of an entrepreneur comes with all kinds of stressors: staying on top of important figures, making new contacts, delegating appropriately and researching new ventures or products, just to name a few. Despite all of these potential stressors, you have to know how to persevere if you want to have a chance at success. 

Here are some highly effective strategies and tips for keeping your business on track when things get hectic.

1. Keep the lines of communication open.

This is a good piece of advice for any time in your career, but it’s especially crucial when things are busy. Clear, effective communication starts with you. Make sure that your employees know exactly what you expect of them, including deadlines. 

Send mass messages — like emails, bulletins, and announcements — when it’s possible, but don’t oversimplify in the interest of being brief. If it’s more efficient to gather everyone for a quick meeting to go over a project and answer questions, then do it — even if you have to meet online. Sending a quick email and moving on to other projects might seem faster, but if you’ll ultimately be interrupted with questions, then you’ve not only lost time, but you’ve also lost an opportunity for clear communication.

2. Break up larger projects.

When a project seems larger than life, simply starting it can feel like too much. An article from the University of Georgia’s UGA Today suggests breaking down those particularly daunting tasks into smaller steps — and creating a clear list of each task. 

As you work, think only of the step at hand and don’t let your mind wander ahead to future actions. Soon you’ll be at the end of your list and, before you know it, the entire project is done... and all without that feeling of dread!

3. Start a rewarding side project.

Nearly every time I’ve suggested that a client pick up a new hobby, they laugh and insist that their focus needs to be on work. So I’ve come up with a compromise: Work on a mini work project, like revamping your outdated small business website into a more easily navigated masterpiece. 

Have you been toying with the idea of a new logo? Work on some sketches! Come up with a work-related passion project without a deadline that can give your brain a break from stress and pressure without making you feel unproductive.

This can also be an excellent way to involve your family. If your daughter is artistic, then see what ideas she has for your new logo. Or perhaps your spouse has web experience and can give you advice on creating a stronger internet presence. Often, simply inviting your family to be a part of your work life can make them feel more connected to you.

4. Get an early start.

Think of it this way: Getting to the office even just a half hour early can give you some extra time to get work done without any interruptions and it might even save you time later in the day. 

During these early hours, power through the tasks you need the most focus for. It’s an especially great opportunity to knock out that project you’ve been putting off — by the time you’re done, you’ll still have plenty of daylight left to tackle other challenges. 

5. Make self-care a priority.

What does your current self-care program look like? For instance, if you’re just trying to squeeze more work into your morning, but breakfast and exercising aren’t part of the picture, then it’s time to reevaluate. 

Make sure that you’re getting three nutritious meals every day, and find ways to make fitness an easy part of your plan — even if it’s just parking farther from work and taking the stairs every chance you get.

When your business really gets going, managing the stress and time constraints can be a challenge. The good news is that these hectic periods are usually temporary.