Starting a business can be incredibly stressful — trust us, we know.
There’s so much to deal with and so much pressure to succeed. You’ve put all your love, time, attention, and money into this one thing. It can feel like failure is not an option.
And while building a business is always going to come with its fair share of stress, there are actually a few ways you can make your life a little easier.
So, below, we’ve gathered a few ways we think will really help you tackle the highs and lows of startup life.
Streamline Admin Work
There’s nothing worse than being bogged down in paperwork — and starting a new business means a lot of paperwork. From registering your business to filing taxes to dealing with new hire paperwork, admin work can easily stack up and take up way too much of your time.
One easy way to manage all that paperwork is to consider purchasing a physical mail address location, which can help by sorting and scanning your mail. Services like these can significantly up your productivity and allow you to stop spending time on menial tasks.
Take a Break (No, Really)
Start-up culture has taught most of us that if we’re not working 24/7, then we’re total failures. It’s all about “the hustle,” right?
But the truth is, working all the time is not only bad for your mental health, but can lead to burnout, which is bad for business. How can you think straight and make good business decisions if you’re constantly exhausted?
So, while you may feel guilty for taking a break, it is actually the best thing you can do for both yourself and your business.
Sometimes something as simple as taking a short walk around the block or a 15-minute shower can really help clear your mind.
In fact, Aaron Sorkin once told The Hollywood Reporter that he sometimes takes up to six showers a day to help when he’s dealing with writer’s block. He called it “a do-over” that allowed him to reset.
You might have to experiment before you find what works for you. But things like a power nap, a 15-minute meditation, journaling, or doodling can give you the boost you need.
Another excellent way to ease stress is by organizing a stress-reducing workplace massage. Regular massages relieve tension in your body and help boost your energy, making you feel better and achieving a healthier work-life balance that helps you make better decisions.
Hire Some Help
It can be extremely tempting to want to do everything yourself. This is your baby after all! And it’s not easy to hand over your baby to someone else.
And while many of us can be control freaks, it’s important to remember that the whole “do it yourself” attitude can end up doing more harm than good.
If you don’t have the money to hire anyone full-time, try finding some freelancers to get the work done. You can hire someone for a one-off job or on a long-term contract basis, depending on your needs.
Some ways freelancers can help include managing a seller account, designing a website, handling your taxes, writing for your blog, and more.
It might help if you assess what you’ve been spending your time on and where you’re struggling before making any hires. You wouldn’t want to waste your money on hiring a freelancer without thinking through your needs first.
Hopefully, a few of these ideas will help ease your stress a bit — or at least get you on the right path. Good luck!
