It might be Mental Health Awareness Month! But, this is not the only time we worry about you. This post is to just make sure mental health for entrepreneurs is not kept under wraps anymore and that you are taking care of yourself. Remember that #YourMojoMakesYou.
As a business ourselves, we know that times are getting tougher, and entrepreneurs and business owners are trying to keep up morale and business running.
We understand. But in the chaos of fixing and moving your business, do not forget about your mental health.
True, the entrepreneurial hustle gives you a great sense of independence, money, and power.
But, it also takes away from you. Hence, it is crucial for you, to constantly energize your mind, body, and soul.
Top reasons why business owners suffer
Uncertainty, pressure and stress
If you still believe that you can get over daily stress with a huge bank account, you are wrong.
Would you believe us if we told you India has one of the highest stressed-out entrepreneurs in the world? Running a business is stressful. Here’s how you can tell you are stressed:
- Physical – Lack of sleep, loss of appetite/ overeating, weight loss
- Unhealthy coping mechanisms – Drinking excessively, chain-smoking
- Moods – Bad temperament, irritability towards employees
If you face these on a regular basis, you are stressed. But don’t worry, we have a few tips that could help you.
The next time, something is stressing you out, try not to let it affect you personally. Take the learning it has to offer you, and let it pass. This will not only help you grow emotionally and physically but also help you build a stronger empire of healthy employees around you.
No work-life balance
Do you proudly call yourself a workaholic? Well, don’t.
If you find yourself sitting by your laptop all day or working round the clock, it’s unhealthy – for your body and your brain. Even great businesspeople of the world have a routine, and they take time off.
There is a common myth that you need to hustle and grind all day to make your dreams come true. You give up on relationships, family and hanging out with your friends to make your business flourish.
This has been proven wrong. A true entrepreneur needs a routine. Sure, you need some time open to answer unexpected calls, tackle sudden business needs or fix a broken tyre.
” We would never tell someone with a broken leg that they should stop wallowing and get it together. We don’t consider taking medication for an ear infection something to be ashamed of.” – Michelle Obama
Giving in to the stigma
Think of mental health the way you do about the flu. If you have a headache or a runny nose, you talk about it. If you feel feverish, you take a day off.
When you find your mood or behaviour getting affected daily, you need to speak up. In India, no one does. Talk to your colleague, and as discussed in the next few steps, do not be silent. Get professional help.
“Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias will shame us all” – Bill Clinton
Equating self-worth to success
As an entrepreneur, you often associate self-worth with the growth of your company.
Sadly, most entrepreneurs don’t understand where to draw the line. A common phenomenon with most entrepreneurs is that they get so absorbed in the status of the company, that they often equate their own self-worth, to that of the company.
Success and failure are like two sides of the same coin. When encountering failure, it is crucial for you to understand it’s only a part of the learning curve, and that too shall pass.
Entrepreneurs have an unmatched need to prove themselves and to become bigger and better with each passing day. Despite so much pressure and such a lot of triggers for anxiety and depression, there’s rarely ever a sympathetic decision.
It’s time we talk about the mental health of entrepreneurs openly and encouragingly.
How to take care of mental health for entrepreneurs
Talking about mental health is taboo in our country even today. Let’s make a collective decision to change that. Because after all #YourMojoMakesYou.
1. Join online counselling
As an entrepreneur running a business, you have to show a brave face to your employees. In order to keep their mind at ease, you need to be at ease too.
If you feel unmotivated, tired, frustrated, angry and scared, seek professional help online. There are professional psychologists you can talk to, even if you just need to talk to someone about your symptoms.
2. Keeping a favourite mental health playlist
This might sound silly, but it actually plays out well for people. Our marketing team at Instamojo runs on constant creative fuel. This can get exhaustive, so some of us keep a playlist. Favourite songs, music to calm you down, a podcast with your favourite writer on it or just bloopers from your favourite Jackie Chan movie.
For example, here are playlists on Youtube and Spotify that could ease your mind.
3. Take time off
Too much is done to pamper the physical body, and too less to strengthen the mind and soul. Since a vacation in Europe is not possible, take time out at home, to do nothing.
Do the things that make you happy, irrespective of monetary returns. Practice the art of mindfulness and vipassana meditation to identify and address what’s holding you back on your journey. Allocating a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness can help entrepreneurs cultivate mental clarity, focus, and resilience.
Remember, sometimes prevention is the cure.
4. Trusted sources only
Looking for the right funds for your business? Want to know what the status of the economy ACTUALLY is?
Hand over your phone to a social media expert and ask them to remove content that might trigger anxiety in you.
5. Understanding and talking about empathy
It’s important for you, as a business leader to endorse and break the norm. Make it okay, to not be okay. Encourage group talks and seminars to demystify the common beliefs people have about mental health.
Ask if your colleagues are doing okay, do not just work them to death because business is tougher than usual. This is the right time to check on them. Everyone is scared.
6. Time Management
As a business leader, you have a hundred things to do. and it can get very overwhelming very fast! To ensure you get your things done on time with the last possible resistance, you need to enforce some structure and discipline in your life.
Practice time blocking and allocate specific blocks of time for different tasks or activities throughout the day.
A simple way to manage your time effectively would be to follow the Eisenhower Matrix for your productivity.
According to the matrix –
- For important and urgent tasks- Do it right away
- If the task is important but not urgent – Block a time for it for later
- The task may not be important but is urgent – Delegate it to someone who has the bandwidth
- Remove and eliminate all tasks that are not important and not urgent either
7. Pay attention to your body
We often see entrepreneurs taking up toxic habits because of stress and troubled mental health. This eventually ends up wreaking havoc on your body as well.
Spend time on your body. take care of it. Take regular baths, work out, go for long walks, maintain a balanced diet, and get in enough hours of sleep.
Incorporate stress management techniques into your routine, such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or engaging in activities like yoga or tai chi.
Practising self-care fosters overall well-being and resilience.
8. Create a morning routine
Start the day with a structured routine that includes activities like meditation, journaling, exercise, or affirmations.
This helps set a positive tone for the day and promotes a focused mindset.
9. Practice Gratitude
Cultivate a gratitude practice by expressing appreciation for the positive aspects of your entrepreneurial journey. Each day is a chance for you to appreciate the long way that you have come, or the people that have helped oy on the way.
This can be done through journaling, verbal affirmations, or sharing gratitude with others. Focusing on gratitude promotes a positive mindset and resilience.
Here are some prompts by Rhythms of Play to get you started.
10. Delegate and outsource
As an entrepreneur, the urge to “do everything yourself” is always high. But, this can lead to burnout pretty early. it’s important to understand your own limits and to set boundaries that keep you healthy and productive in the longer run.
Recognize that you don’t have to do everything on your own. Delegate tasks to team members or consider outsourcing certain responsibilities to free up time and mental energy for more strategic work for your business growth.
And we are here, to help you with your business. Do not worry. With an eCommerce platform like Instamojo, you don’t need to worry about:
- Inventory management
- Sending cart abandonment reminders
- Creating invoices
- Customer management
Kick off your shoes, take a breather and let us handle your business for you (and absolutely in your style).
