During recent years, people have seen business as an escape boat from poverty. In a fast-paced world where people are increasingly trying to start and run their own businesses, not only do people get a higher chance for succeeding in life, but also a higher chance of developing mental health concerns due to stress that comes with it.
In one of the Q & A sessions in SavvySME, a business asked, “How can I manage the mental and emotional load of running a business?” and very interestingly, a lot of people expressed their sentiments, showing how business is taking a toll on people’s mental well-being and how it is very relevant in today’s society.
Greg Rogers, Founder and CEO at Rethink HQ pointed out how going back to your purpose is very important by saying, “Stop looking at what everyone else is doing, they are not you, and not your business… You went (hopefully) into business for the right reasons, vision, purpose and a desire to help by way of your product/service. Business is not a comparison game.” As in his words, comparison can kill one’s drive and cause so much mental distress, so avoiding it is best.
In another vista, Jef Lippiatt, Owner at Startup Chucktown, thinks that one can be caught in a vicious cycle of imposter syndrome which is defined to be an instance of doubting one’s ability and thinking of oneself as fraud. Jef made sure one won’t fall into it and said, “Having a support structure, especially during these uncertain times is vitally important. The people that are the most likely to understand you are like-minded business owners. The people most likely to give you emotional support are friends and family.”
On business, he went on and said, “The other big change is adjusting how you see or perceive your competition. It is highly unlikely they are doing everything in the best manner possible. Watch them closely. You’ll see things that they aren’t doing well and they are likely too close to catch it themselves.”
Candice Meisels at Candice Meisels PR,circled it back to physical health and simply said, “One step at a time, one rung of the ladder at a time, one day at a time. Look after your mental health and stress by including something that helps you into your busy schedule e.g walking, exercise, meditation, reading.”
With all that said, we can conclude that having a strong support system, be it family, friends, or belonging to a community you truly belong in is very important. Running a business sure is stressful but rewarding. Just while waiting, you need to help yourself and keep your mental health in check at all costs.
