Ways to Keep Stress Low While Starting (or Growing) Your Business

By:
Julie Morris

When it comes to starting or growing a business, stress is just part of the game. There’s a ton to do, and the stakes are high. Some stress can be positive. If it’s motivating you to get the job done, do your best, and drive forward, then it’s healthy and productive. However, too much stress can backfire in a major way.

When stress grows too intense or too constant, you can wind up feeling burnt out and overrun. This can lead you to miss or even willfully neglect important tasks, as your brain attempts to reduce the anxiety through avoidance. This leads to more anxiety and stress, which leads to more procrastination, creating an endless, dangerous cycle. Discover the best ways to manage your stress so that you stay in that healthy, motivational range and drive your business toward its most successful future.

Knock Out Business Basics

When it comes to workplace stress, one of the simplest ways to address it is to make your basic, everyday tasks less stressful. Start by simplifying your online payroll process with Payroll Setup. There’s a lot to manage when it comes to payroll — even in a small business — but using the service helps offload that work. Not only does that take tasks off of your plate, but it also ensures that you don’t inadvertently make a big (and often, expensive) mistake.  

Another great task you can knock off your list is registering your company as an LLC. This puts a layer of legal protection between your company and your personal assets. It can also simplify your taxes and make your business more legitimate to potential clients or investors. It can be a fiddly process, but fortunately, there are services out there that can knock out this work on your behalf. Take some time to investigate if registering as an LLC is right for your company.

Commit to Work-Life Separation

It’s challenging for anyone dedicated to their career to really commit to a separation between their work life and their personal life, and it’s even harder for business owners. This is especially true for those who are just starting out or are trying to drive their company to the next level. It’s easy to chalk this up to the sheer amount of work that needs to be done, but it’s often a direct result of the stress itself.
People who are highly motivated tend to see stress as a problem that needs to be solved. When there’s a lot of work on the horizon, the “obvious” solution is usually to just do that work, even if it winds up being all you do. However, this will backfire in the long run as you become overstretched. You need dedicated downtime in order to recharge your creative batteries and tackle your work to the best of your abilities.

Build Low-Stress Hobbies

Having downtime isn’t the beginning and end of stress reduction — you must use it wisely. If you spend all of your time off scrolling mindlessly through social media or running through to-do lists in your head, you’re not really resting. Instead, focus on true stress reduction hobbies in order to create proper downtime in your life.

Artistic pursuits such as drawing or painting can be an excellent outlet. You can also dedicate some time each night to reading — pick a fun and easy book to give your mind a break. Physical exercise, especially cardio such as running or dancing, is a great choice as well. Not only will you be releasing excess stress, but you’ll be giving your body the exercise it needs to thrive as well.

Remember, you don’t need to get rid of stress entirely — and in fact, doing so can be near impossible. Some stress is normal, and it can even be a healthy motivator. If it’s taking over your life, however, or growing too intense, these coping techniques can help you reduce your stress to the manageable levels you need to thrive.

Payroll Setup can help make your payroll process simpler and less stressful — learn how today!

*All blog posts solely reflect the views and opinions of the author only.