Hey Beyondwoman, May is Mental Health Month and what better way to end than to have a conversation about women in Business and minding our mental health?
I am a woman in business and if you are one too, I know you will value this conversation. Running a business can be an incredibly rewarding endeavor, filled with exciting opportunities and the satisfaction of seeing our ideas come to life. However, it can also be a source of stress and anxiety as we navigate the challenges and uncertainties that come with entrepreneurship. And so we must find effective strategies to stop stressing about our businesses, it is vital for our mental well-being and overall success.
Let’s explore five powerful mindset strategies that will help us to alleviate stress and cultivate a healthier perspective. By practicing mindfulness, embracing a growth mindset, delegating and seeking support, setting realistic goals and priorities, and prioritizing self-care, we can gain a sense of control, reduce stress, and create a more balanced approach to managing our businesses.
Let’s delve into these strategies and discover how they can transform our mindset and empower us to navigate the entrepreneurial journey with greater ease and resilience.
Practice Mindfulness—this is us being fully present in the moment and aware of our thoughts and feelings without judgment, you know how we loovvveee an opportunity to be judgemental. We must incorporate mindfulness techniques, my number one is deep breathing exercises or it might be meditation for you. These two must be a part of our daily routine. These practices can help us stay grounded and reduce stress by focusing on the present rather than worrying about the future.
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”.
Leo Buscaglia
Embrace a Growth Mindset—this is us viewing challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth. Instead of dwelling on mistakes or failures, we shift our perspectives and see them as valuable experiences that can lead to improvement. Embracing a growth mindset allows us to approach obstacles with resilience and reduces the stress associated with setbacks.
Failures are only failures when we don’t learn from them, because when we learn from them, they become lessons.”
Jay Shetty
Delegate and Seek Support—as business owners, we experience stress because we try to handle every aspect of our business by ourselves, but we must learn to delegate tasks to capable team members or consider outsourcing certain responsibilities. We need a community around us that will support us when needed, a network of mentors, colleagues, or friends who can offer guidance and share the burden. We must not be afraid of help. Asking for help or delegating will alleviate stress and help us maintain a healthier work-life balance.
If you really want to grow as an entrepreneur, you’ve got to learn to delegate.”
Richard Branson.
Set Realistic Goals and Prioritize—This is a big one and why is this you may ask? Well, setting realistic goals and breaking them down into smaller, manageable tasks will provide a sense of direction and accomplishment. This simply means, prioritizing our tasks based on their importance and urgency, and then focusing on completing them one at a time. This is one for the books ladies, it works! When we get clear about our goals and start focusing on the most important tasks, we will reduce stress and the result becomes less overwhelm!
The goal you set must be challenging. At the same time, it should be realistic and attainable, not impossible to reach. It should be challenging enough to make you stretch, but not so far that you break.
Rick Hansen
Take Breaks and Practice Self-Care—Who are we without breaks and taking care of ourselves, NOTHING! And so it becomes important for us as women in Business to take regular breaks to rest and recharge. We must incorporate exercise, spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or engaging in activities that bring us joy in our routine. Think about this statement—”taking breaks and practicing self-care helps reduce stress and improve our overall well-being and productivity.” What do you think?
Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
— Eleanor Brownn
As women running our own businesses and juggling multiple aspects of our lives, it’s important not to overlook the effectiveness of our efforts. We need to recognize when we are out of alignment with our core and identify what enables us to function optimally while experiencing joy and fulfillment. Managing stress effectively is a crucial part of achieving this balance. By consistently implementing these mindset strategies and seeking professional help if stress becomes overwhelming, we can navigate our entrepreneurial journey with greater ease and effectiveness. It’s important to incorporate these strategies into our daily routines and remain patient with ourselves, as managing stress is an ongoing process. By taking proactive steps to reduce stress and prioritize our well-being, we can establish a healthier and more sustainable approach to running our businesses.
