How to Protect Your Mental Health As a Small Business Owner

How to grow a small business whilst maintaining your mental health

Running a business can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, and for some, it becomes too much. A business with years of blood, sweat and tears can crumble to the ground in an instant as a result of mental health struggles. No matter how successful you desire your business to be, it isn’t worth it at the expense of your mental and physical health. A small business can only survive and thrive if you are on your A-game, so remember to always put yourself first.

Build relationships with other business owners

Running a business can be a lonely ordeal, especially if you work from home and don’t have a business partner. Connecting with other like-minded business owners can provide you with a support network, and who knows, maybe even some new friends! Perhaps aim to meet up at a freelance working space weekly when Covid rules allow, to share ideas and offer support to one another. 

Lots of towns in the UK also offer free networking days and coworking space events, so be sure to keep an eye on local Facebook groups and websites such as Eventbrite for these.

Set a routine and healthy boundaries

Working for yourself can often result in your work and home life becoming engulfed in each other, with no clear boundaries between the two. Establishing a daily routine and boundaries, whether that’s with clients or your work hours, is a healthy way to ensure you are getting enough down-time outside of your business. Remember, your business shouldn’t be your life. Here are some boundaries that you can put in place for a healthier relationship with your work life:

• Only answering business related calls, emails and texts during designated hours.
• Only completing work during specific hours in the day.
• Setting aside at least a 1-2 hour lunch break per day, with shorter 15-20 minute breaks in the morning and afternoon too. Take at least one day off per week too, and don’t feel guilt about taking well-earned holidays!
• Say no, owning your own business means you can work with clients you work well with, and on projects you like. Be realistic about what you can take on, and doing things that fit your criteria.

Create a dedicated workspace, try not to work in places such as the bedroom which should be a haven

Plan ahead of time

Scheduling social media posts, batching any long-form content and automating as much of your strategy as possible can be a real time saver. This will help you keep on top of things too. Remember to always treat your own business as a client project, don’t let it fall to the backburner once your business begins to drive success.

 Abide by the ‘one thing’ rule, tackling just one task at a time to avoid overwhelm when you have a to-do list as long as your arm! Working on too many things at once can cloud your mind, resulting in your work not being up to standard.

Outsource what you don’t know

If you’re running a small business, it’s likely that you’ll be doing about six people’s jobs at the beginning. From marketer and HR professional, to finance and sales guru, you’ll probably find that there are some areas which aren’t your strong point. 

If your business can afford it, outsourcing work to a social media manager or virtual assistant can be a massive weight off your shoulders. Remember to be clear on the requirements of your partnership, and work with them to improve your business! They are there to help you grow, and give you some time back in your day.

 Approximately four in five small business owners experience mental health issues, and that’s only those who are willing to talk about it! There is absolutely no shame in reaching out for help if you need it. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and you don’t have to suffer alone or in silence.

Need further advice? Get in touch with us here at Morgan Branding we have a fully dedicated team ready to help you and your business get ahead online. You can get in touch via out contact page or get social with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn! 

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