5 tips to prevent anxiety when opening your small business

Being your own boss can be both exciting and challenging.

Starting a small business can mean long hours, unpredictable cash flow, significant changes in the workplace, and also having responsibility for all employees. Opening a small business can leave one mentally exhausted and lead to feeling stressed, or suffering from anxiety.

Often you may get lost in your whirlpool of problems and thoughts. This can in turn make you tired and anxious, affecting your skill to run a business and decision-making abilities while impacting your relationships.

If your anxiety feels like too much to manage along with your small business, consider reaching out to a therapist. BetterHelp provides access to experienced therapists online, and this flexibility and accessibility may be vital for a new business owner.

As a business owner, taking care of yourself should be at the top of your to-do list. Here are a few tips to prevent anxiety when opening a small business:

Identify your stressors

Knowing and identifying your stressors is a vital way to tackle them.

One of the causes of stress in business is having so many things on your brain that none of them fully get done. Make a list of your tasks for each day. This can get your head into focus and allow you to prioritize your goals.

The feeling of checking off your tasks one after the other can give you a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

Remember that you cannot do everything alone or at once. It is important to delegate tasks to team members and even outsource them if required. Put the business into systems and processes that will allow you to take regular short breaks and holidays.

Make time to remember your accomplishments

While running your small business, it can be easy to focus on the things that go wrong. You could experience stress when things are behind schedule or need to be fixed.

However, try listing out things that are going right. List out all your accomplishments and achievements or any small milestones you have achieved.

Do not neglect even the smallest accomplishments and you may realize that there are more than you thought.

Place the list somewhere you can easily see it, such as on your desk, the wall, or your computer screen. Whenever you feel stressed about all the things that are going wrong, look at the list of achievements to feel more positive.

Feeling that you are making progress, no matter how small, is one of the best ways to relax. It helps you to recognize that you are on a journey, pushing towards your goals.

Strengthen the trust in yourself

Anxiety is often caused by fears, like fear of failure, not being good enough, or being judged. The most powerful way to overcome small business anxiety is to strengthen your trust in yourself.

Trust your own talent and ability to achieve the desired goals. Cultivate confidence from within. Stay true to yourself and remember why you started in the first place.

Daily positive affirmations can help establish a connection with your inner power, keep you on track, and maintain focus on your priorities.

You could also try practising gratitude or manifestations to achieve success in your small business, maybe through gratitude journals.

Get into the wide entrepreneurial community

As an entrepreneur, you might feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, making you overwhelmed or lonely.

Joining communities or groups of entrepreneurs can be a great way to avoid this feeling.

These associations serve entrepreneurs by providing them with a supportive and positive community.

You will be able to learn, sympathize, communicate, collaborate, and share best practices with the wider business community.

Make time for self-care

Small businesses can mean early mornings, long nights, no weekends, and often no sick days. Try not to fall into this habit! You’re only human, and performing at your best mentally and physically will also make you a better business owner.

A life with no breaks can put a strain on your body, which is exacerbated by stress.

The simplest piece to overcome anxiety is through self-care. You could practice self-care in a variety of ways:

• Regularly exercise or include physical activities like running, walking, or dancing in your routine
• Practice yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises that help you relax and reduce stress
• Do not take work back home. Set boundaries for yourself
• Ensure that there is a time in your day where your phone and your computer are switched off. Try not to take any calls or emails during this break time
• Take up a hobby or activity like a leisure walk, coffee with friends, or watching a television show. Have something not business-related in your life to enjoy

Key takeaway

As a small business owner, you may have a very challenging and inspiring journey ahead, complete with highs and lows. As an entrepreneur, it is necessary to remember to not just take care of your business but also yourself.