It takes a healthy mind and body to build a successful business. In many cases, entrepreneurs find it difficult, if not impossible, to take care of their mental health while dealing with business stresses. But allowing mental health problems to take over means the slow destruction of everything you worked hard for.
Barry Epling, a well-known entrepreneur, warns young entrepreneurs against giving up their mental health. He advises looking for proper help when signs of mental health challenges appear.
Examples of mental health issues that threaten entrepreneurs
The demanding and busy life of an entrepreneur can put them under a lot of stress. Accumulated stress can cause the following mental health problems:
Anxiety: It is very common for entrepreneurs, especially the younger ones, to experience anxiety at various levels of their business management. They worry about every single aspect of their work, especially finances and the success of launching new products. Entrepreneurs also have common complaints of sleep problems.
Depression: A high percentage of entrepreneurs experience some level of depression. Sometimes it is a result of ongoing anxiety. In other cases, it is a direct result of rejections. Also, working restlessly can lead to depression.
Addiction is not as common as anxiety or depression, but there are many entrepreneurs who become victims of it. Due to various stresses, addictive behavior sounds like a way out for some entrepreneurs. In this case, addiction can take many forms. For instance, an entrepreneur can get addicted to drugs, gambling, or alcohol. The most obvious sign of approaching addiction is obsession. When an entrepreneur is obsessed with all the details to the extent of forgetting everyone and everything else, it could be the start of an addiction of any sort.
Ways to face mental health challenges for entrepreneurs
The presence of mental health risks doesn’t mean quitting your entrepreneurship dreams. It means working towards avoiding and overcoming them. Here are some useful solutions:
It is useful to hire someone.
It is inspiring to grow your business from scratch, and you are responsible for everything. However, it can be truly exhausting and press on your overall health and wellness. In addition to the beauty of growing your business, you might want to do it all for financial reasons. Early business would be on a tight budget. However, you need to find the resources to hire someone to help you.
Be around the right people.
You can overcome almost any mental problem if you are with the right people. You can start by surrounding yourself with people who can actually have your back, not just emotionally, but professionally as well. Some of these can be found, for example, in your entrepreneurial mentors or fellow entrepreneurs. Also, close investors and suppliers can be a part of this support circle.
Do physical exercise.
This is not just about being fit and slim. It is about refreshing your soul and mind. Research has proven that working out can produce more endorphins and dopamine in your body. This increases your feelings of happiness and relaxation. You would need to have these happy hormones naturally in your system to face whatever challenges business throws at you.