Back to Blog Posts
Establishing businesses, either commercial or service, is always a source of pride, especially in the United States’ work culture. Entrepreneurship is the hallmark of following dreams, whether that is finding a way to market passions daily to make a living or show business and marketing prowess. However, there are many aspects of pursuing entrepreneurship that cause immense stress levels and can leave someone at higher risk for developing unhealthy coping mechanisms or an unhealthy relationship with an addictive substance or behavior. Coping with the stress of entrepreneurship can be a daunting task, but there are several daily life solutions to ensure a healthy work-life balance and fair treatment to oneself.
Disregard a "Time is Money" Mentality
Starting a business is a lot of work. There may seem to be an endless amount of work when running a business that one can easily get lost in. However, while this may be seen as noble in business culture, it is essential to take time off work. Without scheduled days off or definitive hours, work can quickly overtake other aspects of life and become a stressor that leaves little room for personal outlets. Allowing oneself to detach from even their entrepreneurship and take time for themselves is incredibly crucial. Not only does this “workaholic” mindset deny someone self-care, but it can also lead to a continuous building of stress. Stress can come out in ways such as anxiety or depression and looking to fix emotional stress quickly. This may appear in the use of drugs or alcohol or behavioral issues such as gambling or shopping.
When trying to run one’s own business, taking time off can hold practical implications. Working seven days a week can lead to unsustainable mental and physical health. While one’s entrepreneurship may be their passion, hiring others to help with the workload is crucial to maintaining mental health. Someone may want to retain control over their lifelong dream, but that doesn’t mean that they have to tackle every element themselves. Placing the burden of every dollar and every minute on oneself may exacerbate the stressors of entrepreneurship.
Check for Neglect
Entrepreneurship and all of its stressors can also take time away from support systems and self-care practices. When ensuring that someone is scheduling their time off, they must spend that time engaging with their support or self-care. The “all-or-nothing” mentality of running a business can lead to isolation, leaving someone in a situation where they both are distant from their support systems and spend time off of work alone. While taking time for oneself is essential, it is also crucial that someone balances their time between self-care and maintaining personal relationships. Neglecting one’s relationships can quickly lead to feelings of complete isolation - an emotional state that has high risks of developing unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Entrepreneurship can cause someone to work nonstop. Ongoing work may cause a desperate grasp for ways to cope with the stress of their endeavors. It can be effortless to introduce a potentially destructive aspect to one’s daily routine as they feel overwhelmed and overworked by their workplace demands. Sustainably balancing one’s time may involve bringing in help or establishing clear and non-negotiable boundaries between one’s personal life and their professional pursuits. This may be hard to balance, but one’s health is intricately tied to their professional world, making it important that one not completely take over the other.
Entrepreneurship is an ambitious and stressful path to choose. However, there are solutions to help deal with the stressors involved in running a business. If you or a loved one struggles with entrepreneurship stresses and are developing unhealthy coping mechanisms, START UP RECOVERY can help. The professionals and atmosphere established at START UP RECOVERY can help you begin to balance your personal needs with your professional ambitions. A luxurious atmosphere is provided to help each person feel as accepted and comfortable as possible while addressing their vulnerabilities. Professionals, peers, and mentors will work alongside you to develop personal coping strategies and a unique recovery path to your needs and goals. Mentors are also available to help you continue to build your professional ideas and ambitions. They will work with you to help get unhealthy coping mechanisms under control to continue your entrepreneurial pursuits. For more information on how we can help you, call one of our caring staff members today at 310-773-3809.