Is there a magic formula to lessen stress and increase joy in your business?

Whether you are starting a business, running an existing business or responsible as a key leader in business, stress will most likely be a part of your day-to-day life. There are many times you might even wonder if it is worth it and may feel like you are running to catch up and get on top of the stress. You may have debts mounting, decisions about staff, customers to please all as you try to maintain some balance and enjoy your journey too. But some days you may feel like an easy, no-stress job such as cutting hair, driving  a UPS truck, flipping burgers or a multitude of other seemingly simple positions would be preferable. I understand, I’ve had those days where you throw up your hands and say – I quit, at least figuratively.

Yet, even with the pressures, there are a few of us that forge ahead to fulfill our passions or crave the opportunity to be an entrepreneur or leader. So, if you are one of these “brave souls” like me, how can you enjoy it more and lessen the stress?

There are two basic things to consider:

First, know that stress is going to be a part of doing business. Understand that the main reason for feelings of stress is a perceived lack of control. To combat this, you must constantly remind yourself that you are capable of handling business pressures and you, not stressful events, are in control. Start by doing some things that will increase your resistance to absorbing and reacting to the stress – yoga, meditation, exercise, eating regularly and plenty of rest. Allow yourself to be supported and use a trusted friend, mentor or coach to verbalize your feelings to help you see other perspectives and where you have control.

Second, don’t work without a plan! Without a clear idea of where you are going, you will feel stress in everything you do. This will cause you to feel less confident to change your situation which, in turn, will lead to further stress. You’d be amazed at how much a clear vision of your business goals will eliminate much of that stress. When you have a plan, you are usually too busy working on fulfilling your vision of success to spend much time worrying. And you can see progress, which builds confidence and enthusiasm that you are going in the right direction. An executable plan will help you mitigate your risks and help you view setbacks as minor events. In addition, because you see what is coming next, you are able to keep your fears of the unknown from blowing things out of proportion. (Such as: How might you handle things or what will happen?) Finally, you can make time for much needed breaks of personal refreshment to stay balanced and place yourself in a better position to manage stress.

In order to lessen stress and increase joy on your business journey to success, there is no magic formula. Rather, you need to maintain the feeling of being in control through regular self-care, allowing support and having a defined plan to plot your course.

If you would like support to create an exciting plan or work on balance and self care, take advantage of my private coaching either with one of the FAST TRACK modules or by scheduling a consultation and customizing your coaching plan. If you wonder how using a coach can benefit you more than doing it alone, check out my post on how a life coach builds your strongest asset – You!  You are worth the investment and all the joy you can handle!