Science-Backed Stress Management Tips You Can Use to Beat Burnout
When you're an entrepreneur who owns their own business, it can sometimes feel like stress is an inescapable part of the lifestyle (especially right now as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic).
Stress doesn't have to take over your professional and personal life — there are a number of stress-busting techniques that you can try. If you can stick with them long enough to develop healthy new habits, you’re bound to feel calmer and more in control.
1. Don’t neglect exercise
Exercising might be the last thing you want to do when you’re overwhelmed, but science is clear on the importance of physical activity.
Don’t take our word for it, though. According to an article from Harvard’s Men Health Watch, “The mental benefits of aerobic exercise have a neurochemical basis. Exercise reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators.”
2. Spend time outside
Spending time in nature does wonders for stress reduction. As the American Heart Association puts it, “Nature presents scenes that gently capture your attention instead of suddenly snatching it, calming your nerves instead of frazzling them.”
Even a quick walk around the block can do the trick. If you’re really low on time, simply stand outdoors and try one of these four mindfulness techniques.
3. Do something repetitive to reduce stress
According to certain experts in mind/body medicine, the “repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation and yoga.”
The research focused on knitting, but the principal can be applied to any number of tasks. Washing the dishes, mowing the lawn, going for a run… there’s no shortage of things to try, so choose something that appeals to you.
4. Delegate tasks and get some extra help
Sometimes, sky-high stress levels are the result of a simple fact: You’ll don’t have enough time to accomplish everything on your to-do list. When there’s too much on your plate, no stress management technique will solve the problem.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t a solution, however. Good leaders know when it’s time to delegate. Of course, hiring new employees and contractors is rarely easy, and managing a team has it’s own hassles and hardships.
There’s a fix for that, too. Virtual business services give small business owners affordable access to resources like virtual assistants, phone answering, virtual addresses and a whole lot more. Traditionally, this type of support was only available to large companies with big operating budgets. If you think that delegating can help you stress less, be sure to learn more about Intelligent Office’s virtual business services.
5. Learn how to “make stress your friend”
According to research from Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal, stress is only harmful if you think it’s hurting you. If you don’t think being stressed is always a negative thing, it can actually have a positive effect on your life.
It all comes down to “hacking” your mindset and developing the right coping strategies. You can learn how to “make stress your friend” in this TED Talk.
