Entrepreneurship often goes hand in hand with stress due to the nature of the job.

While stress is common, it shouldn’t become your norm. Managing it is crucial not just for your well-being but also for your business’s health. 

Don’t worry! You don’t have to take a month-long break to reset (although feel free to do so if that’s what your body is telling you!). Simple, daily practices can help you achieve a less stressful life.

Today, we’ll discuss five stress management tips you can apply to your daily routine. 

The Connection Between Entrepreneurship and Stress

Before I tell you how to manage stress, let’s first understand its connection with entrepreneurship.

While it’s true that being an entrepreneur can be rewarding, it often comes with its fair share of challenges and stress-inducing responsibilities. 

For instance, things can change out of the blue despite doing your best to plan ahead. The business world is full of surprises. You might have to make critical decisions without the luxury of time or conditions that have changed beyond your control. 

In addition, as the boss, everything falls on your shoulders. You have to handle any cash-flow issues, deal with personnel management, legal compliance, and so much more. It’s no wonder why high-stress and burn-out are common among entrepreneurs.

Lastly, you and I, we don’t have the privilege to clock out like employees. This is the path we chose. Our day doesn’t neatly fit into a 9-to-5 slot, especially when you’re laying the foundation of your business as a new entrepreneur. Those extended hours can be tiring and stressful.

The good news is that you can manage the stress of being an entrepreneur with the right approach. 

What Are 5 Effective Stress Management Strategies for Busy Entrepreneurs

Tip #1: The 20-20-20 Pause

The first one on our list of stress management techniques is connected to taking a short break.

Life as an entrepreneur means lots of screen time. You must reply to emails, check your marketing efforts, stay updated on trends, and plan for your next steps.

Most of the time, you forget to take a pause as you’re making your way down your to-do list. But it’s essential to do so. 

The 20-20-20 pause technique is used for stress relief. 

Every 20 minutes, take a brief 20-second break. During this time, shift your focus to an object about 20 feet away. That’s it!

The beauty of this tip is that it’s more than just a break for your eyes. It’s also a moment to refresh your mind. 

These short pauses can prevent that feeling of burnout that creeps up after hours of non-stop work. You can think of it as mini-mindfulness practice. 

Set a timer or reminder on your phone to help you remember and get used to this. 

Tip #2: Create a “Not Now” Box 

This was inspired by another tip I learned – scheduling “worry” time. 

However, I realized that not all of our thoughts are immediate problems. Some are ideas or tasks that pop up at inconvenient times. They aren’t urgent, but they demand our attention and can distract us from what we’re currently doing. 

The best way to deal with them is to put them in a “Not Now” Box. 

For this tip, you’ll need a shoebox, jar, Word doc, or just a notebook. Then, every time a thought pops up, write it down and put it in the box. 

Later, when you have a quiet moment, open your box and review the notes. You might find valuable ideas or tasks that are worth your time. 

This technique helps to clear your mind and focus on the present, knowing that your thoughts are safe and you can return to them at the best possible time. 

Tip #3: Do Digital Detox

We know how staying online is crucial for an entrepreneur. 

You have to check emails, post content, and answer client messages. But logging off and taking a breather is also as important. 

Your mind is not a machine. You cannot expect it to run non-stop without getting tired. Constantly being online can drain your energy and cloud your focus. 

How about setting specific times in the day when you’re entirely offline? It can be the first few hours after you wake up or before bed. 

You can also use apps that help limit screen time, like RescueTime or Forest, if you find it hard to disconnect. Another thing to do is to make sure you have tech-free zone spaces in your home – like the dining room.

Tip #4: Practice Time Management

Learning to manage your time is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. As an entrepreneur, there will always be tasks to complete, people to meet, and ideas to explore. However, there are only 24 hours in a day.

By using time wisely, you can achieve more with less stress. 

There are many time management techniques out there. But you can start by choosing the most essential task of the day. 

Find out what needs your attention now and what can wait. Breaking tasks into smaller chunks can make them feel more accomplishable. 

In addition, use tools and apps designed to help with time management. They can assist in setting reminders, blocking off time for specific tasks, and even track where your time goes.

Tip #5: Be Active and Get Moving 

The final stress management tip is something you might have heard hundreds of times. But trust me when I say that moving your body is still one of the best ways to manage stress. 

Exercise is more than just body goals. It’s about feeling good on the inside. When you get moving, your heart rate increases, and your body releases happy hormones, which can help reduce stress levels and boost your mood. 

Just know that every time you break a sweat, you sprinkle more happiness into your day. And who doesn’t want that?

Let me share with you what quick exercise I do at home when I don’t make it out to the gym, to help you get started or inspired: every day, I go on my treadmill at home 3x a day – once in the morning before I check any of my emails. The second time right after lunch, and the third time after dinner. 

Nothing too intense or complicated, but it’s a way for me to move my body and get my heart rate up.

Time to Reduce Your Stress

As much as you love working for your business, you must also remember to take care of your physical and mental health. Managing stress effectively is vital for you and your business to thrive. 

Today, I encourage you to practice the following:

• Pause. 
• Be active. 
• Avoid too much screen time.
• Declutter your thoughts. 
• Manage your time. 

Let’s Hear Your Thoughts

What’s your favorite stress management technique on a busy day? Leave your answer below!