An artisan cheese vendor and a tech entrepreneur may seem worlds apart, but both often grapple with high stress levels. Bank of America's Spring 2017 Business Advantage Small Business Owners Report found that 41% of respondents viewed their business as their top personal stressor.
Running a business is a labor of love, but the demands—managing finances, nurturing relationships, and family responsibilities—can overwhelm even the most dedicated. Constant immersion in work leads to burnout, with serious long-term consequences you might not notice until it's too late.
Related: Do These 4 Things To Avoid Losing Your Mind As An Entrepreneur
When stress mounts, step back to recharge. Staying sharp is essential for business success. Carve out daily time for yourself, ideally in the morning before your day spirals. This practice refreshes you, enhances personal growth, strengthens relationships, and elevates your business performance.
As Stephen Covey advises in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, "sharpen the saw" to boost long-term productivity. Here are five straightforward habits, drawn from research and my own experience as an entrepreneur, to recharge your energy daily.
1. Get virtual help.
Entrepreneurs juggle endless tasks. Outsource routine ones to virtual assistants like Drift, Clara, or x.ai for emails, follow-ups, and scheduling. Clara, a hybrid AI-human assistant, responds to emails swiftly—even overnight—handling meetings, calls, and casual meetups. Rename it if you like, and humans intervene for complex issues.
Amy Ingram from x.ai earns rave reviews for her friendly, efficient style, making clients feel at ease.
2. Exercise.
Movement releases tension and endorphins. Choose enjoyable activities to stay consistent. I run with my dog Finley, lift weights, and shoot hoops—fun rotations that keep boredom at bay.
Beyond health gains, regular exercise curbs anger and stress. Studies show it channels negative emotions, preventing spillover onto loved ones. A lunch walk delivers quick benefits—for you and your family.
3. Spend time with family.
Reconnect with your "why." Share a home-cooked family dinner to rebuild bonds—healthier than takeout. Add games: physical for fitness, board games for mental stimulation.
4. Give back.
A study links a sense of purpose to better sleep and fewer issues like apnea. Community involvement provides motivation. I coach youth athletes, leveraging leadership skills for impact. Hearing "Coach" from former players years later keeps me energized.
5. Connect with other entrepreneurs.
Shoptalk outside your bubble offers perspective. Peers understand your struggles and wins. Share challenges for solutions you can't discuss internally. The Facebook-OECD-World Bank Future of Business Survey shows entrepreneurs trust peers more than Google for advice. Build communities for collaboration.
Start tomorrow: Wake early for "me time"—reading, family routines, or planning. Face your day with a full charge.
Related: How Successful People Can Beat Stress
