Dealing with mental health in business, especially within the trade industry.
Sometimes it can all get a bit too much when you’re running your own business.
Believe me I’ve been there.
How to cope with the stress of running a business
I’ve always found that a diary, to do list, or even just a notepad has come in extremely handy when dealing with multiple things throughout the day. Sometimes simply writing something down gets it out of your head.
Having systems in place and procedures for certain tasks can help when it comes to delegating work to employees or contractors. If you’re on your own however, it’s a different story.
Mental health can be a big issue with self employed people
More specifically, the trade industry. There is a lot to think about when running a business, so having people around you that understand the situation you’re in and can help when needed is essential.
I always found when I was working on for myself as a plumber, more particularly when I was on my own and didn’t have any employees, that having a sub-contractor or two who you can call upon is a great help. Not only with getting the work done, but also having that company and someone to talk to on those bigger jobs.
I know what it’s like, trying to do a big job that requires a lot of things going on and you’re the one having to multi-task and manage everything. Having someone you can call in to alleviate the stress and worry can sometimes be worth its weight in gold.
What to do or not to do when things get too much
The last thing you want to happen is for things to get too much and for you to bury your head in the sand. You also want to avoid temporary measures such as alcohol to take your mind off things. This is where being pro-active and planning can really help. Whether that’s writing things down, keeping organised in a diary or making sure you’ve got plenty of time to do the work.
Remember this. The less stressed, less rushed and calmer you are when working the more money you’ll make. This is due to mistakes being made when things are done poorly when rushed. Maybe you’re not thinking about the job at hand because your mind is thinking of other things. The more stress you take on, the higher the risk of things going wrong.
Calm down. Reduce your workload. Focus on the high priority work. Don’t be afraid to say no.
What to do when it starts going wrong
The biggest thing to learn from is you just need to stop. Gather your thoughts and organise yourself. If you’ve got some jobs/work you can delegate or say no to then do that. It’s best to upset one or two people than to upset everyone.
Think of whats more important. Prioritise your workload and focus on what benefits YOU most. The first rule of First Aid is to ensure you’re safe, because otherwise you can’t help others. This is the same when running a business or being self employed. You need to make sure that you’re OK. That you’re healthy, sleeping properly and eating well. Otherwise you’ll run yourself down, get sick or (like I did) become dependant on other ways to take your mind off things by using alcohol or other substances.
If you’d like help managing your business, or coming up with ideas on optimising it or creating systems then feel free to take advantage of our Consulting service by Contacting me today.
If you or someone you know is struggling with Mental Health what can you do?
The best thing to do is reach out to family or friends who may be able to help. If you don’t have that option then there are companies like the Mental Health Foundation or Mind that can help.
