Don't Sacrifice Your Health for Your Business

Running a business is more than just a full-time job – it's an entirely new lifestyle. Becoming a business owner is a dream come true for many and offers flexibility, motivation, and personal control throughout your future, as well as many incredible opportunities. However, with these fantastic benefits, being in charge of a business (and often a team of employees or contractors) can also be highly stressful. It can lead to burnout without the proper understanding of coordinating work-life balance in a world where your work and life intersect. According to research conducted by GetResponse, 91% of surveyed small business owners reported working on the weekends in addition to the rest of the week – many of them stated they continue to work full days… when they should be taking a break to recuperate. This can have a massive impact on one's mental and physical well-being. Don't sacrifice your health for your business: Ensure you nurture yourself to reach your dreams successfully.

Work-Life Balance and Mental Health

Frustration. Procrastination. Depression. Lack of focus. These are all mindsets that result from simply working too much. Have you ever heard the saying that you can't pour from an empty bucket? This is especially true for business owners. Your business is not just any job. You are a leader, an inspiration carving the way toward innovation. When feeling burnt out, it can become challenging to rise each morning with the confidence to keep moving forward. You must be able to separate your work and personal life – not only for time for family, friends, and hobbies but also for your peace of mind. When you are constantly engulfed in your business, what's going on, who needs you, where you need to be, and when you need to be there, you begin to think in ways you typically wouldn't. Confidence can be shattered by a lack of preparation caused by procrastination and difficulty focusing due to burnout. In some circumstances, it makes you question why you even started your business in the first place. It is a vicious cycle, as stress piles upon stress to the point where you feel buried by a mental fog. 

This reaction is not just "in your mind" either – it's a biological process meant to protect you, but it can backfire in our modern world. In the brain, there is a structure called the amygdala, which is responsible for producing certain emotions, including stress. More specifically, the amygdala can activate "fight or flight" in response to "danger," which includes emotional triggers such as stress. When dealing with overwhelming work, stress can cause the amygdala to soar into action and sound the alarms. This is why stress responses can vary, ranging from anger to avoidance. 

According to a study published in the journal of Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience in 2009, stress has not only emotional impacts on one's mindset but also creates physical changes in the brain — specifically in the amygdala structure, possibly altering the response to stress as a whole. For business owners under constant stress, it is essential to determine methods of balance and coping for both mental and physical health. 

Work-Life Balance and Physical Health

The brain's susceptibility to stress can have disastrous effects on physical well-being — which often impacts the body in a cascade of problems. For example, stress reduces the ability to gain enough restful sleep. Sleep is crucial for our overall health, and rest deprivation can weaken the immune system, leaving your body with less of a defense against bacteria and viruses. Frequent sicknesses can deplete the body of hydration and nutrients, leading to persistent fatigue and weakness. This also increases the time you need to miss work and meetings and deal with your leadership skills not being quite up-to-par. Missed work for a business owner means a pile-up of responsibilities… which means even more stress.

Additionally, stress can induce various physical symptoms, including headaches and nausea, leading to a lack of appetite and therefore reduced nutritional intake over time. Stress can also impact cardiovascular health by causing chest pain and elevating blood pressure, increasing the chances of a heart attack or stroke. Overall, stress can increase the development of illness and disease — making it more than simply an emotional problem, but a physical one.

 Initiate a Work-Life Balance

Stress is inevitable in running a business; however, you must cope appropriately to lift your vision and team rather than running everything into the ground with you. You are a leader – an example to your team. Showcase your ability to delegate and prioritize tasks to reduce stress on you and your business. Multitasking and long working hours are not the recipes for success. Instead, you should be able to live your life and run your business. 

Taking an hour-long lunch break, stopping for a cup of coffee, or enjoying a Saturday evening with your loved ones will not make the difference between whether or not you hit your goals. If anything, taking time for yourself will leave you invigorated and ready to take on the world. You cannot run a business if you are not healthy enough. Remember to take care of yourself.