Owning your own business can feel like a dream. You make the rules, you choose the clients, and you set your hours. Many of us crave this level of control, so why do so many business owners struggle with their mental health?

While owning your own business has its perks, it can quickly become overwhelming. There’s a lot to consider and do on a daily basis. You’ll need to deal with busy periods, new launches, and new hires – sometimes all at once.

Many people believe that stressful days and sleepless nights are normal for business owners. However, this mindset is detrimental to your mental health. Prolonged stress can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes.

To avoid this outcome, it’s best to know how to cope with stress. Here are five ways to look after your mental health as a business owner.

Set boundaries

Most importantly, it’s vital that you set boundaries with work. You might feel pressure to quickly reply to clients, work late into the night to meet targets, or constantly scan your emails. However, this isn’t a healthy way to live your life.

You need a work-life balance. Give yourself clear work hours and once that time is up, turn off your phone or set up your out-of-office hours.

Make time for me time

Don’t underestimate the importance of me time. This time is essential to refresh, reset, and ground yourself. But remember, this time is meant to be for you – don’t use it as an excuse to work more hours.

Me time looks different for everyone. For some, this could be going for a walk, watching TV, or reading a book. You could try a new hobby to help with stress levels. Hobbies like painting, gardening, and knitting greatly reduce stress.

Look after your physical health

To look after your mental health, you need to take care of your physical health too. Your mind and body are more connected than you may realise. Poor mental health can lead to fatigue, digestive problems, insomnia, and headaches.

Dealing with poor mental health can make taking care of yourself difficult. But fitting in time for exercise, healthy eating, and adequate rest will make all the difference. You should be aiming for at least seven hours of sleep a night. Another healthy option is to find time to meditate. Meditation allows you to practice mindfulness or focusing techniques proven to help stress levels.

Share the workload

As the owner of your business, you might feel as if you’re responsible for everything. This can result in feeling a lot of pressure, leading to stress.

There are many solutions to this problem. The easiest is to share your workload. You can do this by hiring employees to help. However, if the workload is temporary, such as during busy festive periods, you should consider outsourcing instead. This will give you an extra hand without hiring a full-time employee.

Get additional help

If you’re still struggling with bad mental health, don’t hesitate to get help. You can contact your doctor or therapist for further advice.

But remember, it’s not just professionals you have to talk to; you can talk to trusted friends and family too. One of the best things you can do for your mental health is to talk it out. Don’t bottle it up – it’s okay not to be okay!

Look after yourself

Busy times in your business will come and go. It’s natural for stress levels to fluctuate during these times. However, if you’re constantly stressed, this isn’t a healthy way to live.

While you can strive to create the perfect business, mistakes are bound to happen. That’s why it’s essential that you get the relevant insurance and keep up to date with your tax requirements. Doing this will help give you peace of mind.

Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll understand how to reduce your stress levels. Just remember to breathe and give yourself some credit. You’re a business owner, after all! Be kind to yourself.