Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Navigating the Mental Health Challenges of Owning Your Own Business
Owning your own business can be a fulfilling and empowering experience, but it also comes with its own set of mental health challenges. Women entrepreneurs, in particular, often face unique stressors and pressures when it comes to balancing the demands of running a business with the responsibilities of also running a household.
The pressure to constantly perform (whether online or at meetups), the fear of failure, the isolation of being a business owner, and the difficulty in finding a work-life balance are all factors that can contribute to mental health issues.
So, how can women entrepreneurs navigate these challenges and prioritize their mental health while running their own businesses? Well, I have a few tips:
Prioritize Self-Care: Make time for activities that bring you joy and help you relax. This could include exercise, reading, spending time with friends and family, leaving your phone upstairs, going for a drive by yourself (if you have kids and can leave them with a spouse, if not you’ll be surprised at how much better you feel if you just buckle those kiddos in the car seats, give them a tablet and just go drive across town. I can’t tell you how many times I have done this with mine and just being outside has lifted my mood)
Connect with Others: Running a business can be isolating, so make sure to connect with other entrepreneurs and build a supportive network. I want to emphasize on a supportive network here, Get around the women who talk about ideas, business, and growth and not about others. Trust me the conversations are different and so refreshing.
Learn to Delegate: As a business owner, it can be difficult to let go of control, but learning to delegate tasks can help to reduce stress and free up time for self-care. My goal in 2023 is to free up things that are no longer bringing me joy. I am setting things to do on certain days and if I can’t get them done in the amount of time I think is realistic, I will hire help. If you are in the stage of business where you can’t afford to hire out help, set a day aside to get done all the things that are top priority, and Don’t let it drain you if you don’t get them done all in that day. Also, get a scheduling app or program to help you with posting on social media. Trust me it will be life-changing. If you can budget it, get the pro version where it auto-posts instead of just reminding you to post.
Seek Professional Help: If you are struggling with mental health issues, don't hesitate to seek professional help. This could include therapy, counseling, or medication management. Don’t be ashamed or feel like something is wrong wit
h you, We all need help at some time, I wish it was talked about more, and this is why I started this podcast actually.
Set Realistic Goals: Setting unrealistic goals can lead to feelings of failure and burnout. Trust me, I’ve been there. Make sure to set goals that are achievable and that align with your values and priorities. If you are just starting and make a goal to make 6 figures in your first year cause some other content creator said they did, and you think you failed cause you didn’t. Things take time and need some hard work involved to get there. Setting monthly and quarterly goals is a great way to keep up with your progress as well.
Take Time off: I cannot stress this enough. Taking regular time off is important for both your mental and physical well-being. Make sure to schedule regular vacations and breaks to recharge. Even if it’s just a 3 day weekend or a day off to recharge with no phones or social media involved. It doesn't always have to be a week's stay in the Bahamas.
I have even gone as far as taking an old phone I have that no longer works as far as making calls and I have all my work apps, social media, and anything to do with my business on there and I deleted all those on my personal phone. I leave my work phone upstairs whenever I “clock out” for the day. This has helped tremendously as far as distractions go or always wanting to check my emails or DM’s. Another thing I do to help with mindlessly scrolling is I post on my phone but then I go to social media on my computer to engage and interact with other people online.
Remember, as a business owner, it's important to take care of yourself and prioritize your mental health. By taking steps to support your mental well-being, y
You can navigate the unique challenges of being an entrepreneur and continue to empower yourself, your business, and your community. I hope you have a day that matches you, amazing. And always remember that you are truly enough just the way you are.
If this blog post helped you out in any way, please share it with anyone you think it would help. If you share on social media please tag me @heytannamarie it would mean the world. Leave me a comment as well, I would love to hear from you.
*The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I highly encourage anyone to seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions they may have regarding a medical condition or mental health concern. Additionally, the advice stated here should not be used as a basis for self-diagnosis or self-treatment.
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