Running a successful business is a bit like learning a new language.
You have to immerse yourself in it. You need to practice every day. And you need to surround yourself with the right people to make it work.
But this isn’t always easy.
Business owners can often fall into the trap of trying to do everything themselves because:
- They don’t think they have enough money to hire someone to do it or outsource it
- They don’t think anyone can do it better than they could
- They don’t even know who they can ask for help
Cue overwhelm, long hours and burnout.
This is not living, is it? You went into business for yourself but you didn’t necessarily want to do it by yourself.
Financial stress can be debilitating and as such, we want to share our YAS philosophy and 5 key stress management tips you can use daily.
1. Inspire yourself – write a list of everything that’s going RIGHT in your business today
We tend to focus on the negative and forget that during this business journey, we have actually made a significant impact on people’s lives.
Maybe you have had a lovely client testimonial or some great feedback from a supplier. These are all positivity tools to realign you to why you do what you do.
By making a list of everything that is going right in your business, you can actually see how you have come.
Here are some questions to consider when assessing your business success.
- How do my staff feel when they come to work every day? Do my staff love their jobs and feel connected to the business?
- What was the last positive testimonial I received from a client?
- What was the last thing that made me smile at work?
- How many clients have I helped in the last year?
- What’s my favourite part of being a business owner?
It might seem silly but writing lists or journal entries like this are a powerful tool for reflection.
2. Tidy your workspace – declutter and organise
Have you ever heard the phrase “tidy space, tidy mind”?
Not just a phrase. There’s actual science behind it.
Harvard Business Review research shows people with cluttered desks are more likely to procrastinate and be unproductive.
Spend 15 minutes at the end of the day organising your office and cleaning your desk space. The power of a clean space means you walk into the office and feel motivated to get straight into work. It sets a positive tone for the day because you have already accomplished something – an organised space!
3. Show up for yourself and your team
Accountability as a business owner can be a slippery slope. If you’re only accountable to yourself, it can be harder to stay on track.
When you are accountable to your team, you are likely to want to show up and inspire.
Schedule a 10-minute standing meeting at the beginning of the work day (can be on zoom or face to face).
This gives you a chance to reconnect with everyone before the work day begins.
Here are some ideas of what you could cover in the 10 minute stand up meeting:
- A moment of gratitude – each person shares what they are grateful for today
- A commitment to the day – each person shares what kind of emotion/value they want to mirror today i.e. Today I will be energised, motivated, focused, productive etc
- Recognising others – each person shares something they admire or respect about someone in the team. This opens up the floor to share the wins and create greater team unity.
4. Get crystal clear on your top 3 business priorities
Have you ever reached the end of the day/week and realised you didn’t complete your urgent to-do list items?
You might have been busy putting out fires or ticking off the non-urgent items because they were easier to complete.
Before signing off from work in the evening, write down the top 3 urgent/most important items you need to complete in the morning.
By focusing your energy on these tasks first, it removes the stress and allows you to use the rest of your day to share your expertise, connect with the team and stay on track with your workflow.
5. Breathe in some fresh air or do a deep breathing meditation
There’s nothing worse than the mid-afternoon realisation that you haven’t seen the sun today.
Taking regular outdoor breaks refreshes your mind and body to continue being productive throughout the day.
Schedule in break times so you can go and breathe some fresh air or sit in a quiet space to do a quick meditation – apps like Insight Timer and Headspace are great resources for business owners on the go. You can do it anytime and anywhere.
We hope that you can add these tips to your business toolkit and keep working towards your own personal and professional success.
If you enjoyed this article 5 Ways to Reduce Stress, share it with another business owner who could benefit. We regularly share business tips for small business owners.
You can access more of our free financial resources here.
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About Your Accounting Sanctuary
YAS is a boutique accountancy firm in Sydney that empowers passionate people to build businesses, stress free.
Forget everything you know about old school accountants and make way for a new era of approachable, fun and strategic advisors who prioritise your business dreams.
The YAS experience means that your financial stress doesn’t keep you up at night and instead, you feel relieved and relaxed that your numbers are being nurtured by the professionals.
If you are a business owner with a terrific team and hopes for business growth, book a free discovery call with the YAS team today.