Being a business owner is difficult, but being a Black business owner comes with a different level of stress. We live in a society that promotes overworking in order to see results, which leads many of us to burn out rather quickly.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to encourage all business owners to take time for your mental health and self-care. Neglecting to do so can negatively impact your business.
"Creativity, mental clarity and the overall thought process are all impacted when you neglect your mental health,” says psychiatrist Dr. Dawn Brown. Dr. Brown is a pioneer of the Mental Health Movement, best-selling author and ADHD coach.
Don’t fall prey to the false perception that you’ll only achieve success if you work yourself to death. When you’re making plans for your business, be sure to make some for your mental health as well. In order to ensure that your plan to success is well-rounded, take into account these 10 ways to manage your mental health:
1. Prioritize Self-Care
Dr. Dawn encourages that the first step should be to commit to prioritizing self-care in your life. It is impossible to run a business and be there for others without being there for yourself first.
2. Know Your Limits
As an entrepreneur, it can be very easy to overextend yourself, overbook your schedule and ignore time to rest. It is a priority to make sure you are being honest with yourself and the limitations of simply being human. Don’t ignore your body when it’s telling you that you’re tired.
3. Find Community Support
Never forget that you are not alone in managing your mental health as an entrepreneur. Find you a tribe that supports you and your entrepreneur journey. Surrounding yourself with the wrong people can be draining to your mental health.
4. Prioritize Your Workload
You need to create a schedule and stick to it. Don't be afraid to experiment with the way that you approach your daily checklist or tasks. Once you’ve found a routine that works for you, your day will be much less stressful and flow more smoothly.
5. Don’t Compare Your Journey To Others
Using social media as an entrepreneur is unavoidable, especially if you're seeking more recognition for your business. It is easy to compare your journey to someone else and doubt your potential completely.
Publicist and entrepreneur, Ari Kill, utilizes a holistic approach to business exposure that prioritizes wellness and mental health with her firm, The Kill Kollective.
Kill explains, "Some people get lost in comparing their journey and are unable to find a healthy mental state when receiving attention or lack thereof while building a business with social media. It is critical to address and reflect on how your time on social media is impacting how you feel about your identity or image."
6. Own Your Experiences
Being an entrepreneur comes with a lot of lessons and experiences. It's important not to internalize the mistakes that turn into lessons on the journey. Acknowledge the lessons that are learned to inspire someone else on your path. Never be ashamed to speak about your business experiences or to tell your story.
7. Manage Your Stress
Find healthy ways to manage your stress through physical and mental exercise. Learn to accept your needs and recognize your triggers.
8. Be Patient With Yourself
Sometimes we are harder on ourselves than others in our environment. Be mindful of the little voice inside your head and any negative self-talk habits. It takes time and patience to launch and manage a business, and success rarely happens overnight.
9. Stay Physically Healthy
It is important to commit to fueling your body with healthy nutrients and exercise. Taking care of your physical health and regularly visiting a physician will allow you to have more control over the state of your mental health.
10. Explore Therapy
Take advantage of your insurance options, online resources and community initiatives. Many direct resources are catered to race, culture and identity to provide the best possible comfort and service. There are so many therapists and resources that are available to serve your mental health issues that fit your lifestyle and values.
"When you find and recognize balance as an entrepreneur between work and taking a break, you have reached an ideal milestone within mental health and entrepreneurship," states Dr. Dawn. The life of an entrepreneur can be unpredictable and stressful. Self-awareness goes a long way when implementing a plan to address your mental health within your business agenda to better serve your customers, audience and relationships.
