Tips to Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety Caused at Work

When you own a business it comes with a lot of stress, no matter how successful the business is or how much money it generates. There are always going to be issues that need to be dealt with and obstacles that need to be navigated around. It’s part of the job and comes with the territory.

But, that doesn’t mean that you need to let that stress and anxiety build up. Doing so can be very unhealthy, so it’s important to find ways to help reduce it. When you learn to properly manage it you can avoid it having a negative impact on your personal life and it makes running the business more enjoyable. Here are some ways that business owners reduce their anxiety and stress.

Pick priorities

“It comes down to two things: perception and priorities. If you go into the day determined to enjoy the work, then you probably will. You have to pick priorities. At the end of the day, it is a job. The people we love matter most. Give them the love they deserve and everything else falls into place.“ — Sean Christman, Founder of Slamdot.

Disconnect from technology.

“I try to make sure I take some time away from technology every day. Sometimes just turning your phone off while you eat lunch gives you time to decompress and relax without distractions. It’s healthy to do this as often as possible. You need some time away without work stress following you.” — Jim Epton of Dom Huga Ltd.

Spend more time with family.

“Disconnect. Spend time with my family. Go camping. Disconnecting can be difficult, but it is needed. For me, camping (weather permitting) is a great contrast to being inside and surrounded by electronics.” — Matthew Kolb of All High Schools.

Get outside.

“Get outside. Always good to get fresh air and clear your mind. Work hard and you should always play hard. Without this, what is it that you are trying to accomplish? Always put everything in perspective.” — Marc Webb, Founder of Real PDL Help.

Go for a walk and listen to music.

“When I am feeling overwhelmed I will go for a walk and listen to some music. I will leave my phone on my desk so I am not distracted by emails or calls, and just take 20 minutes to clear my head. The time away combined with the relaxing music does a great job for me.” — Tom Munroe, CEO of RugStudio.

Give your phone a break and relax.

“Don’t be afraid to turn your phone off entirely and relax in your office. If you have a couch, take a 10-minute power nap to recharge. Or surf your favorite non-work related website for 10 minutes to get your mind off the stress. Sometimes a little break is all you need.” — Matt Herron, CEO of AnswerFirst.

Work out.

“I work out. I find activities that I enjoy and budget the time to do them. Also, I volunteer, removing myself from my current situation and changing to a service mindset and often help me to reset myself and put me in the right frame of mind to get back in the game.” — Shawn Freeman, Founder, and CEO of TWT Group.

Live a healthy lifestyle.

“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key to handling stress. Exercise is a great stress reliever. I find that when things get overwhelming, it’s best to take a step back and go for a walk to clear my head and refocus on the tasks ahead.” — Joseph W. Belluck of Belluck & Fox, LLP.

Quarterly vacations.

“Take a vacation every quarter. It’s important to get away and recharge your batteries on a regular basis. Doing this keeps you fresh and prevents stress and pressure from building up to unhealthy levels. Even if it’s just a weekend getaway, take time to disconnect and relax.” — Ari Evans of AAA Handbags.

Stay active.

“In order to reduce stress and anxiety from work I play a lot of tennis, walk my dog every day, and meditate once in a while. For me, it’s really important getting outside and moving that helps me focus on something else for a little while.” — Ben Walker, Founder of Transcription Outsourcing, LLC

Play a round of golf.

“I work out and play golf. You got to have something away from business that can offer some enjoyment. For me, jogging several days a week helps, but then I also play a lot of golf — and walking on a beautiful golf course can offer great perspective.” — Shawn Schulze of HomeArea.com.

Hit the gym.

“The gym is my escape and a place where I can go to clear my head. I find that working out on a regular basis keeps my head clear. There is no way to totally remove stress from your life, so whenever you can do something that helps relieve it, you should take full advantage.” — Christopher Dziak, CEO of Pure Nootropics.

Set aside personal time away from work.

“Make sure to spend adequate time with family and friends outside of work, and completely disconnect from emails or phone calls during this time. Little things like going to the movies or out to eat with family and friends can help remove the stress. It’s a healthy practice.” — Andrew Tran, Founder of Therapy.