Navigating the turbulent waters of entrepreneurship can feel like a constant tug-of-war with our sanity. Every day, we ride a rollercoaster of emotions – fear, ecstasy, gratitude, frustration, overwhelm, and sometimes, even euphoria. As a small business owner, you need to care for your mental health by learning how to regulate your emotions, prioritising peace of mind and taking care of your mental health.

This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week, and this post is an ode to mental health for small business owners.

I’ve had my fair share of mental health rocks along the way, and I’ve spoken about them publicly. My fight with the black dog has probably been one of the most life-changing experiences.

It crept insidiously into every corner of my existence, poisoning my potential, tarnishing my relationships, and stunting my personal growth.

But perhaps its most visible blow was to my first ever business when I was in my 20s. It led me to make terrifically hard decisions like calling it quits on TravelBlag, my brainchild, which had proven great potential for success.

There were mornings when I couldn’t find the strength to get out of bed, brush my teeth, or feed myself. Other times, I wore a mask of functionality, concealing the feeling of numbness on the inside.

But I fought it. I refused to surrender.

It wasn’t easy, but I did it.

It was a relentless battle with my internal monologue, my physical body, my mindset and beliefs, and the very essence of my being. I’m proud to say that I emerged victorious on the other side, and if you are going through any mental-related issues, you can too!

Here are 5 ways to care for your mental health in the workplace:

1. Look Out for Each Other
2. Rekindle Your Love for Business
3. Revive your Energy
4. Self-Love in Business
5. Join a Business Community

5 Ways a Small Business Owner Can Cultivate Good Mental Health Practices

1. Look Out for Each Other

Business owners need to look out for one another. Because at the end of the day, we are the only ones who fully understand what it’s like to run a business. People may hear or read about our struggles, but the most they can do is empathise. They can’t fully get it.

It’s therefore our responsibility to look out for each other and support each other on this highly fulfilling yet extremely turbulent journey.

How do you do this?

Rebecca Reed spoke about spotting when someone is struggling and navigating the language of mental health, which helps us to interact better with people who are seemingly going through something. She also emphasised the fact that language matters when navigating conversations on mental health.

Knowing when and how to reach out when someone is struggling is an important part of improving mental health among business owners.

2. Rekindle Your Love for Business

If you feel like your mental health problem is slowly crippling in and affecting your business, it might be time to rekindle your love for your business.

Think back to the time when the idea of starting a business first popped into your mind. How did you feel? Excited, right?

Rekindling your love for business, and transferring that energy to your suppliers, clients, and employees could transform your mental health and in turn your business. It will give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment which translates to your mental and emotional well-being.

In this video, Benjamin Drury breaks down how to put the joy and emotion back into business, which he believes could change the entire world for the better.

3. Revive your Energy

As much as we want to operate at our best all the time, it’s simply not possible.

A lot of business owners operate on a schedule that stretches far beyond the regular 8-5 of a job. When this fatigue accumulates, it’s not only difficult but also unhealthy to push yourself to do more.

One of my favourite quotes goes ‘Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes. Including you.’

In a talk by Victoria Wright, she talked about what to do when your get up and go got up and went. Essentially, she dives into different ways that you can revive your energy:

• Deal with stress
• Exercise
• Eat the right food
• Consume herbs
• Know your sleep chronotype
• Manage fatigue

4. Self-Love in Business

The words ‘self-love’ have gained so much relevance in the last few years and for all the right reasons!

In life and in business, self-love and your self-worth are so intrinsically linked, and they translate into everything that you do, including working on your business.

Self-love helps you to pause when you need to and cater to your needs, which in turn clears your mind and helps you to care for your business and succeed!

It’s no wonder concepts like The 4-Hour-Work-Week have been proven to lead to more productivity, despite fewer working hours. When you take time to tend to yourself, it reflects in all aspects of your life, including your business.

5. Join a Business Community

Surrounding yourself with other business owners is one of the best things you can do for yourself. These people can be a shoulder to lean on when things are not going well, and they can cheer you on when things are going well.

Whether you join a networking group, a mastermind group, or a peer support group of any kind, you’re likely to feel less lonely and much more confident about your business when you’re surrounded by people who care about you. A business community can greatly improve your mental health which in turn makes you much more productive.

Our Summary – 5 Mental Health Tips for a Small Business Owner

As a small business owner, you need to set aside time to tend to yourself and your mental health. Because when you feel good, you do good! You become more productive and you start reaping the fruits of your efforts.

The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, ‘moving more for mental health’ calls for us to prioritise physical activity of any kind – walking, swimming, working out etc. This will have significant positive effects on your mental health.

In conclusion, the 5 ways that small business owners can care for their mental health are:

1. Look Out for Each Other
2. Rekindle Your Love For Business
3. Revive your Energy
4. Self-Love in Business
5. Join a Business Community

We’re always up for a conversation! If you’re looking for a business community that will help you gain business confidence, feel less lonely, and make steps towards the growth of your business, get in touch with us.