25 Entrepreneurs Share How to Prevent, Reduce and Overcome Business Stress

Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said what doesn’t kill  you makes you stronger.

The idea being that negative experiences can toughen people, making them better able to manage subsequent difficulties.

But surely he knew that every entrepreneurial superhero is still mortal? So, even when we feel like we’re capable of doing it all, stress and worry can take its toll on our health and performance.

Some small business owners seem as though they’re always walking on sunshine, while others are frantically pulling their hair out. Yet the truth remains: every entrepreneur is faced with challenges in business. So, how can we prevent, reduce and overcome them?

While life may give you 99 problems, your business shouldn’t be one of them.

Twenty-five entrepreneurs share how they run their world with more ease, reduce stress and enjoy a more productive life and business.

1. Have fun things around your office.

Chances are you may be stuck to your desk. Especially if you’re in a home office it can be lonely, dreary, etc. I love having fun things around like great snacks, my dog, Nerf guns, holiday decorations, and even candles for stressful days. Its all about making your space comfy and relaxing for you. Stop to have fun breaks. I stop every hour or so to play with the dog, throw darts, stretch etc.

- Bonnie Joy Dewkett, Owner at The Joyful Organizer @TheJoyfulOrg

2. Go for a run.

Two years ago, I started running to help eliminate stress. It didn’t take long for my neck pain and constant headaches to virtually disappear. Running does something to reset you mentally, and it improves your creativity and outlook with very little effort. I now build a 5k run into my schedule two or three times per week.

- Joshua Waldron, Founder at Studio JWAL LLC @iamjwal

3. Tell your significant other something positive about your day.

I tell my wife a positive aspect to my day instead of just jumping into the negative. It helps change the mood of the evening. I also leave my cell phone at home when I go out to dinner with family and friends. There is nothing worse then getting a bad client email on Friday evening while your trying to unwind.

- Pete Juratovic, President at Clikzy Creative @clikzycreative

4. Make emotional wellness a priority.

Go on a ‘genius date!’ An example of a genius date is visiting an art exhibit, taking a dance class or attending a lecture and connecting with a genius outside of your industry. I go on weekly Kizomba dancing genius dates because they help me connect with my own genius and inspire new ideas for my business while reducing stress.

- Shelley Chapman, Food Relationship Coach at Eat Relate Love @eatrelatelove

5. Change your environment.

On stressful days, I like to get out of the work environment and take a short walk outside.  I’ll try to appreciate the beauty around me, such as the flowers or nice architectural design. Then to calm down and get rid of the stress at the end of a busy day, I’ll take a long hot shower then meditate before bed. When I have more time I like to get together with friends to laugh and socialize.

- Toffler Niemuth, Founder at World Vitae @WorldVitae

6. Make a to-do list.

Some people may think to-do lists will add stress because it reminds them of all of the work they have to do. But for me, when I take 30 minutes to plan out a detailed to-do list for the week on a Sunday evening it actually shows me that I can accomplish it all. It helps to reassure me that there is no reason to be overwhelmed. Sometimes putting it all on the table makes tasks more achievable and less daunting.

- Kelsey Meyer, President at Digital Talent Agents @Kelsey_M_Meyer