5 Tips for Managing Stress

With up to 72 hours a week dedicated to work, starting a new business can cause a lot of stress. And if this stress is not alleviated throughout the typical workweek, it will build up and can cause a whole slew of issues—from business complications to health problems. To alleviate work stress, use these five tips:

1. Sleep
Although entrepreneurs are known to run on nothing but caffeine and big dreams, something else needs to fuel the fire, and that's sleep. Sleep allows your body to sync itself up after a hard day's work and can alleviate stress immediately. It is important to shoot for at least seven hours of sleep every night. Try to stay away from little sleep on the weekdays and then a 15-hour sleep on Saturday night. The more you regulate your sleep, the less stress you will experience.

2. Positive Thinking
A lot of entrepreneurial stress comes from the fear of failure—and when half of small businesses fail after the first five years, it's hard not to think of its consequences. Generate positive thoughts into your workday instead of focusing on all of the negatives and "what ifs". Remind yourself to think positively everyday by decorating your office with inspirational quotes, celebrating business feats with co-workers, and patting yourself on the back every once and awhile.

3. Laughter
One of the best stress-busters is laughter. Laughter is known to counteract the cortisol and it allows your brain to learn and thinka bout new things. So take a few breaks during the work day to read funny online jokes, browse funny YouTube videos, or surround yourself with funny people. Sometimes, entrepreneurship can be fun, believe it or not!

4. Time Off/Breaks
Taking breaks to de-stress during the workday is crucial for alleviation. This may mean taking a walk outside during your lunch break, meditating before you leave for home, or having an engaging conversation at the water cooler. Whatever you consider your break to be, make it count towards your de-stressing efforts.

5. Becoming Health-Conscious
Physical fitness and eating healthy can also relieve stress. Finding a form of exercise that works for you is absolutely critical. Exercise can come in the form of Pilates, yoga, aerobics, biking, running, and even sports. Eating healthy relieves stress because it makes you feel better from the inside out.
Utilize these five stress-relieving activities during the most stressful of your workdays and improve yourself and your business!