It’s no secret that living your entrepreneurial dream is a lot of work. There are approximately 28 million small businesses in the U.S. and up to 80% of them will fail in the first five years.
When you’re balancing kids, a fitness routine, and a professional life, it can be overwhelming to consider making the first steps toward your own entrepreneurial goals. But you don’t need to make any major sacrifices to begin working on your new career.
Here are a few strategies you can use to build your business endeavor without sacrificing your health and happiness.
Telecommute when you can
Telecommuting can help to reduce stress. One study reports that 82% of telecommuting employees reported lower stress levels while they were on the job.
Luckily, much of the work that’s done today can be done digitally. In fact, some 53% of marketers say that blog content creation is the top inbound marketing priority.
Today’s digital focus isn’t just because of innovative technology; digital work also reduces costs for businesses, which reduces stress for CEOs. Printer and copier costs are the third-largest office expense, which means digital processes get rid of those expenses.
Prioritize your physical health
It can be tempting to let your commitment to your company and its applications take precedence over your health. For many entrepreneurs, especially parents, sleep is often the first to be sacrificed.
But sleep deprivation can cause a whole slew of problems beginning with impaired cognitive function. This impairment can’t be fixed with a cup of coffee, either.
Your choice to stay awake past midnight to answer work emails will actually keep you from making sound decisions the next day. And choosing to work longer than usual instead of clocking out to go for a jog can impact your memory, mental health, and ability to concentrate.
That said, when you sacrifice your health for the sake of your entrepreneurial dreams, you’re actually sacrificing your ability to make those dreams real. Always put your physical and mental health first.
Set boundaries for yourself
It can be hard to set boundaries for yourself when you’re building a business. After all, everything is personal when you’re developing a startup from the ground up.
But it’s important to remember that what’s right for the business doesn’t always have to do with you. For instance, you might have a personal attachment to a new product for the company. But that new product might not be what’s best for the business.
Draw boundaries between your personal perception of your product, campaign, service, and business to keep your company in sync with what your target audience needs and wants.
By setting hard boundaries, putting your health first, and working digitally, you can do what’s best for your new business without sacrificing your health and happiness. Remember that growing a business involves smart decisions and you owe it to yourself to balance your health and career throughout the day.
