STRESS AND FAILURE - COPING WITH IT

Believe it or not, it is possible to strike a good work-life balance and reduce stress. Niamh MacSweeney reports.

Dealing with the everyday demands of running a business can be highly stressful. Stress and its many symptoms can take a significant toll on individuals. It can have a negative influence on business and can impact on personal relationships.

When work and personal life are off balance it can be difficult to make adjustments and restore harmony. Finding a balance in today’s fast paced environment is no mean feat. Whether the problem is too much or too little focus on work, whether your personal and professional life is unbalanced, stress and its effects can be harmful.

WELL BEING

Stress can cause physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms, which can affect health, well-being and relationships. Stress can cause relatively minor illnesses like insomnia, backache and headache. But it can also contribute to potentially life-threatening diseases like high blood pressure and heart disease. Although stress is a natural part of life it is difficult to define because it means different things to different people.

When stress manifests it not only reduces the quality of an individual’s performance but also increases the possibility of liability due to increased accidents, illnesses and absences. Improved stress management skills will not only reduce these burdens but will directly lead to improved job performance via increased concentration and overall good health.

Regardless of one’s business venture, we all have common problems and similar issues that need to be resolved. Managing stress in an effective manner can make all the difference, to not only health, but professional success and personal performance.

STRIKING A HEALTHY BALANCE

It isn’t always easy to juggle the demands of career and personal life. For most people it’s an ongoing challenge to reduce stress and maintain harmony in key areas of their life. Fortunately there are ways to cope with stress and many approaches that can help you to find the balance that is best for you.

REALISTIC GOALS

Firstly it is important to be realistic in your goals and know your limitations. You may be taking on more responsibility than you can or should manage.

Eliminate an activity that is not absolutely necessary and if you feel overwhelmed learn to say no to things that are beyond your capabilities. No one is perfect, so don’t expect perfection from yourself. Establish what needs to be done and how you can achieve this goal. Implement a realistic plan of action and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

EFFECTIVE PLANNING

For people under pressure, their workload can sometimes seem unbearable. Don’t be tempted to work longer hours; instead try to manage time and work more effectively. The best way to cope with the feeling of being overwhelmed is to take one task at a time. Pick one urgent assignment and work on it. Once you accomplish that task, choose the next and complete one job before you start another. The satisfaction of achieving your objectives is a great motivator to continued success.

LEARN TO UNWIND

Although it may not always seem possible to set aside time each day for an activity, doing something that you enjoy can be hugely beneficial. Find something that helps you unwind and whether it’s gardening or painting make time to indulge your interest. Quiet reflection after a hectic day can relieve the symptoms of stress and increase your coping mechanisms.

The benefits of a good nights sleep should not be underestimated. Working under pressure can be difficult enough without the added problem of fatigue. Not only is your productivity affected, but you can also make costly mistakes that could have been avoided.

PHYSICAL HEALTH

Your physical health affects how you experience stressful situations and regular exercise is a popular way to relieve this stress. Thirty minutes of physical activity a day benefits the body and the mind and is a great way to release tension.

Good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can make a huge difference. Limit intake of caffeine and alcohol, get adequate rest and create a good balance between work and play. Entrepreneurs often under-rate their knowledge, skills and abilities so it is important to remain confident and have a strong belief in what you are trying to achieve.

COPING MECHANISMS

Everyone needs help from time to time. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to cope alone. If life is getting too chaotic to manage, seek professional help from a coach or get advice from support groups and other entrepreneurs.

A trusted friend or family member can be a great source to talk with during times of stress or failure. Learn to share your feelings and allow those close to you to provide love, support and guidance. Take time for your family and friends because relationships help promote a better life balance.

HANDLING FAILURE

Owning and running your own business can be challenging and exciting. But because entrepreneurs invest so much of themselves into a business, failure can have a dramatic impact on both personal and professional self-esteem. Overcoming the fear of failure can be a major challenge. Nobody likes to fail and it can be difficult to bounce back if a project is unsuccessful.

The important thing to remember is that your business may have failed but you have not. There are a lot of lessons to be learnt from failure and mistakes. Newly acquired knowledge and insight helps people to move forward and the possibility of succeeding the next time increases significantly. There are various approaches that can be taken to create a balance and methods that can be used to cope with stress and disappointment. Most entrepreneurs live by the ethos that the more hours they work they more they will succeed. But effective time management, when implemented, can create a more harmonious work-life balance.

COACHING

Coaching, support groups and stress management techniques can re-build self-esteem and restore belief in both professional and personal goals. A good coach will be able to identify improvements and work out an implementation plan so that the goals can be realised.

Coaches encourage people to accept and change tense and stressful situations. Through consultation with their clients, coaches work towards developing the necessary strategies to cope with setbacks, elevate stress and improve performance.

PROMOTING BALANCE FOR EMPLOYEES

Attaining a good work-life balance is essential for any entrepreneur. But if you employ staff then it is equally important that you consider the work-life balance of emplyees.

In the competitive business market organisations need a highly motivated, productive and flexible workforce and work-life balance provides a means for achieving this. An employer who promotes good work-life balance can be assured of staff motivation, retention and productivity.