My Journey of Prioritising Mental Health In Business
To coincide with R U OK? day, Thursday 14 September 2023, I have chosen to write my first article and make it a personal one!
“Small business owners are vital to the Australian economy, they make up 98% of Australian businesses and employ over 5 million people.
Research shows while most small business owners (SBOs) felt that what they do is worthwhile (average 72%) and are more likely than not to rate themselves as happy (68%) nearly one in three (28%) reported a diagnosis in the last 12 months of either stress, depression or anxiety.”
Balancing business and mental health
Running a business is like embarking on a rollercoaster ride - it's thrilling, unpredictable, and full of ups and downs. As a business owner, I've come to realise that one of the most crucial aspects of this journey is prioritising mental health.
While not all small business owners experience mental health issues, the unique stressors (including, financial stress, long work hours, high responsibility, isolation, uncertainty & risk and a lack of real return or benefits) of entrepreneurship and business ownership, can make us more susceptible to conditions like depression and anxiety.
It really is essential to recognise these challenges and seek support when needed, whether through professional help, peer networks, family, friends or resources provided by mental health organisations and government agencies.
In this article, I want to share my journey of starting and running a business while navigating the rollercoaster of emotions and the strategies I've found helpful for maintaining a healthy mental state.
The importance of mental health in business ownership
Business ownership and entrepreneurship in general is often glamorised, with the focus on success stories and the rewards that come with it. However, the reality is that starting and running a business can be incredibly challenging and stressful. The long hours, financial pressures, and constant decision-making can take a toll on your mental well-being.
Recognising the significance of mental health in business ownership is essential. When we neglect our mental well-being, it not only affects us personally but also has a direct impact on our businesses.
Poor mental health can lead to decreased productivity, reduced creativity, and strained relationships with clients and employees. So, it just makes sense to prioritise your mental health as a business owner.
MY STORY
The ups and downs of running a business
When I first started Atramentum, I was filled with excitement, enthusiasm and a touch of naivete regarding just what it would take mentally to make it work. I thought I was mentally tough, as i had had my resilience personally and professionally tried and tested over the years but running a business was a whole new ball game.
I was confident in my technical abilities and knowledge built up over a number of years, in a number of industries. These were skills honed over my entire career, what I wasn’t prepared for was the unique and inevitable challenges and setbacks that come with business ownership. I felt isolated and had to;
Find clients, with no experience doing business development.
Work from home with no travel to the office, no face-to-face interactions with clients or being able to socialise with colleagues. My day was spent with just me.
Work everything out myself, I was an office of 1, so no one to bounce ideas off or ask questions - the buck started and ended with me.
‘Make money’ where as before, a paycheck turned up every fortnight.
Sure, there were wins, my wife was (& is) very supportive (although at the time she was FIFO and we had young kids) and I had a routine that saw me keeping business hours, searching for new opportunities, refining my business offering (i.e. trying to understand just what it was I did!) , taking on work I don’t really want to do and not knowing what to charge for it - all the usual start-up stuff but as time went on, I began to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and on the verge of burnout.
The constant pressure to secure clients, meet deadlines, and manage finances, support my family, all became a heavy burden – all whilst working from home on my own between 9 to 5. I soon found myself constantly worrying about the future and second-guessing my decisions.
At first, I did not realise the importance of taking care of my mental health and pushed on, with the hope that things would get better, the stresses would ease, the clients would come, and I would find myself looking back at my start up journey with amusing tales of how it used to be.
The stresses, however, didn’t ease they changed, were replaced by other types of stresses and the overall number increased over time.
It wasn’t until a year or so later that I realised my coping mechanism (just ‘push though’) wasn’t working and in fact, was making things worse. I was irritable, overwhelmed, struggling to connect at home, feeling isolated and a workday soon became full of home-life distractions (I just had to sweep that path and pull those weeds out of the lawn… now!).
Recognising signs of burnout and stress
I was stressed and frankly, burnt out.
One of the first steps to prioritising mental health is recognising the signs of burnout and stress. As business owners, we often push ourselves to the limit in pursuit of success, like I did, but at what cost?
I had the classic signs of burnout including physical and emotional exhaustion, decreased motivation, and a sense of detachment from work. I was stressed; feeling irritable, had difficulty concentrating as my thoughts raced, and had trouble getting to sleep.
Being aware of these sorts of signs, that are out of your normal patterns, and acknowledging when you need to take a step back is essential to understanding that taking care of our mental health is not a sign of weakness but a strength. By recognizing and addressing these signs, we can prevent burnout and ensure our long-term success as business owners.
That was the start of my wellness recovery - acknowledging that I wasn’t feeling my normal self, I needed help and I had to change.
Strategies for prioritising mental health while running a business
So, what did I do?
Firstly, I made my mental health a priority, ditching over time the ‘push through’ mentality and looked at how my stress and burnout had manifested for me. Secondly, I started exploring different ways for prioritising my well-being while running a business.
Creating boundaries: Setting work-life balance
Creating boundaries is essential for maintaining mental well-being as business owners!
It's easy to get caught up in the never-ending to-do list and the pressure to always be "on", or always feeling like you’re ‘at work’, as you work from home! However, setting clear boundaries between work and personal life is crucial.
This may involve defining specific working hours (& sticking to them, the email at 9pm can wait till 9am), scheduling downtime for self-care, and learning to say no to out-of-hours tasks or ones that don't align with our priorities.
I believe that by setting boundaries, we can prevent burnout and start to ensure a healthier work-life balance.
Building a support network of fellow business owners
Another strategy was to build a support network of fellow business owners. Surrounding ourselves with like-minded individuals who understand the unique challenges we face can be incredibly empowering. They can offer advice, share their experiences, and provide a sense of camaraderie.
Sometimes, reaching out and asking someone else how they are going or what challenges they face, can open up strong bonds and realisations, that you're not the only one going through similar business challenges.
Click here to watch a video on how to ask, R U OK?
Having a support network can help us feel less isolated - this is critical - and more supported in our business owner journey.
Seeking support: The role of therapy and counselling
Therapy and counselling can be invaluable resources for business owners. Talking to a trained professional can provide a safe space to express our concerns, fears, and frustrations. Such as Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO). They can help us gain perspective, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and navigate the challenges we face, whilst remaining non-judgmental.
Therapy is not a sign of weakness, but rather a proactive step towards maintaining your mental health. Just remember if we need our car tuned, we go to a mechanic, if we sprain an ankle we go to the physio - we seek appropriate and skilled help.
Why should it be any different if we need help with our mental health?
Self-care practices for business owners
Lastly, being easy on yourself and incorporating self-care practices into our daily routines is vital for maintaining mental health. This may include activities such as exercise, meditation, journaling, or pursuing hobbies that bring us joy.
Whatever works for you!
Taking time to recharge and nurture ourselves allows us to show up as our best selves in our businesses. Try talking to yourself in the tone as you would if a mate asked you for help.
Self-care is not a luxury but a necessity for sustainable success.
Embracing your mental health journey as a business owner
In conclusion, running a business is a rollercoaster ride, and prioritising mental health is crucial for long-term success. By recognising the importance of mental well-being, understanding the signs of burnout, and implementing strategies such as seeking support, building a network, setting boundaries, and practicing self-care, we can navigate the ups and downs of business ownership with resilience and grace.
Remember, your mental health journey is unique to you. Embrace it, prioritise it, and make it an integral part of your business journey. By taking care of yourself, you're not only investing in your own well-being but also setting a positive example for others in the business owner community.
Now, it's time to take the first step. Prioritise your mental health and watch how it positively impacts your business and your life.
RESOURCES
Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO)
NewAccess for Small Business Owners is a guided self-help mental health coaching program, click here
It’s free, confidential and convenient. Available nationally by phone or video call, no GP referral is required.
Click below for a few other resources available.
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Telephone: 1300 224 636
Available: 24/7
Website: beyondblue.org.au
Online chat: 3pm-12am (AEST) 7 days a week
Provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live and will support people in the right direction to seek further help.
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Telephone: 1300 78 99 78
Website: www.mensline.org.au
Online Chat
Video Chat
Email: talkitover@mensline.org.au
MensLine Australia is the national telephone and online support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns. The service is available from anywhere in Australia and is staffed by professional counsellors, experienced in men’s issues.
MensLine Australia provides:
A safe and private place to talk about concerns
Confidential, anonymous and non-judgmental support
Coaching and practical strategies for managing personal relationship concerns
Relevant information and links to other appropriate services and programs as required
Callers have access to 24-hour support, anywhere anytime.
MensLine professional counsellors are experts in men’s mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), substance abuse, healthy relationships and integrated wellbeing.
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Telephone: 1300 853 437
Available: 8.30am - 5pm AEST Monday to Saturday
Website: parentsbeyondbreakup.com/dids/
Online Meetings, in-person groups
Generalist counselling supporting Dads experiencing trauma through family breakdown and separation anxiety.
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R U OK?Day (Thursday 14 September, 2023) is our national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that any day is the day to ask, 'are you OK?' and support those struggling with life.
Get involved and inspire everyone in your workplace to learn when and how to have a conversation that could change a life. Use the free resources available on the Join R U OK?Day page to get started.
Resources include videos, social media tiles, posters and a presentation that can be used in workplaces.
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Telephone:(08) 9221 7066 (Free advice line)
Available: 9.00am – 4.00pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays)
Website: cclswa.org.au
Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc. (CCLSWA) is a not-for-profit charitable organisation which provides free and confidential legal advice and representation to consumers in WA in the areas of credit, banking and finance. CCLSWA also takes an active role in community legal education, law reform and policy issues affecting consumers.
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Telephone: (08) 9223 1111
Available: 24/7
Crisis Care is a telephone information and counselling service for people in crisis needing urgent help. It’s a Government of Western Australia, Department of Communities Child Protection and Family Support service.
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Telephone: 13 11 14
Available: 24/7
Website: lifelinewa.org.au/
Online chat: 7pm-4am, daily (AEST)
Lifeline WA provides all Western Australians experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide with access to 24 hour crisis support.
