Stress.
We all get it.
Some say we need it, and that it's even good for you.
But clearly, too much is something to be avoided.
How can you keep stress from getting you down? Your business is your baby.
Once you give birth to it, there's a lot of feeding and nurturing that has to be done to get it off the ground.
It's just like raising a toddler.
Some businesses, with comparatively little feeding, seem to just grow by themselves.
Others require a consistent and determined effort.
And when you find that the challenges are getting on top of you, then that's when stress can begin to take the fun out of being an entrepreneur.
As long as work is play, you don't mind; but when work starts to feel like work, then it's probably time to think about how to manage the stress you feel, rather than letting it manage you.
There are three ways to prevent stress from getting you down, and all of them are ones that you know already; but, we need to be reminded of them because there are the ones that are most frequently overlooked.
1.
Be careful about what you eat.
I was careful not to refer to this as diet.
No one likes them, so we won't go there.
Here's a truism that we often forget: Everyone is different.
The quantities and types of foods that will benefit you the most are likely to be quite different from mine.
It's the way we're made, and you have to accept this.
Wishing you were different will only make it more difficult for you to choose those foods that will do you the most good.
So, remind yourself of what they are, and then use them for the fuel that you need.
2.
Keep moving.
Again, I avoided calling it exercise.
I've heard people say that they run around so much all day long, or up and down so many flights of stairs that that is enough.
It isn't, so stop kidding yourself.
Remember Newton's Law? For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction.
When it comes to exercise, you need to elevate your heart rate enough to mildly stress it so that it is more efficient.
It's true that such efficiency is evident when you're under stress that's particularly demanding, but the place where you'll really notice it is in your stamina.
To look at this another way, if you want to have more productive hours in your day, then exercise will give you the energy to carry on.
3.
Rest.
When you're excited about your baby, it's easy to forget the sleepless nights.
At first, it's a bit of a jolt to your system; but then you adjust, and before you know it, it feels normal.
It isn't.
Most people, whatever they tell you, need between six and eight hours.
And I'll tell you something else: you have a window during which you're most likely to fall asleep.
If you push past it, you'll get a "second wind.
" Just because you get it, doesn't mean that it's a good idea.
Studies have shown that while many people function on less sleep, their level of productivity and accuracy declines markedly.
In other words, you're fooling only yourself if you think that by short-changing your rest periods that you're accomplishing more.
Fuel, movement, and rest.
Give yourself the best chance of success.