Small Businesses

How to cope with stress as an entrepreneur

  • 4 min Read
  • May 9, 2022

Author

Grace Townsley
Grace Townsley

As a professional copywriter in the finance and B2B space, Grace Townsley offers small business leaders big insights—one precisely chosen word at a time. Let's connect!

Table of Contents

For many entrepreneurs and leaders, only a couple of things in business are absolutely certain: Taxes and stress. While we can’t help you eliminate your taxes, it is possible to minimize the stresses in your life. Or at least to retrain your brain to deal with those stresses in a healthier way. 


What exactly is stress?



The feeling of being stressed — racing heartbeat, sweaty palms, butterflies in your stomach, shallow breathing — that’s caused by a rush of adrenaline and cortisol in your body. They’re meant to prepare you for “fight-or-flight” when facing real danger. But in today’s business world, where your biggest physical threat is getting a papercut while opening an envelope, your stress response does more harm than good. 


Uncontrolled stress can take a serious toll on entrepreneurs. In the moment, a release of cortisol can block learning and memory, and impact your ability to regulate your emotions. That’s why a sudden stressor can make you feel immediately out of control. 


Over time, when your body is continually stressed, it begins to release more serious hormones, called glucocorticoids. These hormones impair your immune system, cause chronic fatigue, raise your blood pressure, and can lead to mental health problems and substance abuse. 


In short, stress is largely unnecessary in today’s work environment. It’s a natural response that actually does more harm than good to your body. If left unchecked, it can begin to damage your body from the inside out, further impacting your ability to lead and do your best work. 


How to cope with stress in a healthier way



While stressful living may be the norm for many business leaders and entrepreneurs, it isn’t a job requirement! These quick tips can help you manage your stress and retrain your brain to respond to stress in a better way: 


Be mindful.

Remind yourself of where you are, what you’re doing, and why it matters. Take a minute to step back and consider the broad picture. Take several slow, deep breaths, visualize your “happy place,” and focus on grounding yourself in the moment. Incredibly, a mindfulness exercise like this can take your body from a state of stress to relaxation in 60 seconds.


Encourage yourself.

This may feel childish, but being compassionate and encouraging towards yourself goes a long way in managing your stress reaction. Remind yourself of where you are and how far you’ve come. Encourage yourself that you can handle whatever you’re facing, that you make wise decisions, and that you’re more than ready to conquer this challenge.


Work it out.

Exercise is a powerful stress buster. Not only does it help combat anxiety, even a few minutes of exercise causes your body to release endorphins that improve your mental clarity and energy level. A quick walk at lunch or a 30-minute session before work can be effective ways to decrease your body’s stress reaction. 


Minimizing your reaction to stress has a number of benefits



Stress and fear cloud out our wise judgment. The consequences of these reactions, if left unchecked, can manifest themselves in a number of ways: Missing out on a fantastic opportunity, handling a workplace conflict poorly, making a less-than-optimal impulse decision, letting anxiety derail your presentation or meeting, and the list goes on. Not to mention the negative health effects of living under a cloud of constant stress. 


On the other hand, the positive benefits of eliminating unnecessary stress are endless: Better relationships, smarter decisions, increased creativity, the feeling of being well-rested, enhanced strength and physical well-being, and an overall greater sense of optimism. 


If you find yourself in a cycle of constant stress, try these tips this week. By clearing your brain and restoring your body’s balance, you just might break through barriers you’ve been facing for years. 

Talk to our team today to learn how Escalon can help take your company to the next level.

  • Expertise you can trust

    Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who bring years of industry experience to the table. You gain a trusted advisor who understands your business inside out.

  • Quality and consistency

    Say goodbye to the hassles of hiring, training and managing in-house finance teams. You will never have to worry about unexpected leave of absence or retraining new employees.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

    Whether you’re a small business or a global powerhouse, our solutions scale with your needs. We eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and help you focus on growing your business.

Contact Us Today!

Tap into the latest insights from experts in your industry

Accounting & Finance

CFO vs Controller: How Startups Can Benefit from Both

CFO vs Controller: How Startups Can Benefit from Both  As companies grow, managing finances and accounting becomes increasingly important. A...

Read More
Small Businesses

The ROI of Outsourcing Business Services: How to Measure Your Investment’s Impact 

The ROI of Outsourcing Business Services: How to Measure Your Investment’s Impact  In a world where every dollar must count,...

Read More
People Management & HR

2025 Employment Law Updates: What to Know

As we step into 2025, businesses across the country face several important updates in labor laws and employee benefits. Staying...

Read More
Startups

5 Signs Your Startup Needs an Outsourced CFO  

5 Signs Your Startup Needs an Outsourced CFO   Startups often operate with lean teams, but as they grow, financial complexity...

Read More
Leadership & Growth

CG Startups: How to Keep Costs Low While Scaling Operations 

Consumer Goods Startups: How to Keep Costs Low While Scaling Operations  Scaling a consumer goods startup requires a careful balancing...

Read More
Press Releases

Escalon Expands Its Reach: Full Stack Finance and Early Growth Join Forces with Industry Leader 

Escalon Expands Its Reach: Full Stack Finance and Early Growth Join Forces with Industry Leader  In a strategic move that...

Read More
Taxes

Delaware Annual Review: What Series A-C Startups Must Know to Stay Compliant 

Delaware Annual Review: What Series A-C Startups Must Know to Stay Compliant  For startups incorporated in Delaware, staying compliant is...

Read More
Taxes

Tax Planning for Startups: Preparing for Your First Tax Filing

Tax Planning for Startups: Preparing for Your First Tax Filing as a Growing Business  For many startups, the first major...

Read More
Taxes

Unlock Tax Savings with the R&D Tax Credit

As a startup, managing cash flow and minimizing expenses are critical to your business's survival and growth. One often-overlooked opportunity...

Read More