By: Augustina Ampofo

Starting your own company can be daunting. There are many ups and downs and being your own boss can be stressful. In addition to taking care of your own business, taking care of your own mental health should also be a priority. In an online self-reported survey, 72% of entrepreneurs reported that they were dealing with mental health issues Freeman et al, 2015). 

Many entrepreneurs have long and stressful work days and it can be challenging to balance everything at once. It is important to not measure your own self-worth with the success of your business. Many start-ups fail but that does not mean that the founder of these businesses are failures.

It is important to put your mental health first! Here are some tips for managing you mental health as an entrepreneur.

1. Take Breaks and Eat! – Yes you work for yourself and yes you may have to do everything by yourself but that doesn’t mean you should be working 18-hour days. Make sure you take breaks often during your workday. Take a quick 15-minute coffee break, go for a quick walk and make sure you eat lunch!
2. Take Time Off – This second tip almost sounds like the first tip but it isn’t the same. It’s important to take full days off to rest and recharge. Some of your best ideas might come from the week you took off to go to Mexico.
3. Diversify Your Work Environment – Working from home everyday sounds great however; this could lead to isolation from others. It’s good to try and work in coffee shops or co-working spaces.
4. Journaling– Take some time a few days a week to free write all your emotions in a journal. This can help you become more self-aware of your thoughts and feelings, especially during difficult start-up days.
5. Seek Help If You Need It– There is no shame in seeking help from a professional if you need it.

It is important to take care of yourself first then your business. If you want your business to succeed then you must also succeed. You will not be able to succeed if you work yourself to the point of burn out.

Looking for online resources related to mental health? Check out https://cmha.ca/document-category/mental-health.

Learn more about Mental Health Advocate, Augustina athttps://augustinaampofo.com/.