4 Tips for Managing Anxiety as a Business Owner

Anxiety gets in a business owner’s way before they can even get moving. In a study conducted by Quantilope, 33% of founders said their top barrier to starting their business was fear of making a mistake, and 31% said it was not knowing where to start. 

That fear doesn’t disappear once the business is up and running. In a poll about anxiety conducted by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly half (48%) of Americans responded that they felt anxious in the past year. And, as a business owner, that anxiety can have real consequences, because you know the buck stops with you.

Anxious behaviors can manifest in your working life as catastrophizing the worst possible scenario and perfectionism that stops you from completing projects. These negative thought patterns may make you drop projects you were excited about, or fall behind on necessary tasks. Business owner anxiety can make you lose your edge.

Inaction caused by anxiety is particularly tough because there are so many plates you have to keep spinning. Whether you’re a solopreneur or you have employees, there is often a feeling of anxious isolation that comes with being the person who is responsible for all the legal regulations and financial health of the business. Here are four categories to focus on, along with strategies to work into your daily routine for mental health as a small business owner. 

Key Takeaways

• Anxiety is a part of life, but you can set yourself up for success.
• Working breathing exercises, meditation, and other calming tactics into your work schedule will help you keep a baseline of mental health.
• Reaching out and asking for help when you need it is a sign of strength.

1. Build Mentally Healthy Habits 

Just like physical health, mental health is something you can practice daily to improve your overall resilience. Simple activities you can work into your routine include: 

• Timed breathing exercises — even five minutes resets your nervous system and clears the mental fog stress creates. We recommend 4-7-8 breathing (inhale for four counts, hold your breath for seven counts, and exhale for eight counts). 
• Journaling — getting looping thoughts out of your head and onto paper stops them from running in the background all day.
• Walking outside — movement, fresh air, and a change of scenery together do more for stress than any of them alone. 
• Checking in with a peer or mentor — a five-minute conversation with someone who gets it can do more to reduce solo entrepreneur anxiety than an hour of worrying alone.

Though it seems intuitive, make sure you work these anxiety-reducing practices into your to-do list so you don’t sacrifice your mental health. Treat them the way you’d treat a client deadline — non-negotiable, not optional. 

These practices help with everyday work stress, but if you’re dealing with more significant roadblocks, consider seeking help from a mental health professional. 

2. Delegate What You Can

A lot of entrepreneurs worry about handing off aspects of their business to anyone else. They want it to be successful, but they want to make sure it’s still part of their vision.

However, acknowledging that other people have expertise to help you run your business will ultimately help you grow more. Consider delegating tasks like bookkeeping, answering the phone, employee scheduling, or social media posting. Start small: hand off one task you dread, see how it goes, and build trust from there. 

Delegating doesn’t mean that you give up your vision. It means that you protect your energy for the decisions that need you the most. The more you work with others, the more your business will grow successfully. 

3. Designate Off-Hours 

No matter how much work you have to get done, you need off-hours to rest and recharge. Unless there’s a true disaster, putting your work down and getting it done the next day is hugely important. 

Set yourself a daily schedule, and ensure you have time worked into the calendar where you’re away from your computer, phone, or work in general. 

Create structure for yourself, your employees, and clients to make the boundary stick: 

• Set a real end time and communicate it — an auto-reply with your working hours or a quick heads-up to clients goes a long way. 
• Close the laptop and put the phone in another room. Out of sight makes “just checking in” a lot less tempting. 
• Build a short wind-down ritual — the ritual of transition time helps your brain register the workday is over.

Remember: recharging is necessary to come back refreshed and with a clear head. 

4. Assess Your Environment 

Sometimes, a change of scenery is all you need. If you’re not needed at the office or your store that day, try working at a coffee shop, a library, or a co-working space for a few hours. If you work solo, a change in physical environment can break up the monotony that could be leading to anxiety — new surroundings and a bit of background buzz can sometimes make a huge difference.   

Though working from home is great for flexibility, being alone for too long can kick up more anxiety, too. Also, if you have chores that are distracting you from work, leaving the home for a few hours to do deep work somewhere else is a useful tactic. 

If you have employees, that principle extends to them, too. Creating a positive, open culture is the best way for employees to do their best work. Encourage open conversations so they’re not so afraid of making mistakes that they fall behind, either. Simple things help: regular check-ins, a workspace that isn’t cramped or chaotic, and permission to say “I’m stuck” without it feeling like a failure. Taking responsibility is good, and collaborative problem-solving makes everyone feel more invested in the business’s success.

In Conclusion: Moving Forward

As a business owner, you’re not alone. There is a large community of business owners who have likely felt exactly what you’re feeling, and who found their way back to steady ground.  Anxiety is not the end of the road, but rather a moment to take a step back and understand what healthy habits and routines help you. Whether it’s a better routine, a change of scenery, or sometimes a conversation with a mental health professional, it all counts. 

If you’re thinking through some general business questions and want to talk through it, we can help with that. ZenBusiness Velo® is a personalized AI guide built on nearly 11 years of real business experience. It knows where people get stuck, and what matters most for your state, business type, and stage. Build with Velo now.

Disclaimer: These tips are meant to help with the everyday stress of running a business — they’re not a substitute for professional mental healthcare. If anxiety is significantly affecting your daily life, we recommend reaching out to a licensed mental health professional.