• Work is a common cause of stress, for a number of reasons, including: fear of losing one’s job, gossip, and a long commute.
  • You can take control of these stressors and ultimately improve your mental health by working for yourself.
  • It’s important to note that self-employment doesn’t come without stress—the difference is that you’re in control and are more easily able to do something about it.
  • Ensure your business is successful (and stress minimal) by creating a structured day and staying organized.
  • Additionally, the mere fact that you have more control over your paycheck will eliminate a great deal of stress and encourage you to keep growing your business.

Entrepreneurship is the American dream, especially when your workplace is a nightmare. Here, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of job-related stress and explain how going from employed to self-employed can help you take control of your mental health. Also included are tips on how to make your business run smoothly.

Causes of Workplace stress

  • Fear of losing job. You may be the best employee your company’s ever had, but no one is immune from layoffs or being fired with or without cause. And fear can have a negative impact on performance, which can even further your chances of losing your job. When you work for yourself, however, there’s no chance of getting a pink slip. The Muse explains that there are four telltale signs that indicate your time on the job may be up.
  • Gossip and office politics. We’d like to think that gossip stops high school. Unfortunately, it doesn’t and many workplaces don’t take a strong enough stand on workplace gossip, even if it’s initiated to intentionally harm another employee’s reputation. When you are the subject of this watercooler talk, it can make your workplace a hostile environment. As a self-employed individual, you don’t have coworkers. You don’t have to deal with office politics or lunchroom cliques.
  • A long/gridlocked commute. If your office is more than a half hour from your home, there’s a good chance you’ve experience road rage, gridlocked traffic and the stress of being late after getting stuck on the freeway. CNN explains that a poor commute experience can lead to emotional turmoil and can even infect your office with negativity. When you are self-employed, you have the option to work from home or set your own hours to avoid the stress-inducing delays.

Keys to Running a Smooth Business

If you’ve made the decision to jump headfirst in the world of entrepreneurship, you should know that it is also not without stress. The primary difference is that you are in control and have the power to make decisions that will eliminate stress and anxiety.

One of the most important things you can do, especially if you run a home-based business, is to define the structure of your day. For instance, you might schedule 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. to check and return emails, 10 a.m. until noon to focus on acquiring new business and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on servicing current customers. You may find that using an appointment reminder app can help you maintain a balance between your work and family life.

There are numerous applications available that will help you keep yourself on track. One example is Square Appointments, which will allow you to send personalized appointment reminders and maintain an open line of communication with your customers and clients. Whichever app you choose, take the time to make sure it offers all the options and features you’ll need before you buy.

Organization is another area you’ll need to pay extra attention to as an entrepreneur, especially if you work gig/freelance jobs. Keep a clean desk and get serious about how you utilize technology. As soon as you make a new contact, add them to your address book. You should also create a daily task list and provide yourself a small reward when each is complete. This could be something as simple as going outside for a good stretch or enjoying a cup of coffee after lunch.

One of the greatest benefits of working for yourself is financial freedom. You will no longer be relegated to a per-hour dollar figure but have complete control over your income. This alone can help eliminate stress and serve as a constant form of encouragement to keep growing.

Brad Krause graduated from college in 2010 and went straight to the corporate world at the headquarters of a popular retail company. But what started as a dream job soured quickly. After four years of working 15-hour days and neglecting his health, he decided enough was enough. Through aiding a friend during a tough time, Brad discovered his real calling—helping people implement self-care practices that improve their overall wellbeing. He created SelfCaring.info to share his own knowledge and the many great resources he finds on his self-care journey.