Being an entrepreneur is a rollercoaster ride. You will experience some ups and downs while starting your business or positioning it for growth. All these challenges can take a toll on your mental health, especially when you’re constantly feeling pressured.
Because the risks are high and there’s a lot you can lose, entrepreneurs are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and self-defeating behaviors. To help you maintain a healthy mental and emotional state, we’ve listed 4 resources that you can use!
The Importance of Mental Health for an Entrepreneur’s Well-Being
You may be wondering, “Why do I need these mental health resources in the first place? What does mental health have to do with my business?”
A healthy mind leads to a successful and thriving business. This is because entrepreneurs need to constantly form ideas in order to improve their products or services. As an entrepreneur, you become the center of your business. So you must keep your mental state stable to improve your decision-making and solve any business problems.
Keeping your mental health can boost your confidence, enhance your productivity, and prepare you for any uncomfortable situation. It directly impacts your actions and decisions. Ultimately, it affects your well-being and helps you grow as an entrepreneur.
4 Mental Health Resources for Entrepreneurs
First and foremost, if you have severe mental health problems, you need to immediately call a mental health professional. In the US, you can call or text 988, and it’s open 24/7. They will direct you to a trained crisis counselor who can provide help to people having suicidal thoughts, substance use, or any type of emotional distress.
Suppose you want to work on your mental health and overall well-being. In that case, you may start by being aware of your feelings and acknowledging that you can’t do everything alone. Aside from your friends, family, and teammates, here are resources that can help you maintain your mental health.
(Book) Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World – by Rand Fishkin
This book has a candid and thoughtful detail on the struggles of starting a start-up. Aside from lessons on running a business, you will also be hooked by the stories with many life lessons.
(Podcast) How Meditation Became Mainstream – by Bradley Raider
This podcast discusses why meditation is vital to entrepreneurs and how entrepreneurs can use a specific type called “Vedic meditation” to promote calmness and mindfulness.
(App) Headspace
The Headspace app can generally be used by anyone, not just entrepreneurs. It’s a user-friendly mindfulness and meditation app that helps users build confidence while learning different breathwork techniques and meditation exercises. Headspace has also teamed with Netflix to produce an interactive series called Headspace Guide to Meditation, which introduces meditation with a calming animation.
(Podcast) Entrepreneurs and Mental Health
This podcast tackles a very sensitive topic — the rising number of entrepreneurs suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. Then, the speakers discuss ways entrepreneurs can manage these struggles.
Conclusion
As a final note, be aware of your feelings. The fact that you’re reading this means that you value your mental health. In addition to using these resources and meditating to improve your mindfulness, remember to appreciate yourself and reach out to your loved ones.
