Sometimes, the hardest part of running a business is keeping momentum going when life gets a little messy. Whether it’s a nightmare client, or a personal struggle, when life throws a wrench in your plans it can feel like life as you know it comes to a screeching halt. Motivation plummets, making simply getting out of bed and washing your hair feel like a total win. Whether you’re in a dark season in your life and are dealing with deep personal struggles, or you’re feeling overwhelmed and aren’t sure how to bring back the spark you used to feel about your business, I want you to know that getting back into the groove isn’t impossible. Stay focused and fill your love tank with these tips for staying on track through the rough patches!
How do you handle stressful situations?
My reaction to any emotionally charged situation is to cry. I cry when I’m excited, when I’m sad, when I’m overwhelmed, when I’m watching ASPA commercials, it’s a little out of control.
I always set a time limit for how long I can sulk. This alone makes bouncing back SO much easier.
Confrontation tends to really shake me, so a difficult chat leaves me feeling drained, I give myself an hour to mope around and watch an episode of One Tree Hill.
About three months ago, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and that was ROUGH. My mom is my best friend, and the idea of her fighting that battle terrified me. I took to Google (bad idea) and read all the scary stories, and was terrified that my time with my mom was seriously limited. I had a hard time functioning for the first few days after her diagnosis. But after the third day of sulking, I knew I had to snap out of it. So I did my best and started appreciating the now, instead of dwelling on the future.
Sometimes, merely setting limits for how long you can slack off is all you need to get back on the ball. Let’s face it, we often feel pressured to soldier through stressful situations, because taking a break just feels weak. I challenge you to change the way you think about taking a little time to digest bad news, or taking a mental health day.
If you are not at your best, it is impossible for you to show up for your business (or anything else, for that matter!). Sure, you might go through the motions, but you’ll be distracted. You’ll be functioning in a totally half-assed way, and that my friends is no way to show up for anything.
So, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or completely paralyzed, take a step back, and allow yourself to decompress. We’re all human, and sometimes we just need a freakin’ break. So set a timer, and ugly cry while hiding in your pantry, just like Charlotte York.
Once you’ve spent a little time decompressing and letting your feelings out, sit down and make a plan.
What steps can you take to get past whatever is weighing heavy on your heart? How can you change the outcome? Perhaps you can’t, but you can always change your perspective.
Getting really laser-focused about what needs to be done is a huge lifesaver when you’re in crisis mode. When it comes to your business, automate as much as possible, and ask for help! Perhaps you can find a few people to guest blog for you, so that you can post new content without having to actually write the posts yourself. If you have a newsletter to write, consider doing something simple, like a lists of resources or a how-to. Something that won’t take tons of time or brain power, but will still provide your readers value.
I’m big on being authentic, so don’t be afraid to share your struggles with your audience! If you send out a newsletter once a month, instead of scrambling to find content, why not take a few minutes to write about what is going on? Share your story. You might just be surprised at the love you receive.
Give yourself a pat on the back for trying to make a difference.
Overcoming a setback is difficult, so give yourself credit when you make an effort to get out of your funk and keep moving towards your dreams. Unfortunately, you can’t always change the outcome of the situations life throws at you, but you can always choose the way you handle it! If you’re able to change your mindset about something that is bothering you, give yourself some props!
My favorite way to handle stressful situations is to ask myself “how bad is this really?”
Often, things aren’t nearly as bad as we think they are. We dwell on the worst case scenarios, and things don’t actually end up playing out that way. Try to think logically about the situation, and avoid letting your imagination run away with you.
Here are some of my favorite ways to get focused on work when you’re feeling low:
- Blast some upbeat tunes
- Do a deep breathing exercise (I like this one)
- Take a walk (fresh air does wonders for stress, so does being active!)
- Give yourself a pep talk (you know, a ‘this too shall pass’ type deal)
- Remind yourself what you’re fighting for
- Revisit a work related achievement you’re super proud of
- Get up and move (I’m a big fan of dance parties when no one is watching)
- Just do it (seriously, sometimes you just have to force yourself to get up and take care of business, and you’ll always feel better after you do)
Sometimes, life gets so tough that we just can’t pull ourselves out of a funk. Overwhelm takes hold, and we find ourselves stuck. When that happens, don’t be ashamed to reach out for help! I think that asking for help is one of the strongest things a person can do. Lean on family and friends, work with someone to perfect your business (ahem, I’d love to chat with you when you feel like you need some guidance!), and be honest with yourself about your feelings. By allowing yourself to be vulnerable, you’ll open the doors to a whole new world of possibilities!
Have you ever found yourself in a funk? What did you do to overcome the obstacles you faced so that you could continue to chase your dreams?
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