Operations
2. Emotional: Family,
Friends, Change of Personal Routines,
Personal Disruptions, Isolation
3. Physical: Sedentary
Lifestyle, Poor Eating Habits, Overwork
Many business owners,
in order to prevent the psychological
stress will have plans in place for dealing with these
particular stress factors, prior to their occurrence. This
is a proactive approach that is infinitely better than
having a reactive approach to these occurrences.
Each business owner
should have a financial plan in place
for the times when orders or clients are few and far between
(slow times), as well as a good accountant to call when
necessary. Each business owner should also have a lawyer who
they trust and can turn to for advice if necessary (we do
live in a very litigious society). And each business owner
should have a plan for sickness among employees and hiring
and firing protocols firmly in place. Machinery and
replacement of business supplies should also be well planned
in advance, and purchased according to well laid out plans
for expenditures.
Leadership skills will
need to be developed, as a new
business owner who is used to being part of a team, will
find working alone and "being in charge" a somewhat
difficult transition at first. Books on leadership skills
abound and it is a good idea to do readings on the
development of these to proactively avoid the psychological
stress that comes with this change in roles. Working alone
and making decisions alone is quite different from the
conformity and decisions made within a group.
If a proactive approach
is taken, the psychological stresses
of a new business can easily be prevented, or at least
lessened.
The emotional stresses
of a home-based business are usually
a bit more difficult to ascertain and tackle when they
occur. Some of these stress factors can come directly from
well-meaning family and friends, unfortunately, and the
approach is of course, much different. Since a home-based
business is directly tied usually to the home life of an
individual, there is less chance to escape these stresses,
than with a traditional method of employment. A new birth in
a family, a death of a loved one, illness, or simply a
change of schedule of another family member, can greatly
impact the daily workings and routine of a home-based
business.
In addition, family and
friends may view the business owner
as "being at their disposal" all day now, as the business
owner is now "home" much of the time. These well meaning
individuals may call or visit all the time, and also expect
the business owner to take care of their needs before the
needs of the business. This is simple human nature, but is
very distracting for the business owner. The only way this
can be successfully overcome is to make plans well ahead of
time for any changes in routine, if possible, and adjust the
schedule accordingly as the changes occur. Well meaning
family and friends need to be told with certainty that there
are "business hours" and "personal hours" and a business
owner needs to remain firm in their resolve in regard to
these issues.
Stressing over
emotional stress will just escalate an
already stressful situation.
Another unexpected
emotional stress comes many times from
the feeling of isolation and loneliness that business owners
may experience. Business owners many times are unprepared
for the time they now find they spend alone within the
parameters of their home-based businesses. A home-based
business owner, while relieved to leave the workforce,
sometimes does not realize that the workforce provided
social opportunities that are now missing from their lives.
Many hours may be spent
alone each day, which can lead to
loneliness and even depression in some cases.
The best approach to
combating this type of isolation is to
actively plan social opportunities. Planned outings with
family and friends should be made regularly. Business owners
may also join community groups that expose them to other
business owners or others within the community. The local
Chamber of Commerce and
other volunteer groups are a great
way to make connections for the business and also enhance
the social experiences of business owners. No one can exist
in a void, so the social aspects of a business can't be
ignored.
Finally, owning and
operating your own home-based business
brings with it some purely physical stresses. Like most
office jobs, a home-based business can lead to a more
sedentary lifestyle, as owners may spend most of their days
in the running of the business, either slumped in an office
chair, or hunched over a computer, depending upon the
requirements of the business. Because of the long hours
involved in any business, business owners may also eat "on
the run", grabbing whatever is at their disposal, rather
than planning meals, which compromises their nutrition. The
sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits can lead to weight
gain and other physical ailments associated with poor eating
habits and sedentary lifestyles: high cholesterol, lack of
energy, loss of muscle tone, and a deficiency of vitamin D
from being indoors more than usual.
The sedentary lifestyle
is the easiest however, of the
stresses to avoid or to change. All it takes is a dedication
to an exercise routine that includes some form of daily
physical exercise, and an adherence to a diet that is well
planned and nutritious. Just some planning is needed and
some will power in order to stay focused on achieving
physical activity daily and good nutrition. It would be
beneficial, if at all possible, to join a gym or health
club, as the physical and emotional stresses can be avoided
by belonging to one, as a gym also provides social
opportunities. Even a simple walk each day can increase
exercise, exposure to sunlight, and create social
opportunities.
A tendency to do too
much each day, is a syndrome many
business owners fall prey to also. Overwork can leave anyone
run down, and open to many diseases as the immune system
becomes compromised. A business owner is of course, very
excited and energetic about the business, which can lead
into this syndrome of overwork. A schedule should be
maintained to combat this syndrome, with set hours for
"doing business" and set hours for "relaxation" included in
each day. Trying to do too much all the time just leads
business owners into a decrease of productivity, rather than
an increase of productivity.
As you can see, having
a home-based business, while very
rewarding in many ways, can have many deleterious effects on
the physical, mental and emotional states of business
owners. Many business owners fail to plan for these changes,
and yet, if planning is done, the negative effects can be
minimized to a great degree.
If a business owner
takes care of themselves and their own
needs, overall, the business will also profit from this
positive behavior! A happy, healthy business owner means a
happy, healthy business!
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Vishal P. Rao is the
owner of
