5 Ways to Alleviate Overwhelm in Your Small Business or Nonprofit
Running a business can take a lot out of you. New responsibilities pile up quickly leaving you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. You can’t ignore the responsibilities of being an entrepreneur, so finding ways to manage these tasks and get your time and energy back is key to your success.
Here are five ways you can alleviate stress and overwhelm, whether you’re handling a small business or nonprofit.
Have an effective time management strategy that allows for flexibility and encourages balance
Figuring out a time management strategy that works for you requires a bit of experimentation and self-awareness. Oftentimes the most effective strategy will be a combination of various techniques that give you some flexibility for the rough days while still holding you accountable. In a recent podcast episode, Amy Porterfield described how she stays on top of it all - her team uses a task management board (specifically, Asana); her executive assistant places task time blocks on her calendar; Amy uses a planner (because she likes to write things down) to specify the top 3 critical priorities per day and per week; if something doesn’t get done, she asks her assistant to find another spot on her calendar for that task.
If you want to apply a similar support framework to your time management strategy, then reach out to our team to get started with a virtual assistant.
2. Create time to focus on vision, strategy, and developing passion.
While you may have gotten into business to support specific clientele, client work can be draining. You need time to not only recharge in your personal life but to also reinvigorate your business’ vision. Part of the excitement of being a business owner or operating a nonprofit organization is being able to develop your own unique approach. If your time is always consumed by client work and internal operations, then you’ll struggle to create the time, space, and energy to strategically think about your business. Be sure to dedicate time to focusing on the executive decisions and development for your business.
3. Create efficient processes that help you spend less time on routine tasks.
Your processes are the lifeblood of your business. Whether you have taken the time to thoroughly develop them or you just approach things sporadically, your business has a unique way of operating. Thoughtful, efficient, and automated processes help you get certain tasks done quicker so your time can go elsewhere. They also create a consistent way to maintain quality which reduces guesswork for you and your team while improving client satisfaction.
4. Reduce where your energy is needed
Lean budgets from solopreneurship can only take your business so far. And wearing all the hats can contribute to the stress and overwhelm you feel. Identify which hats are more stressful for you or don’t require your expertise. This could include a bookkeeper or CPA to support your accounts, a marketing assistant to drive creative and sales initiatives, or an administrative assistant to manage all the little details of running your business.
5. Switch things up
If you’re feeling engulfed by the demands of your business, consider a little switch up in your day. If you never take a lunch break, then schedule it on your calendar for the next week to actually eat lunch away from your desk. If you work from home - or even the same office each day - consider going to a quiet coffee shop or a study room in a library for a change of scenery. Switching things up can boost creativity and productivity levels which could contribute to reducing feelings of overwhelm.