When managing a small business, there are lots of things involved that if not properly managed, can place the owner on the addiction path. It is important to consider that the highs and lows of handling a small business can make the owner get involved in some things that they should not.

Addiction is not about being involved with alcohol and drugs alone, it can also be characterized by some compulsive behaviors that produce the same effects as substance addiction.

If you want to know whether a small business owner is addicted or not, here are some telltale signs to watch out for.

Physical symptoms

When it comes to addiction, it is very easy to notice the physical signs because they are what you will see at first especially when it is substance addiction.

Some of the common physical signs are bloodshot eyes, dental issues, excessive weight gain or loss, poor hygiene, etc. Also, some of them may struggle with insomnia or somnolence amidst other physical signs.

Behavioral signs

Behavioral signs are peculiar to both substance and behavioral addiction. Substances like alcohol and drugs can affect an individual’s ability to think and focus clearly. For behavioral addiction, they will exhibit some signs like isolation, changes in priorities, changes in personality and attitude, etc.

When you observe that you are struggling with addiction, it is important to seek help to get your health back on track. Addiction can impair your ability to run your business smoothly in the long run.

This compulsive disease can make you incapable of competing with other business owners in your league. The first step to managing addiction is by seeing a counselor who will help you identify the root cause of your addiction.

Thereafter, you will undergo other forms of addiction treatment to restore your sobriety. Overall, learning to recognize the signs of addiction will help you become proactive to preventing the problem from worsening.

If you are running a small business, one of the things you need to prioritize is stress management. This is important if you want to be at the top of your game. It is important to mention that every aspect of your business can stress you out.  

However, it is up to you to find ways to combat this stress so that it does not affect your physical and mental health.

Here are some ways that small business owners can leverage to manage stress

Identify what is going well

When running a business, don’t pay more attention to the things that are going wrong. Look out for the things that are working right and get motivated with the results.

It would be nice to list your completed milestones and achievements. When you remember the things that have gone right, you will be more motivated to set bigger milestones and accomplish them.

Spot your stressors

If you want to tackle stress, you need to identify your stressors. It is important to watch out for the things or events that are stressing you. When you make a mental note of these things, you will be more strategic about your approach to managing stress.

Create a solid schedule

Another way to help you plan and manage stress is to build a schedule. This way, you will be able to space your tasks, instead of taking on more than you can handle. While creating a schedule, remember to include a timeframe where you get to rest.

Learn to delegate some tasks

It might get to the point where you are unable to handle all the tasks. You can delegate some duties to some of your trusted staff, and you handle the more complicated ones. This will help to reduce your workload.

Say “No” sometimes

Remember that you don’t have to say yes to everything. When you get some inconvenient offers, do not be afraid to turn them down especially if they will affect your resting schedule.

If you are a small business owner, there is a likely chance that you will get addicted. And there are a number of factors that can be attributed to this. There are several factors that small business’ owners face which determines how they would live in the long run.

One of the reasons why small business owners are addicted is stress. Business owners go through a lot and time is not usually on their side. Hence, they barely have time to take care of their physical and mental health.

Some people usually handle stress by getting addicted. And the fact is it doesn’t happen intentionally. The addiction starts off as an abuse and it progresses to become an addiction. Usually, small business owners are addicted to substances like alcohol and drugs.  

If you want to avoid addiction as a small business owner, there are some measures you need to put in place:

• Exercise regularly

Exercising helps you to reduce your stress levels if you always have busy days. And the beauty about exercising is, it comes with profound effects for various aspects of your health. You will be surprised to find out that exercising even helps you to sleep better, which is quintessential for business owners.

• Eat a nutritious diet and avoid junks

Eating healthily is one of the best ways to improve your health and prevent addiction. You will be surprised to find out that good food helps to reduce the chances of your addiction. Good food helps to keep your health in shape, and it helps you manage yourself adequately.

• Take out time to rest

Some business owners do not cut themselves some slack and this is why they work round the clock thinking they have not achieved anything. However, it is imperative to note that, only those who are mentally and physically sound can run a business.

More so, resting helps to reduce stress levels which is a strong indicator for addiction.

By all means possible, small business owners need to care for their health in order to sustain their business in the long run.

Everyone who has a small business strives to take their business to greater heights. This is one of the reasons why business owners go out on all fronts to improve their business and step-up customer satisfaction.

One of the factors that small business owners struggle with is their mental health. And if care is not taken, they could get out of business because their mental capacity would not be able to cater for the business.  

Below are some ways that small business owners can care for their mental health:

• Exercise

The beauty about exercising is, its benefits are multifaceted. This means that it has an effect on various aspects of your health without leaving out any part. Some small business owners barely have time to indulge in other extra-curricular activities which is not good enough.

To prevent this, it is important to exercise because it triggers the feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain. And this helps to ease tension and improve your mood.

• Keep a journal

Your journal is essential as a small business owner because there are several things you need to put down. Your journal helps you to keep track of your life and business’ progress. If you are feeling in anyway or you have some thoughts troubling you, your journal is the best place to put it down.

• Spend time with family and friends

It is crucial that small business owners do not isolate themselves and face their businesses alone. From time to time, it would be great to hook up with family and friends to catch up on old times. This is one of the best ways to improve your mental health and carry on your business in a better and healthier manner.

• Seek ways to be productive

It is vital for a small business owner to remain productive and this means, outside their business. You can search out various activities that are targeted at making you productive and improving your mental health. You would be surprised to see that it would have a positive toll on your business.

People who are owners of businesses understand how stressful and demanding it can be.

Studies have even shown that, entrepreneurship is four times more difficult than raising children. However, this does not set aside the fact that, if run properly, there are huge benefits which comes with entrepreneurship.

The health of a small business owner needs to be in check, because this is a big determinant when it comes to how successful the business would be in the long run.

Therefore, a small business owner needs to put some health measures in place, in order to ensure their business runs smoothly.

1. Connect with people: As a business owner, running things all by yourself is not profitable, there is an important need for you to connect with others. Even though some people have issues of trust, you still need to let some people in on how your business is faring.

Carrying the burden of your business alone is detrimental to your state of health, and as the common saying: A problem shared, is a problem half solved. Hence, try to link up with people who would be important to your business.

• Exercise: You cannot be too busy for you not to have ample time to get active. Asides the fact that exercising enhances your physical health, it also improves your mental health. Also, exercising prevents you from burning out, after you have had a stressful period. Exercising helps to revitalize and refresh your body, and this is of great importance to your business.

• Rest: It is important that you set aside enough time to rest. In the long run, staying up late in the night because of your business, has detrimental effects on your health. You could fall sick, and be unable to run your business for days. Therefore, why not prevent this, and find enough time to rest?

• Eat healthy: The importance of having a nutritious meal cannot be over-emphasized. A healthy meal births a healthy body which births a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy prevents you from falling sick often.

There are many benefits which comes with having your own business- having to be the boss of your own, is the major one, as you would not be answering to anybody. You would see your plans and goals come into fruition, and it is up to you to set the motion and tone of how you want your company to run.

However, there are some downsides which are associated with handling a small business. The major one being the stress associated with it. Hence, it is essential for small business owners to learn how to manage stress.

The proper management of stress helps you to be at the top of your game, and it ensures that the health of your company is secured.

Below are some effective ways to manage small business stress

• Know what is going well: From time to time, it is needed for you to take stock of the aspects of your business, which are doing well. This aids in giving you a positive mindset, helping you to deal with stress. When you take inventory of things that are going well, it would give your perspective a more positive look.

• Know your stressors: It is essential that you know your stressors, so that you would be able to tackle them. A good number of times, stress stems from a problem which you have not started to solve, or probably having trouble solving. Once you know what is causing you stress, you would be well equipped to work it out.

• Have a good schedule: It is important to have a good arrangement in place. When you have a good structured plan, you would not have to keenly wait for what could happen. A good schedule ensures that you have an enhanced sense of confidence or self-worth in our ability to effectively manage any unforeseen circumstance.

• Fix priority on your time: Placing priority on your time is good for you as a small business owner. It is very easy for you to get caught up in whatever you are doing. Hence, ensure you allot time for all aspects of your life. There should be time for you to effectively rest, time to hang out with loved ones, time for self-meditation and a host of others.