Written by Sophie K, Vitality Coach
Sophie K is a joy-seeker, an entrepreneur, vitality coach and the founder of The Thrive Guide. She has made it her mission to help busy people have more time for joy, the things and people that are important to them. Her programs help her clients to ditch the old paradigm of survival, hustle and burn out in a fun and empowering way.
Imagine this, you're staring down a mountain of emails, your phone's constantly buzzing with notifications, and that nagging to-do list seems to get longer by the minute. Your shoulders and neck are tight, your head throbs, and all you want to do is crawl back into bed. But you feel like you have to keep going, keep working hard, because if you don’t everything will fall apart. Sound familiar?
When you're not being well, everything in your business and personal life takes a hit. And for many SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) owners in New Zealand and around the world, this scenario is all too real. Because as a business owner, you're often not just a CEO; you're also the marketer, the accountant, the customer service representative, the sales rep and the administrator. And with that comes the need to manage a very full plate and do it well.
A recent study by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) found that 92% of New Zealand SMEs experience stress, with 70% reporting burnout. That's a staggering number that is not just unique to New Zealand as many countries in the western world are seeing a similar trend.
This trend is highlighting a crucial truth. That your well-being is not a luxury or something extra. It's a business necessity.
How neglecting your well-being impacts your business strategy
1. Your well-being impacts every decision you make
Think about a time you made a rash decision, like snapping at a client or jumping into a risky venture without proper planning. Chances are, stress or exhaustion played a role. When we're overwhelmed, our brains struggle with complex thinking. Studies show that stress deactivates the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for reasoned decision-making, and activates the amygdala, our fight-or-flight center. This can lead to impulsive choices that negatively impact your business.
The missed opportunity
Sarah, a web designer, was swamped with deadlines. Feeling burnt out, she dismissed a potential client who requested a complex website project. Exhausted and stressed, Sarah didn't realize this client was a major player in her industry. Had she been in a space to assess the situation and carefully weigh up the pros and cons, she could have delegated tasks, adjusted her schedule, and landed a lucrative partnership that would have significantly boosted her business.
2. Well-being affects your work ethic and productivity
Let's be honest, nobody delivers their best work when they're dragging themselves through the day. Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or stressed makes you feel unmotivated and zaps your energy. This results in substandard quality of work and output as well as an increase of mistakes that need fixing later on. Remember that time you churned out a mediocre proposal just to meet a deadline?
The power of intentionality
David, a software developer, prioritizes his well-being. He starts his day with a brisk walk, prioritizes healthy meals, and makes time for meditation. This consistent routine fuels his energy levels throughout the workday. David consistently delivers high-quality work, often exceeding client expectations. His positive attitude also creates a productive and happy work environment for his team. He truly enjoys his work day and goes home feeling accomplished and proud of what he has achieved.
3. Your well-being sets the tone for your business culture
As the leader of your business, you set the tone for your entire team and the clients you work with. If you're constantly stressed and frazzled, your employees and clients will pick up on that anxious energy. Stress is contagious and impacts everybody around us. So making sure we are prioritizing our well-being is not just important for ourselves but also for others around us. As a leader we must walk the talk and lead by example so we can foster a healthy work environment where employees feel supported and motivated.
The domino effect of stress
Michael, the owner of a marketing agency in Wellington, felt constantly stressed about meeting client demands. This stress trickled down to his team, creating a high-pressure, tense work atmosphere. Employees felt undervalued, leading to low morale and ultimately high turnover. This constant churn of staff hindered Michael's ability to maintain a consistent level of service, impacting his business growth.
4. Great well-being helps you manage challenges and bounce back from setbacks
Running a business is a rollercoaster ride. There will be unexpected challenges and moments when things feel like they're falling apart. Business is not for the faint of heart and requires a high level of resilience to navigate the challenges and setbacks coming our way. A resilient business owner who prioritizes their well-being is better equipped to handle these curveballs and can even turn setbacks into wins that help you and the business thrive.
Turning a negative into a positive
Emma, a restaurant owner, received a scathing online review from a disgruntled customer. However, Emma, a regular practitioner of mindfulness and believer in fostering a bulletproof mindset, had developed strong emotional regulation skills. She responded to the review professionally, addressing the customer's concerns, offering a heartfelt apology and a solution to solve the situation at hand. This calm and empathetic response turned the negative situation into an opportunity to demonstrate her commitment to customer service, ultimately gaining new customers through her positive online presence. Negative reviews aren’t the problem, it’s how we handle them!
5. Your well-being is crucial for long-term success (Both personally and professionally)
Chronic stress takes a toll on your physical and mental health making you more susceptible to illness, depression, and anxiety. These issues can not only impact your capacity to run your business effectively but also your overall quality of life. Prioritizing your well-being ensures you're in the best possible shape to navigate the long-term challenges and opportunities of being a business owner. Remember, a healthy and happy entrepreneur is more likely to build a successful and sustainable business.
The four dimensions to our well-being: How to build a strong being-set
Great well-being doesn’t just come from hitting the gym and eating healthy meals, although these things do help. It’s about understanding that there are four parts to our Being-Set.
The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual parts of us. When all of these parts are well nurtured and taken care of we are rewarded with a great state of being.
It’s this state of being that makes us feel inspired, full of energy and vitality, gratitude and contentment. This is the state that is available to all of us, no matter our circumstances and it’s our ability to access this holistic state of being that will determine our ability to create fulfillment and success in our personal and professional lives.
So, where to start? Here is what you can do to prioritize your well-being now
Prioritize self-care: Make time for activities that relax and rejuvenate all parts of your being, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies.
Set boundaries: Learn to say no and establish clear boundaries between work and personal life.
Seek support: Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, or a professional. We all need a hand sometimes.
Delegate: If possible, delegate tasks to free up your time and reduce stress. It’s worth paying to help you focus on the things that move the needle.
Practice conscious living: Stay present and use reflection to stay aware of yourself, your business and your environment.
Taking care of ourselves is like a muscle. It needs to be trained regularly. The more you do it the better you will get and the easier it will become. Great well-being isn’t a destination you can reach, it’s a journey and there is no right or wrong on this journey. There is only what works for you and what doesn’t.
As someone who has spent most of her adult life prioritizing others and other things until I finally learnt the hard way, I know what it’s like to take the first steps on your journey to well-being. And it can feel scary.
The key? Just get started. Anywhere. There is never a right time or better time than now. One thing that is certain, is that your future self will thank you for taking that step towards a more balance and healthier you. Even when it’s not “perfect”.
If you would like some support and guidance on your journey, reach out for a discovery session or head to my website to find out more.
Sophie K, Vitality Coach
Sophie K is a joy-seeker, an entrepreneur, vitality coach and the founder of The Thrive Guide. She has made it her mission to help busy people have more time for joy, the things and people that are important to them. Her programs help her clients to ditch the old paradigm of survival, hustle and burn out in a fun and empowering way.
