Everyone has experienced workplace stress. Self employment and stress is a little different - there's no one to rely on but you. When you work alone, you stress alone.
Working alone can be stressful for anyone. Self employment isn’t always filled with security. No kind employer is going to give self employed professionals health insurance, or even an extra day off. There are no Christmas bonuses and there are no stock options. In the most real way possible, you’re on your own. Yes, it’s liberating.
Self Employment and Stress
But yes, it can also be stressful. It’s all on you, now. Missed appointments? Something forgotten? Not enough money coming in? You, you…you. It’s a lot of pressure; it’s a lot of self employment and stress. Some people find that self employment stress is so overwhelming, they would rather go back to “regular” employment.
When it comes to self employment stress, not everyone can handle it. This is one of the many cold, hard facts of self employment and working all alone. But to all things there is a bright side, and there are few things quite as satisfying as earning your own income through successful self employment. For those that can handle the inevitable stress, self employment is a very happy occupation.
Working Alone
Being able to handle self employment stress is essential for those who want to achieve self employment success. When your career relies on nothing but your own efforts, you can’t let stress bog you down or cloud your thinking. Self employed professioanls have to find a way to deal with the stress, so they can get back to the business of making money. Making money is what it’s all about, but when you’re over-loaded with stress it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.
If you feel that self employment stress is weighing you down, the first thing to do is just walk away. You’re self employed; there’s no “boss” to impress here, and you’re entitled to a break when you feel completely stressed out. Turn off the computer, put down the phone, put the pen back on the desk and very simply walk away. Go have a snack, a smoke break, watch TV, maybe go for a jog – whatever might help you unwind. Take a bubble bath, heck, have a cocktail if it’ll help. Self employment means, incidentally, that you can have cocktails (not one right after the other, all day long – this is inadvisable). But step away from working for a moment. Sometimes, the best way to deal with stress is very simply to remove yourself from a stressful situation. Very often, while you’re unwinding and relaxing, the answer to the stressful problem will come on its own.
Consult friends and family members for advice or help in dealing with a stressful situation. Hearing feedback from others often helps to put things into perspective, and just talking about stress often relieves that stress.
