Entrepreneurs often juggle many roles and face countless setbacks--lost

customers, disputes with partners, increased competition, staffing problems--all

while struggling to make payroll. "There are traumatic events all the way along
the line," says psychiatrist and former entrepreneur Michael A. Freeman, who is
researching mental health and entrepreneurship
Complicating matters, new entrepreneurs often make themselves less resilient by
neglecting their health. They eat too much or too little. They don't get enough
sleep. They fail to exercise. "You can get into a startup mode, where you push
yourself and abuse your body," Freeman says. "That can trigger mood
vulnerability."
• So it should come as little surprise that entrepreneurs experience more anxiety than
employees. In the latest Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, 34 percent of
entrepreneurs--4 percentage points more than other workers--reported they were worried.
And 45 percent of entrepreneurs said they were stressed, 3 percentage points more than
other workers.
• But it may be more than a stressful job that pushes some founders over the edge.
According to researchers, many entrepreneurs share innate character traits that make them
more vulnerable to mood swings. "People who are on the energetic, motivated, and
creative side are both more likely to be entrepreneurial and more likely to have strong
emotional states," says Freeman. Those states may include depression, despair,
hopelessness, worthlessness, loss of motivation, and suicidal thinking
Stressor

A stressor is a chemical or biological agent, environmental

condition, external stimulus or an event that cause Streess.
 Stressors
•School
•Work
•Family
•Relationships
•Legal
•Finances
•Health/illness
•Environment
•Living Situation
 Negative Effects of Stress
1. Physical
- Weight gain/loss
- Unexpected hair loss
- Heart palpitations
- High blood pressure
2. Emotional
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Can lead to depression
• Can also lead to unhealthy coping
strategies (i.e. alcohol, drugs, etc)
 Is All Stress Bad?
Moderate levels of stress may actually improve performance and
efficiency

Too little stress may result in boredom

Too much stress may cause an unproductive anxiety level

 Managing Stress
•Stress Relief Strategies
1. Body relaxation excercises
- breathing techniques
- guided imagery
2. Physical exercise
-yoga
-work out routine
3. Meditation
4. Counseling
-talk therapy
-life coaching
TYPES OF STRESS

• Negative stress

• Positive stress
 NEGATIVE STRESS
It is a contributory factor in minor conditions, such as
headaches, digestive problems, skin complaints,
insomnia and ulcers.
Excessive, prolonged and unrelieved stress can have a
harmful effect on mental, physical and spiritual health.
POSITIVE STRESS
Stress can also have a positive effect, spurring
motivation and awareness, providing the stimulation to
cope with challenging situations.
Stress also provides the sense of urgency and alertness
needed for survival when confronting threatening
situations.
SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

• Physical symptoms
• Mental symptoms
• Behavioural symptoms
• Emotional symptoms
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

• Dizziness
Sleep pattern changes
• Fainting
Fatigue
• Sweating
Digestion &changes
trembling
• Tingling
Loss of sexual
handsdrive
& feet
• Breathlessness
Headaches
• Palpitations
Aches and pains
• Missed
Infections
heartbeats
• Indigestion
MENTAL SYMPTOMS

• Lack of concentration
• Memory lapses
• Difficulty in making decisions
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Panic attacks
BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS

• Appetite changes - too much or too little

• Eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia
• Increased intake of alcohol & other drugs
• Increased smoking
• Restlessness
• Fidgeting
• Nail biting
• Hypochondria
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

• Bouts of depression
• Impatience
• Fits of rage
• Tearfulness
• Deterioration of personal hygiene and appearance
Other Helpful tips

Changing perceptions and expectations

Break jobs/tasks into manageable parts
Set reasonable/realistic goals
Avoid procrastination
Set boundaries
Don’t compromise your values/beliefs
Schedule “me” time
Avoid caffeine
  Mental Stresses of Entrepreneurship
1. Being accountable. As an entrepreneur, you are the person
who has sole responsibility for the success or failure of your
business. ...
2. Financial stress and uncertainty. ...
3. Having a hard time trusting. ...
4. Work-life balance. ...
5. Loneliness
Here are the personality traits good entrepreneurs
have and how they help turn negative stress into
positive action
•Optimism: Entrepreneurs are optimists by nature. Stay focused, stay positive,
and know that by being smart and proactive, your odds of success stay high.

•Courage: This is the quality of mind that enables you to face difficulty without
fear. Fear commonly comes from the unknown, and you are a learning machine.
Banish the unknown and you become fearless.

•People person: Genuinely connecting with people puts them at ease and allows
you to understand their needs, concerns and desires. You achieve through your
people, so know them.

•Cash: No business failed from having too much cash on hand. Manage cash,
avoid debt, and be frugal. This eliminates the deadliest of startup dysfunctions –
the perpetual funding hunt.
•Good employees: Hire as you would pick a spouse. Employment is a long-term
relationship, and should be treated as such.

•Good customers: You can pick your customers and your markets. It is better to
serve a smaller set of customers very well and make them insanely happy than it is
to serve a lot of unrelated customers poorly and annoy them equally.

•Vigilance: This involves keenly watching everything, and early detection of

danger. This is not paranoia, it is being mindful that things change and you need to
be aware of these changes.

•Determination and persistence: Never give up. The moment you consider the
option of giving in, then doubt has won. Optimism begins with the notion that you
won’t quit.
Top 10 stress management tips for
leaders
1. Pay attention to your body's stress signals
Typical signals of stress include sweating and an increased heart rate. It's important to recognize these
signals and get them under control. This could involve simple, deep-breathing exercises.
2. Deal with the stress head on
Rather than procrastinate, think about what is causing the emotional reaction and get a handle on it. Deal
with the cause of stress right away, whether it's a phone call from an angry client or making a difficult
business decision.
3. Take systematic breaks
When you feel stress coming on, get up and do something else such as taking a brief walk or going
outside. This short break can give you a different perspective on a stressful situation and at least provide
short-term relief from the physical effects of stress.
4. Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Getting 30 minutes of rigorous exercise at least three times a week can help you reduce stress. Good
eating habits such as including more fruits and vegetables in your diet can give you more energy and help
you handle stress better.
5. Try to achieve work/life balance
Although today's business environment can be demanding, it's crucial to take time for other activities
outside of the office such as family events, hobbies and sports. This is when you recharge your batteries.
6. Keep perfectionism in check
Offering a quality product and service doesn't mean obsessing about it. Know when to get a task
off your desk and focus on doing your best in a competitive environment.
7. Delegate to reduce your workload
Accept that you can't do it all. Rather than micro-managing, pay special attention to 
delegating responsibility to employees and leaving them alone to do the job. Sharing the load can
relieve stress.
8. Find people you trust and confide in them
Talking to others about business issues can help you find solutions to deal with challenges.
Entrepreneurs can also network with other people in their industries to see how they are handling
similar issues.
9. Get your business’s financial situation under control
Cash flow is a major source of anxiety for entrepreneurs. Find ways to better monitor your
revenues and expenses. Also, find ways to improve productivity and ultimately your company's
financial health.
10. Commit to vacation time
Give yourself time off to relax, particularly during challenging periods. For example, turn your
phone off when you're on a holiday. Postponing a vacation may have short-term benefits for your