I know, that sounds rather dramatic. Talking about mental health usually spawns a lot of people who will protect themselves and say: “I’m fine, I can handle it.”
And most of the time, those same people are the first ones to have a meltdown. I know because, for a LONG time, that was me.
You may be wondering why I write so much about personal care and now about mental health to be specific.
The reason is that I’m prone depression. I know it’s dangerous because if I don’t handle my mental health, I will find myself on that terrible slippery slope that derails my whole life.
I used to think that I was the only one, but depression on freelancers is quite high, and the same goes for small business owners.
To be quite blunt, we have to deal with a ton of things at the same time, and I don’t mean on the days when all turns to hell. But even on the good days, you have to keep your business running, your skills sharp and somehow find a way to stay fit and healthy.
On top of that, you can sprinkle all those challenges that life loves to throw at you because you signed up for the hero’s journey.
Add to that, the uncertainty of launching something new into the world; the stress you feel when publishing something for the first time. If that’s not an epic tale that should be told around a campfire, I genuinely don’t know what it is.
But just as any superhero or protagonist in an epic tale, you have to take care of your mental health. Not everything has to be constant growth and launching one successful product after another.
No, you are indeed a remarkable human being, and you deserve to spend time with your loved ones. You need to celebrate your successes and mourn your defeats. You need to take the time to process your emotions and center yourself.
And sometimes, taking time for yourself may feel like you are slacking off, especially in this hustling mentality that goes all around the entrepreneur circles on the internet.
But believe me, devoting a small time each day for you to feel at home with yourself, be it in the morning or the evening is crucial to your success.
I used to neglect myself for a long time, placing the needs of my clients way above my own, but I learned that putting my needs first and feeling great about me is the fastest way to be at best to serve my clients.
I know, it feels counterintuitive, especially when you have a ton of deadlines looming over your head. But trust me, taking those 10 minutes to rest your mind intentionally is a million times better than trying to force yourself to keep working.
I know there are days you may feel that you are not doing enough, that you want to keep working and push your boundaries a little bit more. It’s ok to say “no” and rest on some of those days.
If you feel that the stress is too much and you want to quit, ask for help! Nobody said you had to do everything by yourself; it’s wiser to seek the necessary support to keep your mental health in top notch.
And you should always remember that you can build a fantastic and thriving business, but you should do it with your best energy. And that will only happen if you keep taking care of yourself.
There is no point in building a business if running it will break you. It should support your dreams and the lifestyle you want because you deserve it.