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In the last five years, there has been a boom in the creation of small businesses. According to the US Census Bureau, 5.4 million applications were filed in 2021 alone! This is significant because starting a business is not only a bold move, but it also means having to step into an entirely new role in life—the role of an entrepreneur. There’s no other position like it: running a business is rewarding in that there is an opportunity to “be your own boss,” leave a legacy for posterity, achieve recognition from peers and go “viral” on social media.
Starting and running a business comes with a myriad of ups and downs. Often the coping skills one has aren’t completely useful in this setting. The sheer weight of responsibility, finances, management and growth often fall on one to two people in the early years. Since entrepreneurship doesn’t occur in a bubble, one often has to balance their personal life and professional life as they are nurturing this business.
The entrepreneurial life can cause stress as you don’t always have the ability to “leave work at work.” This can cause a rise in anxiety, sleep problems, or even an inability to sit still when you get home from the office. For some entrepreneurs it can also lead to depression due to isolation from peers who do not share their same struggles (only further isolating them). However, these feelings can be combated by participating in activities such as exercising, having meaningful interactions with friends and family, meditating or taking time away from your laptop/phone/desk and speaking to a mental health professional who understands the unique challenges you face.
