How can outside sales professionals maintain their mental health?

1 Set healthy boundaries

One of the most important steps to protect your mental health is to set healthy boundaries between your work and personal life. This means defining your working hours, limiting your availability, and respecting your breaks. It also means saying no to unreasonable requests, delegating tasks, and prioritizing your workload. Setting healthy boundaries can help you avoid burnout, reduce stress, and improve your productivity.

2 Stay connected

Another challenge that outside sales professionals face is the lack of social support and interaction. Working remotely or on the road can make you feel isolated and lonely, which can affect your mood and motivation. To combat this, make an effort to stay connected with your colleagues, managers, and customers. You can use video calls, instant messaging, or social media to communicate and collaborate. You can also join online communities, networks, or groups that share your interests or goals.

3 Practice self-care

Self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity for your mental health. Self-care means taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This includes getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, and relaxing. You can also practice mindfulness, meditation, or breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and increase focus. Self-care can help you boost your energy, mood, and resilience.

4 Seek professional help

Sometimes, self-care and coping strategies are not enough to deal with the challenges of outside sales. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can talk to your doctor, therapist, counselor, or coach. You can also access online resources, such as apps, podcasts, or websites, that offer mental health support and guidance.

5 Learn and grow

One of the benefits of outside sales is that you have the opportunity to learn and grow from your experiences. You can face new challenges, meet new people, and discover new markets. To make the most of this, adopt a growth mindset and a positive attitude. See every situation as a chance to improve your skills, knowledge, and performance. You can also seek feedback, mentorship, or training to enhance your professional development.

6 Celebrate your achievements

Finally, do not forget to celebrate your achievements and successes. Outside sales can be a rewarding career, but it can also be easy to overlook your accomplishments and focus on your failures or shortcomings. To avoid this, acknowledge your progress, milestones, and wins. You can also reward yourself, share your results, and express your gratitude. Celebrating your achievements can help you increase your confidence, satisfaction, and motivation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?