3 WAYS TO FIGHT THE ENTREPRENEURIAL FREAK OUT

Calling all entrepreneurial business people: The freak out (and subsequent burnout) is real. Not sure what I’m talking about?

Picture this: Something happens. Something bad. But it’s a 2 on the 1-10 scale of importance. If you’re anything like me – and you probably are – you react to something like that with a level 10 freak out. For seemingly no reason at all.

Can you relate? The reason for this freak out is that, as entrepreneurs, we’re often amped up. We’re in go-mode so often that we forget we’re actually assaulting our nervous system. We have notifications going off all day. We’ve got emails to answer, calls to make, and social media to check. Even if you’re not an entrepreneur, you’ve probably experienced this feeling.

Because of this over stimulation, we find ourselves becoming over reactive to every little thing. We’re stressed and high-strung at any given moment. And to be honest, it can result in some major mishaps. If you lose your mind about a missed appointment, no one’s going to want to reschedule with you. If you freak out about a broken printer, you could make more go wrong. Make sense? Here’s why that happens.

The truth behind that freak out is that your nervous system is overburdened. Those notifications and constant reminders all assault your peace of mind. Back in the days (like 300 A.D. kinda days) the instant alarm from any movement or sound would keep us alive in the event of a predator attack. Nowadays, phone companies, social media companies, and even our own businesses capitalize on that to grab our attention at all times. Bad news though: That constant high-alert can take a major toll on our bodies and even our minds.

The good news? There are definitely ways that you can fight those extreme responses and decompress from the nervous energy. The key is taking care of your nervous system, which controls your fight-or-flight responses. Here are my three tips for keeping that fight-or-flight in check:

1. Detox from go-mode.

Yes, you read that right. As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to feel like our whole life is our business. But it’s important to create clear boundaries so that, when you’re not supposed to be working, you can relax. Schedule time after work to silence the phone. Make a rule not to check your email after 6pm. Do what you need to do to take time away from that constant stress.

2. Keep your body clean. 

To detox from freak out mode, you also have to actually detox. Eating healthy foods can help your body fight those stress responses, keeping your blood pressure in check and more. This is another reason to protect late hours, because it’s a lot easier to order takeout from a late night at the office than a relaxing and re-energizing evening without work.

3. Self-care is non-negotiable. 

I shouldn’t even have to say this, but here it is: You have to take care of yourself. Do what makes you feel happy, relaxed, and ready to actually take on that level 2 emergency. I personally block 5 hours of non-negotiable self-care per week. That includes massages, spending some time reading alone, bubble baths with Epsom salts, and anything else that helps me decompress.

Here’s the point. The entrepreneurial freak out is a real, physical problem and it’s caused by your life. It even has some real dangers to your health and business. The good news is, you can see through to a solution. It all comes from these 3 reminders. I’ve included a worksheet for you where you can try these out for a week. Trust me, you’ll feel the difference. Download that worksheet right here and then share your results in the Fearless Ambition Facebook group. Are you freaking out?

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Mary Shores is a Speaker, Teacher & Developmental Powerhouse. President & CEO of Midstate Collection Solutions. Her book Conscious Communications is currently available for sale on Amazon and can show you how to manifest a life that you love. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, MaryShores.com or sign up for her weekly newsletter Fearless Ambition for her latest news and views.