Navigating the Unspoken Challenges of Small Business Ownership

Introducing a Powerful Tool to Help You Find Clarity and Overcome Burnout

Running a small business is an incredible journey, but it’s not without its challenges. The stress, anxiety, and relentless demands can take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed and on the edge of burnout, you’re not alone. The struggles of being a small business owner are real, and it’s important to address them.

I saw a social media post recently where some of the unspoken difficulties of running a small business were brought to light. Things like:

• Wearing multiple hats – You’re often the worker, the accountant, the admin team, the marketing team, and the cleaning and maintenance crew…all while trying to have a personal life and be a parent, spouse, friend…
• Relationship Stress – Your friends and family don’t really understand what you do or what it takes to run your business.
• Isolation and Loneliness – People may start looking at you as your service, and overlook you as a person.
• Internal and External Pressure – Being compared to “big” companies, where the human element can get lost in the shuffle, but things may be more consistent.
• Limited Resources – You may not have the resources to grow and be as competitive as you’d like to be.
• Client Pressure – You face high expectations, and may not have the resources to meet them.

Whether you’ve faced some of all of these difficulties, it goes without saying that balancing the demands of your business and your personal life can be a delicate act. It’s a classic dilemma: if you give more time to your business, you might sacrifice your personal life, and vice versa. In recent years, external factors have thrown even more challenges into the mix, making it even harder to find that elusive balance. No wonder small business owners sometimes feel overwhelmed and exhausted.

There was a lot of truth in that post I read, and unless you’re in the trenches of actually running a business, you may not realize all that goes into it. I don’t think everyone needs to understand what we’re going through, but I do think we need to be honest with ourselves and understand that we can’t do it all, and expect to do it well. Yes, I understand that for a period of time when you’re hustling and getting started, it’s necessary, but when you get to the point where you can’t personally handle all of the things, you need to recognize and admit that it’s time for a change. For you, that change might be hiring an accountant or marketing help, using technology to automate and streamline your operations, or it might be hiring someone to clean your house so you can take on one more client…I can’t tell you what that change is, but if you’re overwhelmed and on the edge of burnout, you need to do yourself a favor and figure it out!

So, what can you do to regain control and find clarity during these challenging times? My first recommendation would be to get up an hour earlier tomorrow morning (because I know you’re going to tell me you don’t have time for this!), sit down with pen and paper and just start writing about everything going on – the struggles, the good stuff, where you need help, what you can do, what you can’t do. No rules! Just let your thoughts come and write them down. You have the answers inside of you, you just need to be still long enough to let them flow and give you the help you need.

The Power of Journaling

Journaling is a really powerful tool, and research has shown that journaling can be transformative for small business owners.

Here are some ways it can help:

1. Stress Reduction – Writing down your thoughts and concerns can help release built-up stress and make issues seem more manageable. –
2. Goal Setting – Journaling can help you set clear goals, prioritize tasks, and boost your productivity.
3. Emotional Intelligence – It’s a way to boost your self-awareness, which can lead to better decision-making and leadership skills.
4. Problem Solving – Writing about your challenges and potential solutions can help you find creative ways to tackle them.
5. Work-Life Balance – Journaling can be a bridge to help you maintain a healthier work-life balance, which is crucial for your well-being.

Practical Steps to Get Started

Now, let’s explore how you can start using journaling to bring clarity and balance back into your life:

1. Find a Quiet Space – Set aside some time for yourself in a quiet and peaceful environment. It could be in the morning, during a lunch break, or before bedtime – whatever suits your schedule.
2. Equip Yourself – Grab a pen and a dedicated journal or a notebook. Some people prefer to type on a computer, but there’s something therapeutic about putting pen to paper.
3. Free Writing – There are no rules when it comes to journaling. Just start writing about everything that’s on your mind – the struggles, the highlights, where you need help, what you can and can’t do. Let your thoughts flow without judgment or structure.
4. Consistency is Key – Don’t expect to have all the answers in one session. Keep at it. Write regularly, and you’ll begin to see patterns, solutions, and clarity emerge over time.

Journal Prompts to Get You Started

If you’re not sure where to begin or what to write about, here are some prompts to guide your journaling journey:

1. What are the main stressors in your business that are causing you to feel overwhelmed?
2. When you first started your business, what were your core motivations and goals? How do they align with your current situation?
3. What values are most important to you in both your personal and professional life?
4. Envision your business thriving a year from now. What does that look like, and what steps can you take to get there?
5. List all the tasks you handle in your business. Categorize them into “Must Do“, “Delegate“, and “Eliminate.”

It’s important to remember that journaling is about connecting with your inner wisdom and gaining insight into your challenges. It’s a powerful tool to help you navigate through burnout and find the path to a balanced and fulfilling life.

Through your writing, you’ll likely identify some things in your life that need to change. You may know how to take the next steps or you may need some help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; it’s a sign of strength, not weakness. That’s the only way you’re going to move through the current situation you’re in, and get to the other, better side.🙂

I’m here to support you on your journey, so please reach out if you need someone to walk beside you. We’re in this together!