In today’s era, where people have started connecting more virtually than physically, loneliness is bound to happen. Everyone experiences loneliness at some point or the other in their lives, especially in the post-COVID world. The confusion of going out and meeting people still causes feelings of anxiety for many people, leading to feelings of loneliness.
Loneliness does not always result from being alone; it can also sometimes be feeling the inability to connect with people. Within the business world, this topic hardly comes up. It’s time we start discussing mental health more as it deserves as much priority as physical health. Undoubtedly, on the path to success, people begin overworking without realising and forget they have a life. For many small business owners, this can be true at one time or another. Starting out on a high note with enthusiasm trying to find the power in them but can often end up feeling lonely, exhausted and burnt out.
Being an entrepreneur and feeling lonely is not uncommon. Loneliness can happen when you notice your family is no longer as enthusiastic about listening to your business and there are no employees/colleagues to discuss business matters with.
Here are some tips for dealing with feelings of loneliness as an entrepreneur:
Stay busy
Prioritise yourself and make a schedule. Stick to a routine and identify a pattern or time where you feel most lonely. Staying busy in those times is crucial to help avoid feelings of loneliness. However, do not do full-blown minute by minute planning. Give yourself some time to relax and unwind. Read a book or watch a show you’ve been longing to read/see but couldn’t because of lack of time. Try to keep your mind occupied.
Engage in something you love
Set aside some time in your schedule for something that you love doing. The ideal way to join activity groups that help you socialise. The activity group can be of any sort like exercise, hiking, art or dance. A group can help you in doing the things you love while keeping loneliness at bay.
Keep your personal and private life separate
Being a business owner is not easy, it can be very stressful at times. So, when you create a routine, also build an ideal space for yourself. Whilst working from home, make sure to keep your workspace away from distractions if you can. A workspace devoid of distractions can be good for maintaining focus. Therefore, leading to minimal time wastage.
Using a VoIP phone system is beneficial to managing a work-life balance as it gives you the option to set business and holiday hours. Calls get automatically directed to voicemail out of working hours. This way business owners can stop worrying about missing important calls and focus on strengthening personal relationships.
Talk it out!
Sometimes, you need to vent! Join a community or a group of similar small business owners, so that you have people around you that understand what you are going through. Loneliness is a universal issue. You can seek support from a certified therapist or friends and family. This way you can feel heard and valued.
Remember: This too shall pass
Everybody feels lonely at some point or the other. Focus on keeping yourself engaged in productive activities.
Final word:
As a small business owner, follow the tips suggested above and don’t overwhelm yourself with tons of work. Maintain a balance between personal and professional life. Use a bOnline’s VoIP phone, it has 50+ features that will make your life easier and more manageable. Most importantly, prioritise your ME time like you prioritise your work. Take the help of automation wherever and whenever possible so that you can take a little extra time for yourself.