When Work Hurts: How Self-Employment Can Boost Your Mental Health
Stress is a reality for almost all adults. Between stagnant careers, kids, and bills that just won’t stop filling the mailbox, it’s no wonder that 65 percent of stressed-out Americans report work as the primary cause. But the technology revolution has made new employment opportunities as easy as the click of a mouse to pursue. And having the opportunity to step away from the nine-to-five grind can have a serious positive impact.
There are a number of reasons that “solopreneurship” can ease the burdens of stress, thereby eliminating at least one trigger for depression and other mental health concerns. But before you know the pros, you should be aware of the downside of working for yourself. Primarily, you become solely responsible for your success or failure. You don’t have a backup in the office to pick up the slack. If you’re not confident in your abilities, you may wind up worse off than when you were confined to the cubicle. But for the rest of us, grabbing at gigs and making our own way through the jungle of self-sufficiency allows for control over part of your life… a control that can keep you on stable ground.
Self-Employment and Stress/Anxiety
No one is saying there is no stress involved in entrepreneurship. But it’s a different kind of stress, one that you can manage by remembering why you stepped away from the workforce. Perhaps you were tired of watercooler gossip or constantly being skipped over for promotion because you weren’t in the “in” group. It could be that inflexible work hours had you on the clock when you weren’t at your best. Whatever your reasons, working for yourself can allow you to step away so you can work in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle.
If you have social anxiety, self-employment – and specifically working from home – opens up the doors to jobs you might not otherwise be able to tackle. Psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald suggests that going rouge in the workforce can help you live up to your earning potential without the strain of trying to manage your anxiety.
How to Get Started
Getting yourself ready for the adventure of self-employment is the biggest hurdle but it’s one that you can take in steps.
Start by planning out where you will work. If you’re like most, this will be a home office. When designing your space, you’ll want to make sure you have enough electrical outlets to handle the load of a concentrated number of advanced electrical devices. If you’re planning on a mobile workstation, you may wish to invest in a portable hotspot and a quality laptop with a long battery life. If you choose to work from home, make sure that your space is clean and comfortable and in a location that doesn’t interfere with your personal actions, such as spending time with your family and getting enough sleep.
Your next task is to begin advertising your services. Set up social media accounts and create a website so potential customers can find more formation. If possible, your site should include everything from samples of your work to pricing. The more information you can give your potential customers, the better. Once you begin taking on projects, be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. The first few months should be spent refining your process and services so that you are more efficient and effective.
When work doesn’t make you feel good about yourself, it’s time to change. Not only will self-employment ease the stress of rigidity, but it will also give you the power to put yourself in a positive situation, both mentally and financially. It isn’t always easy, but entrepreneurship is a challenge that comes with benefits that no workplace can offer, including better mental and physical health.
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Submitted by Brad Krause (www.selfcaring.info).
Stress is a reality for almost all adults. Between stagnant careers, kids, and bills that just won’t stop filling the mailbox, it’s no wonder that 65 percent of stressed-out Americans report work as the primary cause. But the technology revolution has made new employment opportunities as easy as the click of a mouse to pursue. And having the opportunity to step away from the nine-to-five grind can have a serious positive impact.
There are a number of reasons that “solopreneurship” can ease the burdens of stress, thereby eliminating at least one trigger for depression and other mental health concerns. But before you know the pros, you should be aware of the downside of working for yourself. Primarily, you become solely responsible for your success or failure. You don’t have a backup in the office to pick up the slack. If you’re not confident in your abilities, you may wind up worse off than when you were confined to the cubicle. But for the rest of us, grabbing at gigs and making our own way through the jungle of self-sufficiency allows for control over part of your life… a control that can keep you on stable ground.
Self-Employment and Stress/Anxiety
No one is saying there is no stress involved in entrepreneurship. But it’s a different kind of stress, one that you can manage by remembering why you stepped away from the workforce. Perhaps you were tired of watercooler gossip or constantly being skipped over for promotion because you weren’t in the “in” group. It could be that inflexible work hours had you on the clock when you weren’t at your best. Whatever your reasons, working for yourself can allow you to step away so you can work in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle.
If you have social anxiety, self-employment – and specifically working from home – opens up the doors to jobs you might not otherwise be able to tackle. Psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald suggests that going rouge in the workforce can help you live up to your earning potential without the strain of trying to manage your anxiety.
How to Get Started
Getting yourself ready for the adventure of self-employment is the biggest hurdle but it’s one that you can take in steps.
Start by planning out where you will work. If you’re like most, this will be a home office. When designing your space, you’ll want to make sure you have enough electrical outlets to handle the load of a concentrated number of advanced electrical devices. If you’re planning on a mobile workstation, you may wish to invest in a portable hotspot and a quality laptop with a long battery life. If you choose to work from home, make sure that your space is clean and comfortable and in a location that doesn’t interfere with your personal actions, such as spending time with your family and getting enough sleep.
Your next task is to begin advertising your services. Set up social media accounts and create a website so potential customers can find more formation. If possible, your site should include everything from samples of your work to pricing. The more information you can give your potential customers, the better. Once you begin taking on projects, be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. The first few months should be spent refining your process and services so that you are more efficient and effective.
When work doesn’t make you feel good about yourself, it’s time to change. Not only will self-employment ease the stress of rigidity, but it will also give you the power to put yourself in a positive situation, both mentally and financially. It isn’t always easy, but entrepreneurship is a challenge that comes with benefits that no workplace can offer, including better mental and physical health.
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Submitted by Brad Krause (www.selfcaring.info).
