Want to learn how to manage business stress?
Because you feel like you’re constantly running on empty…
There’s not enough time in the day…
And no matter how much you work, it’s never enough.
If this is you, you’re in the right place.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to be in control of your time and energy. Let’s dive in.
How to manage business stress:
- Take breaks
- Plan and prioritize tasks
- Block your time
- Delegate tasks
- Systematize and automate
- Set boundaries
- Prioritize self-care
- Take care of yourself
- Celebrate successes
- Get help
💡Key takeaways:
- Business stress is the strain business owners experience as they navigate the unique and difficult demands of running a business
- 57% of small business owners say they’re somewhat or extremely stressed
- The top causes of business stress are heavy workloads, competition, and financial pressures
- Symptoms include irritability, lack of motivation, health problems, and more
- Managing this stress requires taking breaks, blocking your time, and setting boundaries, among other things
What is business stress?
Business stress is the strain business owners like you experience as they navigate the unique demands of running a business.
You feel like you’re always on and can never truly disconnect from work. This leads to balancing ambition, exhaustion, and success while knowing that every decision falls squarely on your shoulders.
Business stress tends to sneak up on us and snowball into:
- Chronic fatigue
- Constant worry
- And even burnout
But it doesn’t stop there. Stress spills over, affecting more than just your work. It impacts your health, strains relationships, and dims the joy you once felt—both in your business and your life.
I know because I’ve been there. I used to work 80-hour weeks on Wall Street and ended up hospitalized because of it.
The good news? You can overcome your stress, even if you’re incredibly busy, work all the time, and never have time for anything else. When I got back from the hospital, I completely turned around my life. Together with my wife, I developed a productivity system that helped us reduce our work hours to just two a week, while I got promoted and built a business.
And we’ve helped thousands of people do the same.
Start by understanding how stress shows up, why it happens, and what you can do to reclaim control.
Top business stress statistics
Here are the most telling facts about business stress:
- 57% of small business owners say they’re somewhat or extremely stressed
- 56% have been diagnosed with stress-related problems
- 34.4% of entrepreneurs experience burnout at some point in their careers
- 42% of entrepreneurs have experienced burnout in the last month, and 24% are currently burnt out
- 75% of entrepreneurs are concerned about their mental health
Now you know just how common business stress is. Keep reading to explore what causes this stress and, more importantly, how you can beat it.
Business stress symptoms
Recognizing the warning signs of business stress is the first step to taking back control before it becomes overwhelming.
Here’s what to watch out for:
- Health problems: Frequent headaches, stomach issues, or unexplained aches and pains that disrupt your day.
- Sleep struggles: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, leaving you feeling sluggish and drained.
- Irritability: Snapping at tasks, colleagues, or loved ones with little patience for frustration.
- Lost motivation: That drive you once had feels like it’s disappeared, replaced by procrastination and indifference.
- Brain fog: Difficulty focusing, remembering details, or thinking clearly—making even simple tasks feel like a challenge.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. These symptoms are your body and mind’s way of signaling that something needs to change.
But why is business stress so widespread? Keep reading to uncover the root causes and what you can do to fight back.
Top business stress causes
Running a business is exhilarating, but let’s face it—some days, it feels like walking a tightrope, balancing everything while trying not to fall.
Here are the top stressors business owners like you face:
- Heavy workload: The sheer volume of tasks, long hours, and the feeling of not being able to disconnect from work can leave you with no work-life balance.
- Industry changes and competition: To stay relevant, you have to stay vigilant and be one step ahead of market shifts, emerging trends, and competition. It’s easy (and exhausting) to fall into the trap of playing catch-up or constantly looking over your shoulder.
- Financial concerns: Finding ways to manage financial unpredictability, cash flow issues, unexpected expenses, and fluctuating profits is incredibly stressful, especially in the early days.
- Employee responsibilities: Business owners with employees are more prone to business stress than solopreneurs, as building and managing a team can feel like a second full-time job.
- Compliance issues: Compliance issues are high-stakes, and the paperwork and regulations drain your time and energy.
Identifying these stressors is the first step toward successful business stress management. The next is learning how to manage them.
Ready to tackle these challenges head-on? Keep reading to learn strategies to reduce stress and take back control.
How to manage and reduce stress as a small business owner
Business stress and anxiety are sometimes part of the journey. But here’s the good news—you don’t have to let them control your life.
When you implement the right strategies, everything changes. You’ll be able to:
- Take back control of your time and energy
- Feel a sense of balance, even on the busiest days
- Move forward with clarity and confidence, no matter what challenges come your way
And this isn’t just theory—we know it works. These are the same strategies that transformed everything for us, and they can do the same for you.
1. Take breaks
I know how tempting it is to power through your day without stopping. After all, there’s always more to do, right?
But here’s the truth: taking breaks isn’t a luxury—it’s a productivity supercharger. Breaks:
- Boost your energy
- Sharpen your focus
- Elevate your mood and performance
Even a quick pause can make a massive difference.
For me, I like to take a 10-minute break at the end of every hour to step outside and get some fresh air. When I return to my desk, I’m more focused, energized, and ready to go.
Maybe you’d prefer getting up every 30 minutes for a quick walk or stretching at your desk. The key is to find a rhythm that works for you—and stick with it.
Remember, it’s not about how long you work; it’s about how effectively you use your time.
2. Plan and prioritize tasks
Pre-planning your days and weeks—down to the hour—is one of the most effective ways to take control of your time and reduce overwhelm.
That’s why we created our Winning the Week Formula. In just 30 minutes, you can craft a detailed plan that maximizes your time and minimizes stress. Here’s how it works:
- Reflect on last week: What worked? What didn’t? Learn from it.
- Set this week’s goal: Define what success looks like for the week ahead.
- Review your time supply: How many hours do you realistically have?
- Review your time demand: What’s on your plate, and what absolutely needs to get done?
- Match your time demand to your time supply: Prioritize and schedule tasks to fit your available time.
One of the biggest hurdles people face is deciding which tasks deserve their attention. That’s where leverage comes in.
Ask yourself: Which tasks will move the needle the furthest? Those are the ones to tackle first. Knock them out early in the week to build momentum and confidence.
Want to go deeper? Learn how to master pre-planning your week in this guide.
3. Block your time
Here’s my best piece of advice: stop multitasking—it doesn’t work.
If you’re trying to juggle too much at once, you’re not getting more done; you’re just spreading yourself thin. Instead, try time-blocking.
Time-blocking means setting aside dedicated blocks of time on your calendar for a specific task or activity. It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to:
- Avoid procrastination by committing to a set time.
- Minimize distractions so you can focus fully on the task at hand.
- Get more done in less time by working with purpose and clarity.
How you implement time-blocking is up to you. Maybe you use your digital calendar to reserve time slots for high-priority tasks. Or, you could try something more interactive—like our Sticky Focus Game, which makes time-blocking a fun and engaging way to stay on track.
The key is finding a system that works for you and sticking to it. When you block your time, you take control of your schedule instead of letting it control you.
4. Delegate tasks
If you’re not the only person who can do a task, hand it off!
Delegation isn’t just about offloading work—it’s a strategic way to free up your time and focus on what matters most. In fact, entrepreneurs who delegate earn 33% more than those who don’t.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few options to consider:
- Employees: Identify team members with the right skills for specific responsibilities. Just make sure they have the proper training and support to meet expectations.
- Virtual assistants: Perfect for business owners without direct employees, VAs can handle everything from scheduling to administrative tasks.
- AI tools: We swear by tools like ChatGPT for content creation, Zapier for automation, and Fathom for simplifying meeting notes.
For more on AI, take a look at this video:
📚Dive deeper: The Ultimate Outsourcing Guide
5. Systematize and automate
Business stress thrives on chaos. When your processes are all over the place, stress creeps in and takes over.
The solution? Systems. The more you systematize and automate, the less likely you are to fall victim to overwhelm.
I get it—building systems can feel like a monumental task. But it doesn’t have to be. Start with these essentials:
- A digital calendar app: Visually map out your time, making time-blocking easier and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
- Online task managers: Tools like Asana are lifesavers for managing and prioritizing tasks effectively. (We use it for everything!)
- Tech tools and AI: Automate repetitive tasks like emails, brainstorming, and appointment setting with tools like Zapier, ChatGPT, and more.
To truly reduce stress, your business needs two types of systems: leveraged systems that amplify your efforts and delegation systems that take tasks off your plate.
Ready to dive deeper? Learn how to set up these game-changing systems in this guide.
6. Set boundaries
Most business owners believe working nonstop is the only way to be successful.
But the truth? Setting boundaries doesn’t just protect your time—it makes you more successful by giving you greater clarity, focus, and resilience.
Start by setting boundaries in these three key areas:
- Time: Establish clear working hours and stick to them. Let your team, clients, and family know when you’re available—and when you’re not. A shared calendar can make this easy and keep everyone on the same page.
- Communication: Create a communication policy that defines how and when you’ll respond to calls, messages, and emails. By setting expectations, you’ll avoid constant interruptions and reclaim your focus.
- Workload: Instead of letting your to-do list grow, delegate tasks whenever possible and avoid overcommitting. Focus on high-impact work that truly requires your expertise, and don’t be afraid to say “no” to anything that doesn’t align with your goals.
⛔ Struggling to say no? Don’t worry—I’ll teach you how in this guide.
7. Prioritize self-care
With a thousand things on your to-do list, it’s tempting to put self-care on the back burner. But here’s the reality: self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for success.
Why? Because self-care is the key to:
- Staying focused
- Boosting productivity
- And avoiding business owner stress
What self-care looks like is entirely up to you. The important thing is that it refills your cup—whether that’s reading, practicing a hobby, exercising, or something else entirely.
For example, my wife Carey, who’s also my co-founder at Lifehack Method, makes it a point to get a pedicure every Friday.
💡 Want more ideas? Check out our guide to radical self-care for inspiration and actionable steps.
8. Take care of yourself
Whenever someone asks me how to manage stress as a business owner, my advice is always the same: focus on the basics.
When things get tough, doubling down on these essentials can make all the difference:
- Get enough sleep: Sleep is the foundation for focus, mood, and energy. Create a bedtime routine that gives you 7–9 hours of rest every night—and stick to it.
- Eat healthy foods: Meal prepping can help you avoid unhealthy, stress-driven food choices that only leave you feeling worse.
- Exercise regularly: It doesn’t have to be intense—even a quick 10-minute workout can be just as effective as a 45-minute one for boosting your mood and reducing stress.
9. Celebrate successes
As a business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the “what’s next” mindset. But here’s the thing: celebrating your successes—big or small—is essential.
🎉 Studies show that taking time to celebrate your wins boosts motivation, builds morale, and keeps you energized for what’s ahead.
For team achievements:
- Send an email of appreciation
- Treat your team to coffee or a celebratory lunch
- Acknowledge their efforts in a team meeting—it’s amazing how far a simple “thank you” can go
For personal wins:
- Indulge in your favorite meal
- Book a relaxing massage
- Treat yourself to something you’ve been eyeing—it’s okay to reward your hard work!
10. Get help
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to deal with business stress alone.
And let’s be clear—there’s absolutely no shame in asking for help. In fact, reaching out can be one of the most empowering steps you take.
Here are a few options to consider:
- Therapists: They can help you manage anxiety, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and build the resilience you need to thrive.
- Coaches: Perfect for getting personalized strategies to tackle a specific challenge or reach a key goal. A great coach can help you see the path forward when things feel unclear.
- Supportive programs: Programs like Lifehack Tribe (our own program) offer a blend of community, actionable frameworks, and practical resources to help you manage stress and grow your business with confidence.
Yes, asking for help can feel like the hardest step, but it’s also the most transformative. You’re not just investing in your well-being—you’re investing in your business and your future.
Next steps
There you have it!
The best methods for managing and overcoming business stress.
Remember what I said about how helpful planning is?
If you want to find out just how helpful, download our Win the Week worksheet to plan your most productive week ever:
Read more:
Time Management Skills for Small Business Owners
