As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, with this year’s focus on community, it is time to talk about the unspoken weight that comes with being a business owner. The long hours, the self-imposed pressure, the constant problem-solving, and perhaps most isolating of all, having no one to turn to when it all feels too much.
Why community matters, especially for an entrepreneur’s mental health
For entrepreneurs, building a community can help:
- Reduce the isolation that comes with working alone;
- Provide a space to share challenges, ideas, and wins;
- Offer accountability and motivation;
- Connect you with people who understand the pressure.
But community isn’t just about networking events or co-working spaces. It’s also about the people you bring into your business, including those who help lighten your load. This can be a virtual assistant or even a good friend. If you know that your best friend can offer a moment of distraction with a funny memory or life update during your working day, give them a message; I’m sure they would love to hear from you.
The emotional rollercoaster of doing it all
When you're a solopreneur or a small business owner, your business isn’t just a job. It's your income, your passion, and your identity. That’s a lot for one person to carry.
You’re not just the CEO, you’re also the admin, the marketer, the sales team, the bookkeeper, the customer support rep, the coffee re-stocker… all while trying to keep your personal life intact.
You may have experienced these quiet, but constant internal narratives:
“I need to make this work; it has to work.”
“I cannot fail.”
“Everyone else seems to be managing just fine.”
But behind closed doors, the reality can often look like:
- Trouble switching off (even during weekends or holidays);
- Difficulty setting boundaries with clients;
- Feeling guilty any time that you’re not working;
- Missing out on making memories with your friends and family;
- Overwhelmed from an ever-growing to-do list you can never quite tame;
- Burnout from juggling everything yourself.
None of these are signs of poor time management or lack of ambition, they’re symptoms of being human.
I’m sure you can handle everything, I’m almost certain you can; but why would you want to? Especially if it is detrimental to your mental health. You can still be successful, love what you do, be highly driven, and still need help.
Why we might not talk about it
Social media is a wonderful place; however, it can be quite toxic. I often find myself falling down a rabbit hole of exercise videos, self-help talks, and ‘my 4-8 before my 9-5’. I’m sure you remember the infamous quote ‘we all have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé’ (which I personally disagree with! Beyoncé has a whole team and more to support her empire and lifestyle! Anyway, I digress...)
Comparing and critiquing ourselves to those online can spiral our mental health. And often, simply admitting we're having a hard time feels like failure. When we see ‘perfection’ online, it is easy to fall into the comparison trap and think that it’s the norm.
Please remember, social media rarely shows the full picture.
Protecting your mental health as a business owner
Protecting your mental health as a business owner is important, however, protecting your mental health for you is more important. There is only one of you, and you need to take care of number one. Here are some simple things you could do to take care of your mind, during your working day:
· Take a coffee break without your phone. Even better, walk to your favourite coffee shop (without your phone!)
· Go outside. Sit in your garden and listen to the birdsong or take a short walk.
· Spritz your favourite perfume; why do you need to save it for special occasions?
· Text a friend. Wish them a great day in the rat race world; I'm sure you'll get a funny response back!
· Make sure you have tasty snacks in the fridge.
· If you're having a tricky day, walk away from your desk. Put on your favourite song and shake it off.
· Say no to meetings that don't need to be a meeting (something I'm becoming a pro at!).
Whether or not you’re ready to hire support right now, here are a few ‘business’ things you can start doing to protect your mental well-being:
- Set digital boundaries, not every email needs an instant reply;
- Define work hours (and stick to them);
- Find your community; whether it's other business owners, a mentor, or a peer support group, connection matters;
- Get things out of your head and free your mental bandwidth;
- Outsource where possible.
A final thought for Mental Health Awareness Week
Running your own business is one of the most liberating paths you can take, but let’s not sugarcoat it; it can also be one of the most mentally and emotionally draining.
You don’t need to do this alone, support is available, not just from a mental health standpoint, but operationally and emotionally.
If you’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or simply craving community, start by letting someone in. The difference it can make, mentally and emotionally, is profound. You can check out the Mental Health Foundation website for more information.
Want to talk to us about support? We're always here to help.
