Sianessa

Stress. It’s unavoidable to the small business owner.

Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you just want to run and hide. Here are 10 suggestions for relieving some of that stress (and hopefully provide you with a giggle or two):

1. You know that big bag of Doritos lurking in the kitchen? Yeah, the giant one from Costco that’s bigger than a college student’s backpack. Go ahead and eat the whole thing. You’ll get a wicked stomachache, but isn’t that better than the pain of existential angst?
2. Go on anti-depressants. What, you want an original idea? You don’t have the energy to be creative anyway.
3. Drink a bottle of wine and take to your bed. Nothing like booze to numb the anxiety & stress of the small business owner.
4. Go to Vegas. You’re not going to get any good work done, so you might as well go somewhere fun and blow the last few dollars in your bank account.
5. Write individual letters of resignation to all your clients. (Caution: do NOT send.)
6. Scream at someone who totally doesn’t deserve it. Share the stress! Then have a teary apology & make-up conversation with hugs and chocolate.
7. Shop online for things you don’t really need, such as another maxi dress, a BBQ cover, or a set of free weights with spongey grips. The thrill of bargain hunting will relieve some of your ennui.
8. Get more sleep and exercise. You may still feel utterly stressed-out, but at least you’ll look a little better.
9. Watch a documentary about people or animals who are abused, starving, diseased, homeless, endangered, etc. Their problems are so much worse than yours; how can you complain? You and your first-world problems.
10. Call your parents and ask them to buy you a present. Cars and real estate are good choices. Contributing to your retirement account wouldn’t be bad either.
11. BONUS: Laugh. Having a good guffaw is the best antidote to stress in the whole world.