5 stress-busting strategies for SMB owners

As an SMB owner, it is important to keep stress at bay, despite all the challenges and responsibilities you may have. Here are 5 strategies to cope.

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5 stress-busting strategies for SMB owners

Key takeaways

  • Small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners are often dealing with various kinds of stress
  • Some simple strategies to relieve stress almost in real time is to use the 4-7-8 breathing technique, and to take micro-breaks to switch tasks effectively
  • Communication tech and collaboration tools can help foster team bonding and manage projects effectively

5 stress-busting strategies for SMB Owners

11th December 2023 | SMB, Digitalisation, Business Launch & Operations | 5 min read

Stress is an inevitable part of an SMB owner’s daily life, and the non-stop demands of managing a growing business can take a toll on their mental and physical well-being. 

A survey conducted by Xero showed that Singapore SMB owners experience a variety of stressors – from financial to personal and even from managing their own employees’ well-being.

Almost 44% of SMB owners survyed reported feeling stressed from managing employee wellbeing more than half the time, and Singaporean small business owners were significantly more likely to do so.

Below are some simple stress-busting strategies to relieve some of such stress. 

1.The 4-7-8 breathing technique

This is a simple but powerful breathing exercise that can be your secret weapon against stress. Inhale through your nose for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of seven, and exhale through your mouth for a count of eight. This technique has been shown to help people calm their nervous system, which can be critical when you are experiencing a stressful day at work.

2. Micro-breaks for effective task-switching

Given the variety of tasks that need to be addressed every day, it can be difficult to give every one of them the same focus and attention. Too much multitasking and long hours without breaks can also lead to mental burnout.

If taking long breaks is not possible, try incorporating “micro-breaks” into your day. These are brief moments, anything from 2 to 10 minutes, of mindfulness which can help you recharge, improve focus, and alleviate stress.

Various studies and research show that micro-breaks from 2 to 10 minutes are efficient in preserving high levels of vigour and alleviating fatigue, and also useful for improving well-being during work. Moreover, micro-breaks were also found to significantly increase performance for clerical work or creative exercises compared to more cognitively demanding tasks. 

3. Make tech help reduce your stress      

Sometimes, when you are having a stressful day, things can get worse if you are unable to reach your team, or clients, to find business critical documents. This is where the right technology and collaboration tools can help make your life easier. Tools like Microsoft 365 or solutions like Google Workspace can streamline collaborative work and reduce stress. With these tools, you can ensure that critical business information is readily accessible and editable, key contacts or stakeholders are reachable and that you can work together on documents. No more frantic searching for that crucial document or email; everything you need is at your fingertips.

4. Build a strong bond with your team 

When you find it stressful to deal with the various responsibilities in your daily business operation, it can be helpful to seek help from that one key collaborator or reliable team member. Struggling in isolation can only increase your stress and it is valuable to build strong bonds with your team.

Try scheduling regular check-ins and bonding sessions with your team. Whether in person or remote, tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, combined with other compatible apps or add-ons for interactive activities, can help bridge the gap and foster team camaraderie. For example, there are a number of games available on the Zoom App Marketplace, such as Heads Up! or Trivia by Dive, which can be handy when you organise a virtual bonding event for your team. 

And with Singtel’s Teams UC Direct Connect, you don’t even need to buy additional hardware to stay connected with your team. Not only can you use the familiar collaboration features of Microsoft Teams to improve productivity, but you also get to enjoy PSTN calling from the same app. 

5. Break down large projects into manageable tasks 

If you are banking on that large project or order to give your business a much needed boost, it can seem like a daunting task, with absolutely no room for delays or errors. Instead of looking at it as a large and overwhelming project, break it down into smaller, manageable tasks.

This is at the heart of the Agile philosophy in project management, which emphasises flexibility, collaboration, and iterative progress. It encourages breaking down large, complex projects into smaller, more manageable tasks or iterations, often referred to as "sprints." By dividing the work in this way, SMB owners can adapt to changing circumstances and customer feedback more effectively.

When tasks are divided into smaller increments, it becomes easier to track progress and identify roadblocks. Tools like Basecamp and Trello are designed to facilitate Agile project management and ease the burden on you as an SMB owner.

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