The current events of our world are causing stress for everyone right now- illness, quarantine and economic stress. For business owners, the effects of COVID-19 are adding incredible business-related stress to their lives. We are all in this together- hoping the pandemic will come to an end soon so we can get back to our normal lives and business as usual. In the meantime, there are some things to do that will help you deal with added business stress due to the current situation:

Set Goals for the Future

Things won’t always be this way and that’s the part we should be focusing on. Even though it’s stressful and a scary time right now, it’s important to look to the future and think about the goals and plans businesses should have in place when things pick back up again (which they will!) Setting your sights on the future and making goals that align with where you want your business to be is not only a productive use of your time, but it’s also a great way to keep your spirits up by focusing on the positive. 

Focus on What’s Going Right

There’s always something going right, even when it seems like there’s a lot of negative around us. As far as small businesses are concerned, there are some good things that deserve to be mentioned:

• Many small businesses can qualify for disaster assistance loans to help keep them afloat until business picks up again. 
• Consumers are really making an effort to support small and local businesses now more than ever. This mindset will continue even once the pandemic comes to an end. 
• Businesses already working with the SBA can receive financial assistance in the form of an express bridge loan to help with the loss of revenue. 

Move Your Body

Doing some sort of physical activity everyday has been proven to boost people’s moods. This can be hard when the kids are home, you’re trying to keep your business successful and you have added stress. However, you don’t have to spend hours at the gym to reap the benefits of exercise. In fact, even just 15 minutes a day of walking, jogging or playing your favorite sport can be enough to improve your mood, which will increase your productivity.

Get Outside

Vitamin D, please! If you’re experiencing downtime because business is slower than usual, get outside and enjoy the benefits of vitamin D and fresh air. People are much more likely to become stressed and depressed when they spend all day indoors. In order to effectively deal with added stress due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, start simple by getting yourself outside and allowing yourself to relax. 

Read Books Related to Your Industry

Reading books related to running a business or related to your industry is a great use of time for business owners. It never hurts to learn more and increase your knowledge when it comes to growing your business. Spend some of your time learning more about your expertise. Not only is this a productive way to spend your time, but it will decrease your stress levels by providing you with valuable information that will help you pick up the pieces once business is back to normal. Some great books for business owners include:

• ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill
• ‘The E-Myth Revisited’ by Michael Gerber
• ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins
• ‘Speak and Get Results’ by Sandy Linver
• ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey
• ‘Blink’ by Malcolm Gladwell

We know that life is stressful right now, and the added business-related stress due to COVID-19 isn’t doing us any favors. We hope these ideas are helpful for you in finding ways to deal with the stress and focus on the positive!

For more insights on marketing strategy that actually works for small business, connect with Jay Bean, Founder of FreshLime and Small Business Marketing Expert on LinkedIn and Twitter. If any of these tips have helped you or if you have anything to add, please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!