Business Stress Management

You live on "the edge", always just short of exploding from a "head squeeze" 24 hours a day.  You think you have to do EVERYthing around the house because it won't get done by itself.  If you don't make dinner, everyone in the family starves.  If you are crazy enough (like me) to run a business from your home, you probably have to weed through a massive amount of paperwork and toys on the floor to get to your desk.  You are...a mom!

After giving birth, I found it amazing my body somehow found the energy to do everything I HAD to do with such a short amount of sleep.  I felt like aliens took over my body, but I somehow got through it.  (It really is all a blur to me.)

Now, running a business from my home has brought on the same energy-draining feelings all over again.  THIS time, however, I'm ready to take on those aliens and take control of my life.  After all, I started working at home so I could ENJOY this time with my daughter before she is all grown up and wants to borrow the car.  I didn't want to look back on this time someday and think it
was all a blur.

So, how do I get through finding my desk every day, running my home business, having a noise-free conversation on the telephone, volunteering in the community, studying to take the law school entrance exam, following my toddler around with the sweeper as she's dumping goldfish crackers all over, scowling at our dog for barking too much ONCE AGAIN, shooing our cat off the kitchen counter, chasing the bill collectors away, thawing out dinner, washing my husband's 500 pairs of socks and underwear, AND spending loving, quality time with my family?

Here are three simple ways to help manage the stress:
1) Think BIG, start small.
You will tell the whole world about your home business, but right now you are only going to work on your press release.  You will see the bottom of your floor again, but right now you just need to clean a path to the bathroom.

2) Eat healthy and exercise.
I know, I know...same old thing.  But, you know what?  If you feel healthy, life seems to go a little bit easier.  Don't want to quit eating fast food right away? Remember tip #1...how about cutting down to only once a week?

3) During times of great stress, close your eyes, take a deep breath and think
of something that "warms your heart" for 10 seconds, then open your eyes.  I think of my daughter's wonderful little smile and how fortunate I am to be able to spend every day at home with her.

Someday, I will not only remember her asking to borrow the car, but her asking if we can go take her tricyle outside and ride around the block.
 

Bio info:
Amy (Young) Foster is first a foremost a mom to Grace, now 7 years old, and Kate, 4 years old.  She has survived cancer and divorce and is the founder and owner of Mom's Home Work (www.thebizclub.org), an association that started out as support for mothers who work at home.  It has now grown into a large, global organization for all small and home business owners and those looking to start a business.  Amy is also a real estate agent, now, of COURSE working from home!

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