If you’ve got a business that’s making you miserable because you never feel like you can take a break…
Or you’re struggling to sleep at night because your brain won’t shut up with swirling ideas and things you need to get done…
Or you want to go crawl under a big rock and not come out until Christmas…
Then, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with stress that’s coming directly from working for yourself.
So before you pour another bottle of pinot grigio on your head and try to drown it all out until you pass out—let’s talk about what’s really going on behind the scenes of entrepreneur stress… and more importantly, what you can actually do about it.
The stress is real
Every single one of us deals with stress. But, when you are running your own business? That’s a special kind of pressure.
There’s no boss to tell you when to stop. No clock to punch out. And if you’re anything like me, your brain never got the memo that 2am is not a strategic planning hour.
But stress isn’t just about being busy or having a long to-do list. It’s the mental load. The emotional weight of always needing to be ‘on,’ of carrying all the responsibility, of constantly making decisions and never feeling like you’re caught up.
It’s when your brain’s still buzzing at midnight even though your body’s ready to tap out. It’s when rest feels impossible because everything depends on you—and there’s no one else to hand it to.
And the longer that goes on, the more it starts to bleed into other parts of your life. Your sleep gets patchy. You snap at the people you love. You start questioning whether you’re even cut out for this.
It’s not that you’re not capable—it’s that the way you’re working right now isn’t sustainable. And no one can thrive under that kind of constant pressure.
So let’s walk through 3 super practical ways to pull yourself out of that spiral—and see how you can run your business with less pressure, fewer to-do’s, and, well… less stress.
Numero uno – Maximise your work time
If you’re constantly wishing there were more hours in the day just to keep up—this one’s for you.
The truth is, it’s not really about having more time. It’s about making better use of the time you already have.
Try this: go unplugged for just one hour.
- No phone
- No inbox.
- No “I’ll just quickly check Instagram.”
Pick one important task—the thing you’ve been putting off—and give it your full focus.
You’ll be surprised how much you can knock over in an hour when you’re not jumping between tabs and distractions. And once that hard thing is done? You’ll feel lighter, clearer, and more motivated to keep going.
Then, take a break. A real one. Step outside, stretch, make a cuppa. And when you’re ready—go again.
This isn’t about grinding harder. It’s about working in a way that actually gives you some mental space—and a bit of your day back.
Number 2. Don’t over extend yourself with promises
Do you wake up ready to take on the day—or already exhausted just thinking about it?
Do you feel excited to dive into your work… or would you rather hide under the doona and binge Netflix with zero responsibilities?
That feeling of dread? It’s often a direct result of saying “yes” to way too much.
Yes to every request. Every client ask. Every new idea. Every “quick favour.”
And look, I get it. You want to be helpful. You want your clients to feel taken care of. But when you keep saying yes without checking in on your own capacity, you end up stretched, resentful, and overwhelmed.
Let’s be honest—how many of those yeses are actually moving your business forward? And how many are just draining your time and energy?
Here’s what helps
- Start saying no without guilt.
- Set clear office hours—and actually respect them.
- Build in breathing room between commitments.
- Stop treating your calendar like a game of Tetris.
Boundaries aren’t about being difficult. They’re about making your business sustainable.
Put limits around client access. Create a refund policy that protects your time. Block out space in your calendar for actual rest—not just when you collapse.
The goal isn’t to be available 24/7. The goal is to build a business that gives you breathing room—and actually works with the kind of life you want to live.
Next is to create a marketing plan to gain more clients
Money stress is a whole other beast—and it’s usually lurking behind the scenes of everything else.
Worrying about whether you’ll have enough paying clients to cover the bills? That’s legit. It weighs on you—even when everything else seems fine on the surface.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to become a marketing guru. You just need a simple, repeatable way to consistently attract and connect with the right people.
Start small:
- Pick one platform (the one your people are actually on).
- Show up consistently—even if it’s just weekly.
- Create one juicy freebie that solves a small but annoying problem.
- Set up a short email follow-up that naturally leads to your paid offer.
And then? Improve it bit by bit. Test. Tweak. Repeat.
Marketing isn’t about being loud—it’s about being clear. Being present. Letting people know how you can help—without turning into a spammy robot.
What platform feels the most natural for you? Where are your people already hanging out online? Start there.
Use the free and low-cost options first. Build systems that support you before throwing money at ads. And if you’re not confident running campaigns yourself—outsource it. Or at least learn from someone who knows their stuff.
Basically, business stress doesn’t have to derail you. It really comes down to protecting your time, saying no without guilt, and putting a few solid systems in place so everything doesn’t fall on your shoulders.
If that sounds like the kind of support you need, I’ve put together a free resource called the Stop to Scale Kit. It’s short, practical, and walks you through five common mistakes solopreneurs often make (without even realising).
You’ll find the form below if you want to check it out.
