Running a small business is not easy. Though you can find satisfaction and purpose in work, you can also encounter stress and burnout.
In the door, frame, and hardware industry, door distributors may find their current routines very hectic as they work understaffed during this labor shortage. During these times, employers must stay mindful of their employees’ mental health – and their own.
Maintaining a healthy mental state proves especially challenging in busy times. Employers can become easily overwhelmed, buried under a pile of never-ending deadlines.
As Small Businessify points out, small business owners can find it difficult to disconnect outside of typical work hours because they are their own boss and may be handling multiple roles. But all work and no play can lead to serious burnout.
Though work is important, employers should not feel pressured to work without rest. They should feel empowered to take breaks when overwhelmed, tired, or angry.
Small Businessify suggests stepping outside for a walk or taking a day off to be with loved ones when needed; doing so will not only make you happier, but it can give you the motivation needed to return to work and perform your job effectively.
Adopting technology like project management software may also help reduce stress by organizing the work process. By taking confusing spreadsheets and handmade drawings out of the picture, it reduces the chance of stressful, costly errors.
In addition to these tools, professional help is always a valid option. Seeking therapy is an investment in yourself to lead a healthier, happier life. By acknowledging challenges and learning how to deal with them, employers will build a better life and business for themselves and their employees.
Moreover, speaking openly about supporting mental health can encourage employees to embrace their own.
Many employees fear mentioning mental health in the workplace because of the stigma around illnesses such as anxiety and depression. When an employer shows that they care about their employees’ mental health, employees feel empowered to speak up and ask for appropriate accommodations that allow them to work effectively.
In businesses with 15+ employees, providing reasonable accommodations for disabled employees is required by law under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). One example of an accommodation is dimming the lights in the office, as very bright lights can cause sensory overload for some disabled people. Dimming or turning off some lights is a small change that makes a big difference in that employee’s stress level, and it doesn’t cost anything.
Businesses will benefit short-term and long-term by providing these reasonable accommodations.
The Conversation, a nonprofit news organization, warns about the problem of “presenteeism”: when an employee goes to work but is unable to perform at full capacity due to poor mental health. Sometimes, this can create more problems than if the employee stayed home.
Providing accommodations and resources like paid time off, flexibility for therapy appointments, and one-to-one support meetings can reduce the chance of presenteeism.
Addressing mental health in small businesses can make both employers and employees better equipped to handle stress in hectic times. Those who keep their mental health in mind will foster a happier workplace and life.