It can be SOOOO stressful running your own business. And lately the interior design business has had more than its fair share of stress. But we all know that stress is a killer - literally! And it definitely doesn't help us do a better job or be more creative when we're feeling that pressure and dread. We need to be in a good frame of mind to deal with our clients, our team members, and for our own mental health. But that's often easier said than done. So other than the usual ideas of meditation, exercise, and eating well, what can YOU do? Here are 4 great ideas!

1. Take a Good Look

When we're in the middle of a crisis or major issue, it is very hard for us to remember what's GOOD. Some of the top CEOs in the country say that regularly reminding themselves of what has gone right and what they are really good at helps to reset their minds and push stress aside. Rather than thinking "Obviously I am TERRIBLE at this," which is the stress talking, you want to say "I can get through this!" So be sure you have a list of successes, of things you can celebrate in your business. And keep it handy for the next stressful situation. Because there will be another one, unfortunately. It's just the name of the game when it comes to running your own business.

2. Find Common Ground

Once you've got a moment to reflect, ask yourself what are the most common stressors in your business. If you're seeing a pattern and the same thing coming up over and over again, you know it's time to make a change. It could be that you need to deal with a disruptive employee. Or that you need to find another workroom. Maybe it's something YOU'RE doing. But whatever it is - you need to deal with it ASAP. Otherwise, that same old stress is going to revisit you, and it's probably going to get worse, too.

3. Set Structure

Humans love routine and structure. It actually soothes and comforts us. So if you don't have systems and processes set up in your business, you're creating stress that really doesn't need to be there! Routines help us deal with the day-to-day. Structure gives us something to fall back on when we feel out of control. In a way, having things in place like a system for your projects can be soothing. There's a relief in knowing that you and your team have things in place to keep everything moving along, even when it feels like the wheels might come off. I know I sound like a broken record sometimes when it comes to having business systems in place - but without them, you are definitely stressing yourself out.

4. Prioritize Your Time

There are two parts to this one. First, you need to focus on what is most important for YOU to do. If you get caught up in simple tasks or the less-important aspects of your business, then you are NOT going to have enough time to do the top-level work you need to do. For example, you need to outsource your bookkeeping. You should NOT be running errands. And you do NOT need to be organizing your workroom. You are a CEO. You need to be working on getting more clients. You need to focus on top-notch customer service for the clients you have now. And you need to keep your eye on the goals you've set for your business. The second part of this tip is that you need to make you and your time a PRIORITY. That means you will have to say NO ... a lot. Say no to the scope creep. Say no to clients that are red flags. Say no to friends who "just want to ask you one thing" about their own homes. Say no to employees that are pushing boundaries. You can do it!

The interior design business can be fabulous, and difficult. Sometimes at the SAME time! To help you handle the rollercoaster, download my FREE Guide to Handle the Highs and Lows of this business.