5 Things That Helped Me Stay Calm While I Grew My Business
When I started my previous web design business almost a decade ago, my workload evolved in a very linear manner. Every time I approached the completion of a project, I got contacted by a new client who needed a website.
I just loved how organically my business grew. I didn’t have to do any advertising; all work came in via word-of-mouth and social media connections. And my business kept growing.
Then, there came a point where I was juggling five projects simultaneously while also figuring out how to launch and create my first online course. I am the first to admit that it was stressful. What do they say about the effort and sweat required to start your own business? It’s true. While I tried to keep my weekends mostly free, I pretty much spent every waking hour on my business. It helped, of course, that I loved my work, but that didn’t mean I didn’t get exhausted and overwhelmed.
So, how did I stay calm and healthy during those busy times? Here are five things that helped me, and continue to do so today:
1. Nourishment
As an emotional eater, it can be easy for me to numb my stress with comfort foods, which, in my case, means lots of sweets, carbs, and lattes. Not surprisingly though this is not helpful in the long run, all it does is make you feel sluggish and tired. Once I realized how busy I would get, I consciously decided to eat more healthily. And to my delight, I created a routine that I loved!
I have always liked healthy foods but am a bit of a reluctant cook; it’s just not one of my favorite things to do. And I don’t know if it was because it was summer with its abundance of fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables but I enjoyed preparing healthy meals. I don’t cook much with recipes, and I was so pleased that I got better at throwing nourishing meals together with the ingredients at hand. I also developed a range of favorites that I repeated regularly, easing the stress of deciding what to cook.
Here are some of the routines I find most helpful:
Start my day with herbal tea, coffee, and a good breakfast. Usually, that’s oats with almond milk, honey, shredded apples, and toasted almonds, or just a boiled egg and an apple, or a steamed sweet potato mashed with coconut oil and shredded apple, also topped with toasted almonds.
Make a weekly meal plan. Every Sunday, my husband and I go out for breakfast (another favorite ritual). I always bring my notebook, and while we wait for our food, I jot down a rough plan for the week, including any travel and appointments and a shopping list. We don’t stick to the plan religiously, but it provides enough framework to avoid those panic moments in front of the fridge when we don’t know what to eat.
Cook enough for leftovers. I LOVE leftovers!
2. Movement & FRESH AIR
As a notorious under-exerciser with a sedentary job, it is very easy for me to sit on my butt all day, working at my computer and not moving much at all. Not healthy, as is well documented these days! So, at the same that I decided to eat healthier, I also decided to get moving more and started a walking routine. What helped is that I did it together with my husband, and we quickly discovered that we loved it! Every night after dinner, we took a 4-mile walk around our neighborhood, which is quiet, green, and has lovely territorial views. On Sundays, after breakfast, we often took a long walk along the sea, which I looked forward to all week.
And that is perhaps the most surprising part of this: I had always dreaded exercising, which meant I had to do it in the morning if I did it at all. But these days, I look forward to my walks. It’s not just that it feels good to get out into the fresh air and move the old bones, this is also a treasured time where my husband and I catch up on each other and dream and scheme a lot. I notice the difference this makes me feel in my body and head.
3. Hire Help
When I was contemplating whether to create a web design course, I was contacted by a young graphic designer who was moving to my town and looking for a job. Apparently, he had been looking at all the design companies in this town and felt rather underwhelmed by what he saw—until he found me! That was a lovely compliment! I hadn’t planned on hiring someone, but then I thought: I could do with some help. Maybe it was serendipity?
One of the reasons I had been a bit reluctant to hire another designer is that people hired me because they liked my particular style and my unique combination of technical, business, and creative skills. But I liked how the young designer approached me; he did his homework, was articulate, and took initiative. We shared similar design aesthetics, and he knew Squarespace inside and out. So we had a chat, and I hired him.
He worked with me on a contract basis for this period, and it was a fruitful collaboration. This experience taught me that while I prefer to remain a company of one to keep my business calm and streamlined, there are times when hiring help is precisely what’s needed.
4. Get Creative
When much of your professional - and personal! - time is spent in the digital world it is good to flex your creative analog muscles for some balance. For me, this came in the form of bullet journaling and starting a fledgling tarot practice. I loved journaling more than I ever expected, and providing a creative outlet was immensely helpful in getting me organized (see next point). I took Susannah Conway’s 78 Mirrors class, which blew my mind a little. Her course was wonderful, and I learned a lot. It was a bit of a time commitment, but I was happy to make it as it got me out of my head and into my intuition and the present moment.
5. Get Organized
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, I started using a bullet journal to organize myself. I didn’t follow the BuJo guidelines strictly but instead created my own system that worked for me. Journalling allowed me to bring in my intuitive part, which likes to get messy, which is then complemented and supported by the various digital systems that I also use.
Best of all, it led me to design and publish my very own analog planner, the Eule Planner. It’s my favorite passion project and a treasured creative outlet—not to mention a firm favorite with online entrepreneurs around the globe since 2019! You can learn more about the Eule Planner here.
Here are some of the tools that help me get organized:
17hats.
A productivity software for small businesses and I loved it! I used it to send quotes, contracts and invoices, it has a time log and an amazing bookkeeping section. 17hats helped me establish workflows and email templates, keep a calendar, to-do list, and reminders, and even let me create online questionnaires. I know I haven’t even touched on all of its functionalities and while it’s not 100% perfect (they are working on improvements and idea implementations all the time) it’s as good as a one-stop-shop gets and it saves a lot of time.Apple Notes
While I’ve tried many task management systems, like Trello and Notion, I ultimately settled on good old Apple Notes. This free app helps me run my business and collaborate with my VA on everything from everyday communication, to-Do tracking, project planning, collaborative editing, customer feedback, and content archiving. Read more about why we love it.
