My business is struggling due to my mental health problems

What steps can I take to protect my business and my health?

Stress, financial worries and an unhealthy work-life balance are common complaints of company directors. But whether your business is causing your mental health issues or simply suffering because of them, there are steps you can take to get you and your company back on track. 

Why do company directors struggle?

Running your own business isn’t easy, and if you feel like it’s taking its toll, you’re certainly not alone. A new study has highlighted the struggles of company directors and found that more than half have experienced poor mental health over the past 12 months. 

That’s not surprising given that business owners work longer hours on average, take less time off and don’t get as much sleep as employees. Those long hours, combined with the lack of sleep and the financial worries, can damage your business’s performance and your state of mind.

My mental health is affecting my business - what can I do?

If you feel like your mental health is hindering your business’s progress, taking a step back from the situation can provide some much-needed clarity. Even if it’s just for a few days, putting a little distance between you and the business can alleviate the pressure and give you time and space to decide on the best course of action.

It’s also important to try and keep things in perspective. Every business experiences good and bad periods, and all sorts of catalysts can make you feel like you’re losing control. A key employee resigning, squeezed cash flow, a declining market and losing a major customer can all feel like a disaster for your business, but they are all challenges businesses can and do recover from.

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Seek professional financial advice

When you’re in the thick of it and feel like there’s no way out, you can lose the motivation to manage the business’s accounts and general activities properly. That can lead to poor debt management and increasing debts, which will only add to your problems. 

The best approach here is to seek professional help at the first sign of a problem. Whether you simply want to discuss your issues or need advice and input, a licensed insolvency practitioner can listen, assess your financial position and talk through your options. Getting an expert’s view of the problems you face and the potential solutions to could be enough to turn your situation, and your business, around. 

Get medical advice

Admitting that you’re struggling is not a sign of weakness. If you’re suffering from mental health issues that are caused by or are affecting your business, you should seek help from a medical professional. 

Simply talking to someone who is not involved in your personal or professional life can help to lift the anxiety you’re feeling. As well as practical advice around sleep, general health and your working hours, they may also prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms.

Practical tips if mental health is affecting your business

Life as a company director can be overwhelming. If you’re burnt out or can feel the stress and anxiety mounting, here are some practical steps that may help.  

• Act now before things get worse. Burying your head in the sand and working long hours might feel like the right thing to do, but it may not help you or the business. 
• Delegate some tasks to reduce your workload and give you some much-needed time off.
• If you can’t delegate, consider whether there are specific tasks or entire functions that you can outsource. 
• Separate the business from you as a person. The business may be struggling at the moment but you are not a failure. All businesses struggle from time to time.
• Look after yourself physically and take the time to exercise, eat well and get as much sleep as possible.
• Take steps to improve your work-life balance and spend more time doing the things you love. 
• Talking about your problems is a very effective form of therapy. Whether you speak to friends and family or business finance and medical professionals, there are plenty of face-to-face and online options out there. 

Get a same-day consultation

Having a clear understanding of your problems and the potential solutions can make a big difference to your outlook. We have spoken to hundreds of company directors in your position and can offer professional guidance to help you to turn things around. Call our team for a free, same-day consultation to protect your business and your health.