Why We're Stressed as Women in Business

I'll be speaking this evening to a group of women on Why We're Stressed as Women In Business. I wrote an article on the subject once and in light of the upcoming event, I thought the ideas could bear repeating.

Stress, unprejudiced as it is, effects everyone. But as women, we tend to carry overwhelming loads and particularly as women in business, we often end up with our hands too full, unneccessary ailments and overly tensed muscles. Ladies, we need to relax. But before we do that we need to understand the culprits and then determine what we can do about it.

Today, I'll address Sipping Tea and Doing Business' Top 10 List. After being in business for 8 years and speaking to numerous colleagues, entrepreneurs and business women, this is what I've determined to be some of the Key Reasons Women are Stressed When it Comes to Business:

10. Too Much to Do and Too Little Time – Time Management is one of the most important factors in business growth and development ---- particularly for small business owners that are wearing a lot of hats. But the truth is there are only 24 hours in a day, that’s all! No matter how you count the hours or the seconds, that’s all we have and we have to do the best we can with what we have so ultimately we have to learn how to be better time managers. I know, a lot easier said than done!

9. Too Many Responsibilities - What roles are you playing today? Many of us are mothers, wives, PTA presidents, CEO’s, multi-level marketers, ministry committee members and organization chairs --- WOW! You get the picture? The truth is women tend to take on too much. Regardless of how bad you want to wear that S (SuperWoman) on your chest, I ask you to take it off, step back and stop trying to always be the Shero.

8. Inability to Focus – Is it any wonder we can’t focus with all we’re doing?! Not to mention all of the wonderful talents and interests we have. Often we’re over extended because not only do we recognize our strengths and talents, but so do others. This in turn puts us in a position of having too many distractions and ultimately not being very focused.

7. No direction, purpose or passion - When we’re out of the calling for our life, we don’t have the motivation, enthusiasm or direction we need to move forward and be progressive. Are you in an industry that you don’t enjoy? Are you fueled by the desire for money only? It’s not enough! Find your passion and purpose; that’s what keeps you going during hard times, keeps you from quitting, and keeps you on track.

6. Disorganization – Think about it ---- wouldn’t life be easier if you could just find a pen that writes, that client file on your computer or that sticky note with all your “to do’s” for the day on it? Get organized and feel that stress roll away!

5. Inadequate Support Systems – Women thrive on relationships and not having the right support systems in your life will keep you frustrated and feeling stressed. In the book, Sipping Tea and Doing Business, we use this analogy: Think of the people in your life as passengers in your car. Keep the supportive and positive people in the front seat. The people who may not truly understand where you’re coming from, but provide something positive in your life and are not a drain, in the back seat. Every now and then, you may need to make some changes in the seating arrangement. The people who are perpetually negative, drain you of your energy, and haven’t a clue about what it means to be passionate about something, need to be put out on the curb. I realize for some of you, you might be now riding alone. That’s okay ----find like-minded people, people who understand your vision, passion, and desire for building a business and allow them to be the influence in your life --- for now anyway.

4. People, people, people - Now that you've condensed and re-structured your support systems, what about everyday folk. Staff, colleagues, business partners and yes, even clients can be major stressors in our life., but people will be people and the best way to handle them is to change your reaction to them.

3. Lack of physical, emotional and spiritual balance - It’s important that we find balance in our life. Take a look at the things going on around you. Are you satisfied with your life? Are you physically, mentally and spiritually healthy? It can be very difficult to balance when you have the demands of business and life, but when you allow things to become too one-sided, it becomes unhealthy.

2. Too Many Demands – Too many demands often sound like this --- While you’re at it, can you run to the store, pick up the laundry, put a mail list together, forward this email, and on and on. This is directly tied to having too many responsibilities and playing too many roles. You will always have people asking things of you. The cure for this is to decrease the load and to learn how to say NO.

And the number one reason we’re stressed is . . .
1. Lack of Resources - This is one of the biggest stressors of all. Lack of resources may mean not enough money, not having the right equipment, and not finding the right support systems. The only way to handle this is to streamline what you’re doing, take a realistic look at where you’re at in the other categories, and learn how to be as resourceful as possible.

Read Part II of this article: http://sippingteaonline.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-were-stressed-as-women-in-business_17.html