As a small business owner there is much to enjoy about being your own boss such as the freedom to make the decisions and the autonomy to run the business your way. Following your passion can help you to feel good and be productive and can also contribute positively to your mental health.
But anyone who has run a small business knows that there are also a range of stressors or challenges too. Putting in long hours, feeling isolated, worrying about cash-flow and all that decision making can come with a sense of great responsibility. On top of that, there can be external factors outside your control that influence your business or the demands on your time too.
Today is R U OK Day and a good day to assess how mentally healthy your workplace is.
The mental wellbeing of people at work is good for everyone and enhances personal and organisational resilience, and success. Everyone has a role to play both in looking after their own mental health and creating a mentally healthy workplace.
The headsup.org.au website has some fantastic resources to help small businesses, business owners and their employees in achieving a mentally healthy workplace.
Download some of their resources:
- Supporting Small Business owners to improve their mental health and wellbeing at work
- Developing a workplace mental health strategy
- Actions for small business owners to improve their mental health and wellbeing
- Creating a Workplace Wellbeing Plan – Download the Word Doc
If you think that someone may be struggling, start an R U OK? conversation by using these four steps:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage Action
- Check in
Visit ruok.org.au for more information on learning the signs and finding help.