Being an entrepreneur is an inarguably difficult undertaking. It takes a great deal of time, dedication, patience and sacrifice. This is why it should come as no surprise that so many ultra-determined entrepreneurs struggle with feeling fulfilled and satisfied while working as an entrepreneur.
While this career path can come with its challenges, it doesn’t mean there aren’t things that any entrepreneur can do to bring a little more joy to their lives.
Here are five easy things that happy entrepreneurs do to make sure they are relax, fulfilled and of course happy each and every day:
1. They make their ideal work environment
There are so many working professionals today who have one major issue with their job: they don’t like the working environment. Whether it is the physical space they are in, the people they are around or the culture they work in, if you don’t feel relaxed and comfortable at your work space, you will never truly feel happy.
This is why one of the best things that an entrepreneur can do for themselves is create their own ideal environment. Take the time to create an environment that works for you and that makes you happy, after all you are the boss.
So whether it’s certain rules or hours, a certain color on the wall, an open concept, or anything in between, make sure to focus first on creating an environment that makes you happy, a lot of other things will fall into place once you do.
“Entrepreneurs have a great ability to create change, be flexible, build companies and cultivate the kind of work environment in which they want to work.” – Tory Burch
2. They take advantage of their flexibility
Entrepreneurs are really tied down to their work and their office in many ways, but they are also granted a certain amount of flexibility in many ways as well. If you truly want to be happy, make sure that you take advantage of the breaks that you can take.
You are in charge of your company which means you are in charge of how much or how little you work. There are so many entrepreneurs that are willing to do whatever it takes to find success, which often means living in their offices, working 90+ hour weeks and pushing themselves physically and mentally to their limits.
Take breaks. After all, you’ve worked hard enough to earn it. Whether it’s a longer lunch break once a week, or a vacation once a year, you need to take breaks for your own well-being. It will not only help you refocus and relax but it will help you feel happy as well.
3. Hire the right people
Hiring is a difficult topic for many entrepreneurs. You want to hire the best of the best out there so your company will succeed, but you also want to make sure that you hire people that you enjoy being around. If you find a balance between people that fit the bill on paper and people that you like, you can often find you are much happier with your work environment.
When you trust your employees to do good work and enjoy their company you are going to be much happier. After all, these are the people you will spend most of your time around.
4. Make time for their personal life
If you get so caught up in the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur, that you don’t make time for your personal life, you will never feel fulfilled or happy. You need to prioritize and make sure that you are allotting plenty of time for your family and your friends.
Your friends and family are the people that bring joy and balance to your life, they are also the people who were around before you ever started your business and the ones that will be around when you are done working. If you don’t find time for them it can not only add strain to your relationships but prevent you from being as happy as you can be. Don’t forget to also take time for working on yourself such as through meditation or positive affirmations.
5. Learn to say no
One of the biggest reasons that entrepreneurs today feel so un-happy is because they are so busy, stressed and bogged down with numerous different responsibilities. A simple solution? Learn to say no. You may feel obligated to say yes to everything, especially when it comes from a client, but you don’t have to.
“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” – Warren Buffet
If you learn to say no, and are realistic about the responsibilities that you can and can’t take on, you will be much happier and much less stressed with your day-to-day life.