As a business owner, it can be easy to prioritise the needs of your company over your own mental health. Your time away from the office will be minimal, and even when you are free work is never far from your mind.

This drains you over time, and with burnout being a serious issue facing a lot of business owners and their teams, it’s vital that you take enough time to take care of yourself. At Back Office we care about the mental health of both our team and our clients, so wanted to shed some light on the issue of mental health in the recruitment industry and offer a few tips that can help keep things running smoothly both in the business sense and in your personal headspace.

 

The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Mind

Temporary recruitment companies are always pushing forward. Like any business, if you take your foot off the accelerator a lot of your hard work can be undone, and you’ll have to work doubly hard to catch up to your competitors.

This is only sustainable for so long. To use a second car analogy, trying to work when you’re burnt out is like trying to drive without any petrol left. The work you do manage will be poor quality, which can lead to more stress, and so the spiral continues.

By taking time to rest, you can stay positive, reduce stress, and find creative solutions to problems. It’ll also send a good message to your team, as they know that you value your mental health and may think about their own more as a result.

However, a positive outlook can’t happen by magic. So here are a few ways you can maintain your mental well-being.

 

Practicing Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of staying present in the moment, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. It can help you to better manage stress and become aware of destructive thoughts.

It can also help to broaden perspectives on given situations and respond to difficult situations in a healthier way. There are many ways to practice mindfulness, such as meditation, yoga, and journaling – writing down your thoughts and feelings.

If you take part in some of these activities, you’ll find they benefit you as a business owner too. A clear head means better decision making and knowing how to manage a stressful situation can be useful in meetings, client negotiations, or even the hiring process.

Sport in general has a number of health benefits, both mental and physical. Companies that have sports teams see more efficient teamwork, and it creates strong bonds between people that can help during the workday.

 

Acknowledging and Celebrating Achievements

You need to take the time to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, both big and small. This can help you to stay motivated and have a positive outlook on your business.

It can be too easy to dwell on the negatives as you’re always looking at the bigger picture. Take some time to appreciate the smaller wins or look back at how far your business has come since you started. These can be private celebrations or done with your team to share the win.

Prioritising Personal Time

Being a business owner often entails long working hours, and it can be easy to forget to balance work with self-care. We’ve all been guilty of staying late at the office to get something done when it could be left until the morning.

It is important to schedule time for self-care such as going for a walk, taking time out at the gym, watching a movie, or reading a book. Giving yourself permission to switch off from business tasks is essential to maintaining mental wellbeing.

In some cases overworking can be an escape from other mental health issues, an unhealthy method that needs to be acknowledged and worked on.

 

Making Sleep a Priority

Sleep is essential for both physical and mental wellbeing. It is the time when our bodies and brains recharge and restore. Therefore, it is important to make sure you are getting enough sleep to maintain your wellbeing.

The quality of your sleep is important too. 8 hours is great on paper, but not if you took 3 to fall asleep, or woke up multiple times in the night. Setting a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding stimulants like coffee, and turning off your devices an hour before bed are all helpful tips for achieving a good night’s rest.

 

Making Time for Exercise

Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and improve your mental health. Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine can help to manage stress, relieve tension, increase energy, and increase productivity. It can also help you to connect with your body in a way that can be difficult when working long hours.

 

Connecting with People

Having a strong network of people to build relationships with is key to maintaining mental wellbeing. Taking some time to chat with clients, other people in your recruiter network, your team, as well as friends and family can be incredibly restorative. It can also be a great way to brainstorm ideas or vent frustrations, just make sure that you’re having plenty of positive conversations too, as too much ranting can only make issues worse.

 

Connecting with Nature

Spending time in nature is an effective way to reduce stress. Going for a walk in a park or forest can provide a sense of peace and help our minds to relax. Nature allows us to take time away from our work and simply be present in the moment.

This is especially important for anyone who works remotely. When your home is also your office, losing the commute can reduce the amount of exercise you do and the time you spend outside.

 

Recognising When to Get Help

If needed, seeking professional help can be of great benefit. Talking to a counsellor or therapist can help to process and manage stress and emotions more healthily. Some businesses provide mental health services such as counsellors or group therapy.

You may also need help with functions in your business. Particularly if you are setting up a temp/contractor recruitment agency or issues with your suppliers are causing a distraction from growing your business.

At Back Office Support Services we provide flexible 100% recruitment funding solutions to support temp/contractor agencies with their cash flow, processing payrolls, invoicing customers, and handling credit control.

When these stressful processes are being handled by some of the best in the business, you’re able to prioritise what matters most, whether that is other parts of your business or your health.

We take the time to get to know our clients, with a people-focused approach that builds better relationships. We want to see you succeed, but without ruining your mental health in the process. So we hope these tips have been helpful, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.