T he threats to female- led businesses prior to 2020 have amplified as the need for unpaid childcare, homeschooling, and family responsibilities were added to an already challenging workload for woman entrepreneurs. The Business Development Bank of Canada Wellness Report* highlights that two-thirds of business owners are feeling low energy and tired at least once a week since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite the fatigue and distress of COVID-19, female entrepreneurs continue to show up in their businesses while managing the financial, family, and fight that comes with navigating the business world. Entrepreneurs are accustomed to the stress, challenges, and uncertainty of owning and growing a business. Tenacity, drive, and determination are the foundational traits of many entrepreneurs which have carried them through turbulent changes, stress, and uncertainty. Humans, by nature, are not made to withstand the long-term effects of stress. Worry, anxiety, and stress can have lasting effects on one’s physical and psychological health. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the more prolonged and more extensive the stress, the greater the risk of anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and other mental illnesses. Stress can severely impact physical health, and is connected to headaches, stomach issues, and a weakened immune system.
WHAT IS WITHIN OUR CONTROL
Empowering ourselves to focus on what we can control can shift one’s perspective from a stress mindset to a coping mindset. Keeping strict daily routines, prioritizing commitments, and organizing various tasks significantly reduce anxiety and create predictability. Practicing structured sleep hygiene, restarting a gratitude practice, engaging in everyday movement, and finding time to get outside are the fundamental self-care practices to employ to reduce additional stress. Even in the smallest forms, finding time for enjoyable activity can redirect stress responses and improve mood.
Magan MacDonald is a private therapist and professional trainer at Your Life Design Inc., a Prince Edward Island-based company offering online therapy and training. She also holds a position with the PEI Public Schools Branch. Magan has bachelor’s degrees in Family Science, Education, and Social Work. She also has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto and is a Ph.D. candidate at Queens University. She has provided training to hundreds of professionals during the COVID pandemic. She specializes in working with children and their parents, young adults, couples, and families. She lives in Charlottetown with her partner and their three preschool children.
HOW WE CAN CONNECT
Connection with others can reduce perceived stress and diminish stress hormones. Connections can include playing a game with a family member, walking with friends, visiting a local shop, and spending time with pets. In-person and virtual contact focused on empathy and connection can help to reframe stress and improve mood. Sharing one’s personal experience with others can foster a sense of belonging, community, and connectedness.
HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE
When things seem overwhelming, collaborating with a therapist is a safe and proactive way to address prolonged toxic stress and prevent further disruptions to mood and mental health. Mental health therapists create safe spaces to provide individuals with support tools, resources, and skills necessary to navigate challenges in their business and personal life.
www.yourlifedesign.ca 902.316.0745
*https://www.bdc.ca/en/about/analysis-research/canadian-entrepreneur-mental-health-well-being-report
SPRING 2022 www.pei-living.ca
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