Being an Entrepreneur Can Get Lonely. Here’s How You Can Conquer It.
Whether you’re a CEO of a large company or just starting your own business, you may find entrepreneurship a lonely journey. Bringing your vision to life takes time and commitment, but working long hours all the time can also deprive you of your need for human connection.
A 2012 study revealed that 50% of CEOs reported experiencing feelings of loneliness in their roles. Most business owners, especially during the startup phase, prioritize achieving business success over feeling happy and connected.
However, as time passes, many entrepreneurs slowly realize that suppressing their happiness for business’s sake harms their psychological well-being and affects their performance at work. That said, you cannot let your ambition be the reason that will make you feel miserable. So, here’s how you can conquer loneliness while striving for success.
1. Prioritize your relationships
We all crave human connection, but entrepreneurs sometimes isolate themselves thinking they can worry about relationships when they’ve become successful. Unfortunately, your social life does not wait for your business to get better first, and without human connection, you’re more likely to feel alone and lonely.
You need to build relationships and have someone to talk to about your feelings if you want to get rid of loneliness. And invest time in maintaining those relationships you find worth valuing because the best way to balance your entrepreneurial hustle is when you have someone to lean on when things are not going well.
2. Find like-minded people
Speaking of human connection, finding community with fellow entrepreneurs are often the best remedy to entrepreneurial loneliness. Build friendships that respect your dedication to your business and understand the consequences that come with it without being judgemental. Spending time and sharing thoughts with someone that can relate to your current circumstances can be crucial in your fight against loneliness.
3. Look after your mental, physical, and spiritual health
Prioritizing your physical and psychological well-being is essential to achieving success and happiness. Getting adequate sleep, engaging in exercise, drinking enough water, and eating a healthy diet are typical pieces of advice that can help prevent depression, stress, and feeling of loneliness. Also, strengthening your spirituality leads to more clarity in making everyday choices and more consistency in your actions.
4. Have a bucket list
One way to beat loneliness is to have something to look forward to in the future. Create a bucket list of the things you’ve always wanted to do and figure out how to pursue them while working on your business. The thought and anticipation of accomplishing the list will give you excitement and purpose each day.
5. Remember who you are
Dedication to your goals is admirable, but if you think your business affairs are more important than everything else, you might lose your friends and family. When this happens, you may question your decisions and starts to wonder if it was all worth it, making you emotionally fragile and vulnerable.
Remember that being an entrepreneur requires you to be a special kind of person — someone who’s willing to do what others aren’t. Remembering who you are will keep your confidence intact and prevent you from going into depression.
Conclusion
Though being a successful entrepreneur requires having a single, relentless focus, it doesn’t hurt for you to enjoy and socialize every once in a while. There’s nothing wrong with spending time with yourself, and there’s nothing wrong with relying on yourself to make decisions.
However, relentlessly going after your goals at the expense of human connections is something you will end up regretting. It will only make you feel more alone, lonely, and depressed. And if there’s one thing entrepreneurs can learn from this, it’s that keeping up with your relationships is crucial for your business's success and personal happiness.