Photo courtesy of Pexels

Photo courtesy of Pexels

According to the latest estimates, it is believed that millions of Americans are living with a mental health disorder. This might include depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or a variety of other conditions. Although mental illness is extremely common, it doesn’t have to prevent you from living a happy or successful life. From accomplished actor and director Wil Wheaton to successful entrepreneurs and boss babes including Queen Bey herself, some of the most well-known people in the world are living with anxiety, depression and similar conditions. In fact, pursuing your dreams and running your own business might be some of the best things you can do for your own mental health.

When you think of all the ways that it is possible to curb anxiety and depression, entrepreneurship might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, as it turns out, starting your very own business in the gig economy might be an excellent way to boost your mental health while providing a happier and more fulfilling lifestyle. We’ll share some reasons behind this but first, it’s helpful to define the gig economy. This fairly new term refers to contract or freelance work. If you know anyone who has started a side hustle or quit their day job to launch their own business, they’ve probably been part of this emerging trend.

For those living with a mental illness of any type, there are numerous benefits to starting your own business. The flexibility of being your own boss can help reduce excessive stress and anxiety in some people. You’ll be able to schedule the hours and days that you work, essentially building a career around your lifestyle – and not vice versa, which has become the acceptable standard in our society.

Of course, in order to be successful at anything, you’ll need to have some dedication and structure. Anxiety can still come into play for business owners, so it’s important to find ways to reduce it. For example, you may feel uncomfortable working in a shared office space with many people. This can be solved by working from home. Ideally, you’ll want to maintain a professional office space to keep your work and personal life separate. This means dedicating a good amount of space that’s free from distractions. If you don’t have room in your home, you can build an office outside using steel materials. Pre-engineered steel buildings are more durable and last longer than wood ones, and you can build it yourself without having to hire a contractor.

You’ll also want to consider project planning, prioritization and time management. Any business owner should understand the importance of keeping your appointment schedule running smoothly. It can be difficult to manage your time, especially as your schedule fills up with client meetings, sales calls and interactions with business partners, contractors, networking events, and other tasks that must be added to your calendar. As you scale your business, you’ll need ways of handling the growing number of appointments on your calendar. To save your sanity, you might consider using one of the many appointment reminder apps that are currently available today.

To further reduce your stress and cut down on your anxiety, consider getting a business credit card. Doing so will make it easier to separate your business and personal finances, as well as give you an idea of where you’re spending your money. Also, a business credit card can help you tremendously come tax time, which can be a headache for anyone just starting out. However, given the vast number of cards currently available to business owners, it’s important to check out business credit card reviews to make sure you’re getting the right one.

While running a business is definitely a lot of work and comes with its own unique set of stresses, it can be a welcomed break from your 9-to-5 job. People who work for themselves, whether as a side hustle or as full-time freelancers and entrepreneurs, often experience lower stress levels. Because stress is a major factor in most mental health conditions, stepping into the gig economy could potentially be one of the best decisions you could make for your peace of mind and your own mental health.

Article provided by

Brad Krause