One moment, you’re happily running your business. The next, you’re unexpectedly thrust into a personal crisis like the death of a loved one, a divorce or an illness. And everything changes. Should a crisis strike in your home, you can survive by implementing these six steps:
1. Have a positive attitude. Whereas negative thoughts shut down options, positive thoughts can open you up to new ways of resolving your crisis. “The fact is, you can deal with almost anything if you put your mind to it,” say clinical psychologists the world over. Instead of saying, “I can’t handle all this. I’m going to lose my business”, say,”I can handle all this. I may need some help, but I will keep going”.
2. Define the problem, even if it seems obvious, like: “My dad is really ill”. It’s important to determine how the problem is affecting your day-to-day life. Take a look at how the situation is changing your schedule and how your relationships with others are being changed.
3. Make a list of all the things you could do to deal with your crisis. This is just brainstorming; don’t overwhelm yourself. Just choose some things you could do to get back on track. Setting aside 30 minutes for quiet time and committing yourself to one hour of marketing a day will keep you organised and sane.
4. Set up your new schedule. Choose two tasks from your list and determine how you can fit them into your routine. Do what you can, when you can. Don’t abuse yourself because then you’ll be useless altogether.
5. Work your new schedule to see how it goes. Then adjust your load until you feel like you’ve struck a balance. Are you working too much? Is cleaning the house really that important right now? Could you do more? Closely monitor your thoughts.
6. Review your list every day, and ask a trusted friend or advisor for help – or even just to listen – if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Handling stress can make you stronger and more determined – it’s a notch on your life-experience belt.
