How to run a business whilst dealing with anxiety and grief?
Social Media entrepreneur normalises balancing mental health and running a business.
Text: Shin Yee Koh & Maria Frances Marinay
Maria Frances Marinay, Co-Founder at beige.social
In our new column, ‘Wellness at Work’, we interview a range of small business owners and entrepreneurs to find out how they deal with their health whilst running a business, bringing up a family and ‘having it all’. In the spotlight this week is the ever-so-lovely Maria Frances Marinay, Co-Founder at beige.social - a social media agency for conscious brands. Maria and her team help conscious brands in the F&B, lifestyle, wellness and sustainability spaces to strengthen trust, build an engaged community. Maria is passionate about conscious living and authenticity on social media and often discusses mental health issues, especially among entrepreneurs and social media professionals. Read on for her words of wisdom on dealing with anxiety, making time and why comparison is the thief of joy.
Allocate time for yourself
"I try my best to set aside some time in the morning to do things that I love. After enjoying a simple breakfast with my husband, I spend time reading, journaling, meditating, devoting and moving my body. With a busy schedule, sometimes I get carried away and do work straight away. Still, even in these moments, I allow myself to go with the flow and make time for myself later in the day, whether taking a longer lunch break or ending early to attend a yoga or barre class."
Dealing with anxiety
"As an overachiever, I've struggled with anxiety from an early age without even realising it. Back then, anxiety and mental health issues weren't acknowledged where I grew up. Only when I moved and lived abroad did I come to acknowledge the issues I was dealing with. Last year was probably the toughest one - trying to run a business in a foreign country whilst dealing with a number of personal issues, which included losing my mum to cancer - it was a challenging year, and my anxiety became worse; it manifested physically as well. I am in the process of overcoming it, and what I believe really helped me is tuning in to myself. Self-awareness, learning my triggers, and putting clear boundaries in place all helped manage my mental health."
Never compare yourself to other peoples’ journeys
"My advice is never to compare yourself to other peoples’ journeys. Growth and healing look different for everyone: some advice might work on one person but may not work for you. Some people may look like they are doing it and having it all, but we don't know what their life looks like outside the public eye. Give yourself grace and allow yourself to go through your own journey. The only person you should compare yourself to is your older self - look at how far you've come. You're amazing."
