Daily habits to improve mental health from entrepreneurs & CEOs
Managing your business and your mental health comes hand-in-hand with success
Text: Lynda Williams
These successful women tell us how they manage their mental health (Credits: L-R, Dr. Aparna Chari Sundar, Chris Edwards, Anju Cawthra)
Have you ever looked at someone successful and wondered, how do you do it?
Though they may seem put-together on the outside, what's going on in their minds might be another story. For Mental Health Awareness Day, we checked in with many of the business owners at Launchpad, a brilliant community of entrepreneurs building businesses, and listened to honest stories about their mental health. 95% of the small business owners we spoke to experienced their own mental health struggles - from mothers who wear dozens of hats in a day, to self-starters fiercely working on passion projects. They shared some really helpful insights on how they juggle their mental health with running a busy business - here's what else they had to say:
"One thing common to every entrepreneur is resilience," notes Joan Kathryn Lim, Founder of House of Pumpkin, a creativity-driven brand that creates bespoke knitwear for children. "The secret is not to confuse resilience with burnout.”
When asked how they finally knew it was time to pay attention to their mental health, Holistic Career Coach Josephine Corcoran shares: "The more negative thoughts I was living with, the worse my [lymphedema] would get."
And she wasn't the only one. For example, 75% of respondents shared that their mental health struggles would manifest in their bodies - from mouth ulcers and exhaustion to anxiety and depression. Many took these as signals from the body to slow down before things got worse and here are some great tips to how they navigated their health:
When asked how to start the day:
● 50% recommended exercise, moving is always a great way to increase the happy hormones in our body and support mental health
● 25% ascribed to experiencing nature, which is proven to support mental health
● 15% practiced gratitude via a journal
"Start the day with a walk - somewhere green or scenic!" -Anju Cawthra, Director at Seasoned Singapore Expat Women.
Proven ways these entrepreneurs also shared that really helped when they were struggling:
● Set proper boundaries in both home and work life (45%)
● Seek help from a professional (30%)
● Lessen screen time (15%)
"[Social media] made me exhausted mentally. I found my balance when I started prioritising my time around it. I [check] once in the morning, and another in the evening, [so] it doesn't overwhelm me anymore."
- Swati Singh, Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified Nutrition and Health Coach at Wellness with Swati
"I know I can't be good at everything, and I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help! Being on a wellness path is a journey, and I want to make it enjoyable so it's sustainable for my lifestyle and attainable in the long-term."
-Dr. Aparna Chari Sundar, Founder of Global Mindful Journey
Prioritising business owners' mental health was one of the main motivations behind Launchpad, says Founder and CEO, Chris Edwards. "[Our community] is a great way to protect your mental health while also making time to take stock with our check-in calls, meditation, and journaling sessions. I believe this can truly transform one's entrepreneurial journey - making it more successful and enjoyable."
Make sure to check-in with your community and protect your mental health (Credits: Pexels)
Listening to the young and seasoned entrepreneurs at Launchpad points to a truth that is widely known but rarely applied: taking care of yourself creates a ripple effect on everyone around you. As they say, if your cup isn’t full - how can you give to others at work and in your personal life?
"A better you means a better family and a better business," says Mdm. Aysha Iqbal, mother and Founder of ABCs of Tamil for Kids – Singapore. "[Taking time for yourself] doesn't mean you do not care about the rest - in fact, it is the exact opposite. If you cared about them, you would also care for yourself."
How about you? When was the last time you put your mental health first? For more tips on how to manage your mental health visit our full section here.
