Ongoing stress, and the toll it takes on your wellness, can be a real issue for many entrepreneurs, no matter how successful they are. Overwhelmed business owners should take advantage of available technologies that allow you to streamline your business and relieve some of your work-related stress without sacrificing productivity. With the help of business-friendly apps, you may even be able to do much of your work from home, which can significantly ease stress and save time.
Be more organized.
Lack of organization means a loss of time. The more organization you can implement on every level of your business, the more productive you will be, and the more time you will save. This will increase satisfaction for every member of your team, and mean more time for them and for you, whether to pursue other projects or enjoy personal time. A time-tracking app like Toggl or RescueTime will help you and your team members track your time and manage tasks more effectively. Or try Trello, a free app that will allow your team to collaborate more effectively and access helpful organizational tools. Your business will be better organized overall if each of your projects is managed meticulously, so try an app like Asana or Basecamp.
Communicate more effectively.
Especially if your workplace is operating on a remote or hybrid model, you need a little technological advantage to make up for lag in communication. A communication app like Microsoft Teams can help you all stay connected and share insights either as a group or individually, from wherever you are. Also take advantage of file sharing apps such as Dropbox or Google Drive, so you are all working with the same information and content. An app like Slack will give you different communication options as well as file sharing and video calls. Make sure all your team members have workable devices and updated software so you are all on the same page, and if necessary schedule training sessions so your employees know how to take full advantage of the tech you’ve set them up with.
Stay on top of your finances.
Keeping track of finances and making sure all your accounting and tax records are correct, can take up a tremendous amount of your time as well as mental energy. So give yourself a break and relax with the knowledge that technological tools can help you stay on top of financial management as well as avoid making mistakes that could cost your company. With the help of a finance management app such as Expensify, you can keep up with income, expense reports, and profits. Or try Wave to manage payroll and invoices. And you definitely do not want to try to manage your business without the help of accounting technologies such as QuickBooks or Xero. Payroll is one major area of headache for business owners, especially those without an accounting background. So try to find an accounting program that will manage it for you.
Market more effectively.
When it comes to marketing, it’s not about the time or money you put into it, as much as it is about the effectiveness of your campaign. Working with the skilled marketing experts at Underpin Marketing is essential, but you can also complement their work with the help of marketing-related apps. SproutSocial and Hootsuite can help you manage your social media more effectively thanks to scheduling and analytics tools. Use social listening apps Buzzsumo or Mention to track what customers are saying about your company or brand, so you can respond quickly with customer engagement or an actionable plan. You should always be utilizing analytic tools to keep a finger on the pulse of the general market as well as your target demographic. Google Analytics is great for this, but also try AppsFlyer to track performance, and AdMob for customizing user experience.
Maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Everything feels harder when you don’t feel good. And if you are physically stressed or dealing with health issues, this can lead to poor business decisions which will in turn increase your stress and anxiety. One half of dealing with work-related stress is to access tools that will help you manage your company with greater ease. But you can also deal with it by pursuing a healthier lifestyle overall. When you exercise more, eat better, and get more sleep, stressful situations seem more manageable. Aim for a more active lifestyle with the help of apps such as MapMyRun or MyFitnessPal, and make sure to secure your phone with an armband when you exercise. If you’re trying to eat healthier and more nutritious meals, apps like Nutrients or MyPlate can help you stay on target and give you useful information.
For the hard-working entrepreneur, it may often feel like there simply are not enough hours in the day to accomplish what you need to get done. But thanks to technologies that can support almost every area of your business, you may be able to look forward to decreased stress, increased productivity, and more time both for your work and for your personal life.
Written as a guest post by Sharon Wagner
