Managing Worry as a Professional Organizer (Because You’re Human Too)
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Let’s be honest: owning an organizing business isn’t just about neatly labeled bins and beautifully color-coded calendars. Behind the scenes, there are a lot of questions that can keep you up at night:
What if I’m not charging enough?
What if I don’t book enough clients this month?
What if I overbook and burn out?
What if someone isn’t happy with my work?
Worry comes with the territory when you’re running your own business. And it doesn’t always stop with business, either. You might also be juggling concerns about your family, finances, health, or relationships.
A little bit of worry is totally normal – and sometimes even useful. But when it becomes constant, it can take a serious toll on your well-being. Chronic stress can contribute to anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, high blood pressure, and more. That’s why managing your stress isn’t just about feeling better – it’s about staying healthy enough to keep doing what you love.
Here are a few things that can help:
Nourish Your Body (Not Just Your To-Do List)
When you’re stressed, it’s easy to either forget to eat or reach for something quick and not-so-nutritious. But food affects your mood and energy more than we sometimes realize. Try to keep easy, healthy options on hand – and don’t forget to hydrate. (Yes, coffee counts… but so does water.)
Move Your Body (Even a Little Helps)
You don’t need to block out an hour at the gym to benefit from movement. A short walk before a client session or in between admin tasks can help clear your head and lift your mood. Personally, I’ve found that even a 20-minute walk gets my creativity flowing and helps me feel more grounded – plus I come back with more focus.
Schedule Rest (Seriously, Put It On the Calendar)
You probably encourage your clients to be intentional with their time – and the same goes for you. Build in space to rest, recharge, and do things that bring you joy. Even if it’s just reading for 10 minutes, doing a puzzle, or catching up on your favorite show, make it a non-negotiable part of your day.
I aim to keep my evenings free for personal time, unless I’m dealing with a technical emergency for one of my Website Care Plan clients or attending a business event. It’s made a huge difference in my energy and outlook.
No man on his death bed ever looked up into the eyes of his family and friends and said, I wish I’d spent more time at the office. – Author Unknown
Embrace Mindfulness (Even If You Can’t Meditate)
You don’t have to sit in silence for 30 minutes to benefit from mindfulness. Try simply pausing for a few deep breaths before a client session, or noticing your surroundings during a walk. The point isn’t to “do it right” – it’s just to give your brain a little breathing room.
I have to confess, the only time I’ve been able to meditate was as part of a yoga class, and even then, I had trouble keeping my mind clear. However, for many people, daily meditation is very effective in helping manage worry and stress.
Reach Out If You Need Support
If your worry is starting to feel overwhelming, don’t hesitate to talk to a mental health professional. Just like your clients trust you to bring order to their homes and schedules, you can trust someone else to help you sort through the mental clutter. Asking for help is not a weakness – it’s a wise investment in your well-being.
You don’t have to do it all alone.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by technology, business tasks, or the emotional weight of running a service-based business, there’s no shame in asking for support. If you’d like help managing your website or just want to connect with someone who gets it, I’m here for you.
You can’t pour from an empty container.
Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your clients. And when you feel balanced and well, your work reflects that too.
How do you keep worry in check? I’d love to know what works for you.
Photo by PheelingsMedia / Depositphotos
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Great tips, Janet!!
Prayer is my favorite stress reliever. I can give all of my stress and worry over to the God who is in control and big enough to handle the situation that I am worried about. Being grateful and thanking God and others out loud for all the things I DO have gives me a fresh perspective, too! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Tracy! That’s an especially good message today, as we Canadians are celebrating Thanksgiving. 🙂
Reiki can also help with relaxation. Speaking from experience, after my first Reiki session I was almost a different person. I didn’t “sweat the small stuff” and the overall sense of peacefulness I felt was amazing. Highly recommend it.
Sounds lovely!
stress levels are high right now..great advice!
Love this Janet! I came across a card (years ago) that had a quote about worrying on the front. At the time, my oldest son was learning how to drive. It says ” worrying does not empty tomorrow of its’ troubles, it empties today of its’ strength”. I keep that card tacked on my bulletin board.I read it if I start down the worrying path. Your suggestions to combat worrying are marvelous. Thank you for reposting this.
Ooh, I love that! So powerful! Thank you for sharing that.
This is such a stressful time, and so many small business owners are seeing their income stream dry up. I’m glad to see posts like these that acknowledge the power of stress, and how much damage it can do. I don’t even think we always realize how much stress we are carrying, and the toll that is taking on our health. I agree with Tracy and believe that prayer helps put things in perspective, as well as all the other suggestions you have made. Just getting outside to see the sunshine (if it is shining!) can help as well.
For me, seeing the sunshine makes all the difference in the world. It’s helped me to realize that, so when I’m down, I can usually attribute it to the weather. Now I just need a trick to shake it off when that happens.
I find that adding a walk or two around the neighborhood each day helps me reduce my stress. Being in nature is important to me, so keeping plants and an outside view near my desk also helps.
I have no plants, but I also take a couple of neighbourhood walks most days (dogs are good for that!) and love the view from my desk.
Just realized that’s not entirely true – I bought a poinsettia before Christmas that is still going strong.
Ding, ding, ding! So much of what you said resonated with me. Worry and anxiety can result in us doing the exact opposite of what we need. Some of that doing what isn’t best for us happens when we stop being mindful of our choices. For me, when I’m aware, I ingest the foods that are good for me. When I’m at the height of worry, that breaks down. Meditating, doing yoga, walking outside help me practice my mindful muscles. Is it foolproof? No. I’m human. But they do help as great reminders and practice during my day. They help me return to healthier, positive habits.
You’re so right about worry and anxiety leading us to the opposite behaviours of what we need – I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I know when I’m feeling stressed out, I tend to take shorter walks to “get it over with” when in fact a longer walk will do wonders for my state of mind.
Thank you for these helpful tips, Janet! I find that exercising and eating healthy help me to manage worry. The actions you describe in this blog can be especially important for everyone during this Coronavirus pandemic.
I thought so and am glad I remembered I’d written it! One of the downsides of blogging for so long is that you lose track of your older content.
Oh boy! You are so spot on. A friend of mine used to say if worrying helped you wouldn’t have to keep doing it. But we’re only human.
I don’t think I could stop worrying if something is really pulling at me. I might bite my nails or turn to comfort food. Here’s what does help. I feel better after I exercise. I have my go- to circle that I’ll share with, and I’ll meditate or pray. I find that always helps.
Exercise, meditation and prayer seem to be popular coping strategies. Glad you’ve found a few that work for you that are healthier options than nail-biting or overeating! (I know you didn’t say overeating, just trying to be dramatic…)
Excellent strategies, Janet. I’d add one more — share your vulnerability with clients. I think we have such a temptation to put our Best Face(book) Forward, and the problem is that people end up comparing their “insides” to everyone else’s “outsides” and it creates more distress. Talking to my mastermind group and sharing with my friends and colleagues makes me feel more at ease. Other than that, I’m walking. Lots and lots of walking. I have logged enough miles to get halfway to you in Canada, Janet! But I think it’s getting a teeny bit easier each day.
That’s a really good one, Julie. Letting our clients know what we’re going through not only helps relieve stress; it’s also a good way to show your authenticity and grow your relationships. I too am finding it’s getting easier as we all settle into this lifestyle.
I can’t believe it’s been more than five years since I left that comment, but it remains true. “Fake it ’til you make it” is a fine policy as you’re learning, but nobody wants to feel like a fake version of themselves. We need to follow all of your wise self-care advice (and at me to the list of people who can’t meditate), but we also have to allow ourselves to be honest and vulnerable.
Hydrated, watered, and box-breathing (but not meditating), I’m doing my best, one day at a time. Thanks for the great reminders!
I think there are some lessons we need to read or hear over and over again.
I see myself in several on the list. A couple of needs: I need to eat a little better and I need to do more exercise. I have taken up meditation and it has really helped my stress level.
I’d like to learn to meditate – it’s very hard for me to just “be” and not be doing something.
The one thing that really helps me to destress is cleaning. Or, cleaning and organizing. Those two activities keep my brain occupied and gives me control of the things around me. By the time I’m finished, I’m too tired to worry! ?
That’s a great idea and you’re killing two birds with one stone. (Are we still allowed to say that or will PETA come after me?)