GREAT 170 IDEA: Do Something to Reduce Stress

The entrepreneurial lifestyle is stressful, so you need to manage your stress. Maintaining your psychological health is critical to your business.

Dr. Mark Goulston, a top adviser to decision makers, author, blogger, and one of my favorite psychiatrists, shared this quiz to help you gauge your stress level.

Circle all the items that apply to you. Add up the number of items circled and check your score at the end.

1. I find myself less eager to go back to work after the weekend.
2. I feel less and less patient and/or sympathetic listening to other people's problems.
3. I ask more “closed” questions to discourage dialogue with coworkers than “open” questions to encourage it.
4. I try to get people out of my office as rapidly as possible.
5. I don't think other people take enough personal responsibility for their problems.
6. I am getting tired of taking responsibility for other people's problems.
7. My work ethic is getting worse.
8. I am falling further behind in many of the responsibilities in my life.
9. I am losing my sense of humor.
10. I find it more and more difficult to see people socially.
11. I feel tired most of the time.
12. I don't seem to have much fun at work anymore.
13. I don't have much fun outside of work, either.
14. I feel trapped.
15. I know what will make me feel better, but I just can't push myself to do it.

SCORING

• 0–4 More exhausted than stressed out
• 5–8 Beginning to stress out
• 9–12 Possibly stressed out
• 13–16 Stressed out

So what's your score? The best thing about stress is that you have the power to cope with it. If you don't do something, stress can take a terrible toll on your health.

I know, having suffered several bouts of “nervous exhaustion,” which completely wiped me out. In 2000, after launching SBTV.com (Small Business Television), I headed to Tuscany, Italy on a vacation. Unfortunately, as soon as I arrived at the lovely villa rented by my sister, Andrea, and her husband, Jeff, I collapsed. I don't remember spending five days in bed, unable to move. Lucky for me, my brother-in-law is a physician; he monitored my vital signs and kept me hydrated with Gatorade.

I recovered and was well enough to take the train to Venice for one day before flying home, but never lived down being the houseguest from hell.

So here's my advice: please take care of yourself. If you need help, see a therapist, learn biofeedback techniques, or try acupuncture. Too many people need you to be healthy and strong.