9 Tips To Get Past The Overwhelm Of Starting

Starting out, especially as a solopreneur, can be daunting, to say the least. Even for people who love challenges and are a fan of change, the uncertainty involved in startups can become a barrier while pursuing their dreams.

 

However, it shouldn’t stop you from giving it your all. Sounds easier said than done? Well, to help you get past the overwhelm of starting your own business, we have shared some effective tips today. If you follow them, you can rest assured that you will be able to conquer your fears and achieve success in your business. 

 

Now, without further ado, let’s get started.

 

9 Tips To Get Past The Overwhelm Of Starting

1. Have Patience

 

First and foremost, you need to have patience. Things will be a bit difficult in the initial stages, be it getting clients or important projects, and the enthusiasm of starting out may soon turn into frustration.  

 

But know that with time and experience, you will start doing better and progress as you expected. 

 

So, the next time you are waiting in a line to get your favorite burger or stuck in traffic, practice patience. It’s only by practicing patience with non-work stuff you will be able to become more patient with the process of being a successful solopreneur.     

 

2. Reach Out For Help

If you are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help from people in the startup community. We bet you’d be surprised to find out how friendly, compassionate, and supportive they are. 

 

3. Visualize Your Triumph

Take a piece of paper and pen and jot down the things you want to achieve. Then ask yourself questions like what type of projects you want to work on or what kind of workspace you want to work in. Believe it or not, when you visualize your success, you work harder to accomplish it. 

 

Creating a vision board or even a 5-year plan can be very helpful!

 

4. Get Knowledge

Another way to get past the overwhelm of starting new is by acquiring knowledge and skills that will help you start gracefully and eventually grow your business. 

 

There are tons of resources available online such as training programs, online courses, and ebooks that can provide you with the required knowledge on solopreneurship.

 

5. Gain Clarity

In this competitive world, we are often so wrapped up in our can’t-do attitude that we fail to realize our true potential. When you feel overwhelmed, make sure that you step outside of your own head to gain some clarity.

 

Find out what exactly is making you feel overwhelmed, and don’t be too harsh on yourself about this. 

 

We bet the reason isn’t that you don’t have what it takes to become a solopreneur or you don’t have enough time. It’s quite likely that you are overwhelmed by the expectations that you have put on yourself, or maybe you are burnt out and need to take a break. 

 

Journaling why you’re feeling overwhelmed will give you some intriguing insights. 

 

6. Create A Plan

Moving on, you need to plan how you will get things done once you have set up your business. You just need to make sure every task is completed one at a time. If you already have clients and are working on projects, be sure not to miss the deadline and be generous with your expectations.

 

Not only does setting deadlines motivate you to work efficiently, but it also helps reduce a tendency for perfectionism as you have to submit the projects even when you are not ready to.  

 

7. Break Down Your Goals

We often set a big project or goal for ourselves, And then tend to focus on the end result instead of learning from the process and journey, not knowing that it overwhelms us even more.

 

Remember negating the experience and the process it took to get where you are today is not a good idea because it doesn’t prepare you for the adversities in business. So, break down whatever it is that is overwhelming you into small goals and write them down on a piece of paper. 

 

When you get all the mental clutter out of your head and jot it down on a piece of paper, it could help prove therapeutic and lighten your load. The moment it’s all out in front of you, you can deal with it better.

 

8. Let Go

As a solopreneur, you will experience more downs than ups in the initial stages of your career. Hence, it’s best to adopt a letting-go and carefree mindset right from the get-go. You can do anything, but not everything. So, make sure that you align your focus with the projects that matter the most to minimize overwhelm.

 

Also, keep in mind that you always have a choice over how you use your time, which is the most valuable resource. Despite how much pressure your clients put on you, you always have the option of saying no since you are a solopreneur. Therefore, be judicious about how you spend your time and make the most of it.

 

9. Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, nobody knows you better than you do. Your former colleagues and bosses may tell you that you’re nuts for leaving a fat-paycheck job and starting your own business, but trust your gut and take action accordingly.

 

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There you have it; those were the top nine tips on how to get past the overwhelm of starting.  

 

While starting out can be scary, it is not impossible by any means. Finish one task at a time and follow these tips if overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.

Written by Zaina Meher Kadiri for Gray Line Media
(August, 2022)