I talked about the stress of running a startup a couple months back. The more I talk to other founders, the more I think mental health is something we need to talk about more. Here’s how I think about it:
1/ Startup founders may not face unique problems, but they definitely face enhanced problems.
2/ With all sorts of people relying on you all the time—investors, employers, co-founders, family—you feel like you owe these people and are uncertain about whether you’ll be able to deliver.
3/ For non-entrepreneurs, it’s something they might experience during a shortened time or on a deadline, but for founders it’s just a part of your daily existence.
4/ I generally find that most things I’m worried about today I’ll either forget or remember fondly.
5/ It’s hard to keep that perspective though, so I have a few practices I apply to ensure my mental health
6/ Go for a walk, meditate for 10 minutes, exercise (3x/week for me), be transparent with a few (1-3) friends, find a therapist or coach, observe your emotions, take a (real) break, remember why you wanted this
7/ The @atriumllp team also talked to @yarbroughcam & Alyson Friedensohn about coaching, therapy and self-awareness. More from all of us on the Atrium blog: atrium.co/blog/founders-…
