The trajectory of my profession has actually been sudden. From the structured world of astrophysics, to the whirlwind of actuality TV as The Bachelor, and now, as a sole dealer, my journey has been a masterclass in adaptability and resilience.
Whereas the general public could have seen the glamour of being on successful TV present, the fact of being a sole dealer is a distinct beast solely. It’s a journey crammed with unbelievable highs, but in addition challenges that usually go unstated, significantly relating to psychological wellbeing.
Being plucked from obscurity and thrown straight into the general public eye introduced with it a jarring change from a personal to a public life, and with that got here scrutiny, commentary and naturally ‘trolling’ that weighed closely on my mental health.
After I first transitioned into being my very own boss, there was an plain thrill. The independence, the liberty to set my very own hours and the power to pursue tasks I used to be really captivated with. After the extraordinary public scrutiny and demanding schedule of The Bachelor, the thought of extra flexibility in my working life was extremely interesting. I used to be engaged on thrilling new ventures, attending public appearances, and creating content material that felt genuine to me.
Nevertheless, as many sole merchants will relate to, the calls for of carrying each single hat in what you are promoting do take their toll. I used to be now not simply the astrophysicist or the TV persona but in addition the accountant, the advertising and marketing supervisor, the administrator, the IT help, and the consumer relations staff.
Managing these very completely different roles might be difficult and up to date analysis from Solo by MYOB reveals that for 30% of Australian male sole merchants, myself included at instances, this implies typically working evenings to make amends for administrative duties. That’s time taken away from private life, from hobbies, from merely switching off.
Past the admin overload, for some there is usually a extra complicated problem of social isolation. The solitude of being a sole dealer can imply no colleagues to bounce concepts off and no in-built help community. In actual fact, the Solo by MYOB analysis demonstrates 54% of male sole merchants report feeling lonely or remoted at instances.
I can positively relate to feeling like I used to be lacking out on the camaraderie and casual help that comes with common social interplay in a conventional office at instances. On reflection, while it was not the most important issue, I do really feel that this performed some half within the decrease moments of my private psychological well being journey over latest years. Lengthy hours and fixed calls for meant that my work-life steadiness was out of kilter and my private relationships and self-care took a again seat. Whereas I – like many others – recharge with alone time, I genuinely thrive when socialising. Dramatically chopping again how typically and the way lengthy I may spend with associates had a transparent influence on my psychological well being. We’re social creatures, and for sole merchants like me, sacrificing that connection is frequent – nevertheless it’s one thing we actually shouldn’t be compromising on.
The statistics say quite a bit: 1 in 4 (25%) male sole merchants take no holidays in any respect and for 1 in 10 (12%), it’s been three or 4 years since that they had a correct break from work. It’s maybe unsurprising due to this fact that 60% of male sole dealer respondents agree that to some extent they’re bodily or mentally exhausted by the calls for of being their very own boss. I’ve actually been responsible of working after I ought to have been resting and prioritising my psychological well being. With out the construction of a standard 9-5, the pliability of “working from dwelling” can shortly slip right into a case of “residing at work”; we are able to typically really feel responsible taking breaks and the proliferation of “hustle tradition” all through social media units a harmful precedent that in the event you’re not working, you’re dropping floor. It’s not laborious to see why exhaustion just isn’t unusual – it actually was the case for me.
As we enter Men’s Health Week in Australia, I’m a agency believer that acknowledging these challenges is step one in the direction of managing them and inspiring conversations which can unearth potential options. Being your individual boss ought to be thrilling, unlocking flexibility and new alternatives. My journey has taught me invaluable classes about prioritising psychological well being as a sole dealer and while I wouldn’t have all of the solutions, I’ve discovered the under methods have labored for me:
1. Outline your boundaries (and stick with them):
That is essential. Deal with your private time with the identical respect you deal with consumer or venture deadlines. Set up clear “working hours” and change off work-related notifications exterior of those. It’s extremely tempting to “simply ship yet one more e mail” or “shortly end this job,” however these small incursions add up. I’ve discovered designating particular instances for work and for private life, and being disciplined about it, makes an actual distinction.
2. Proactively search connection:
Fight any emotions of isolation by actively constructing a help community. This doesn’t need to be formal. It may very well be common espresso catch-ups with different sole operators, becoming a member of business teams, or just making an effort to attach with family and friends. Solo by MYOB customers, for instance, have entry to an internet group of fellow sole merchants which is usually a helpful useful resource for sharing recommendation, sensible suggestions and lowering emotions of isolation. Bear in mind, you aren’t the one one going through these challenges.
3. Grasp the artwork of delegation (or automation):
As sole merchants, we frequently suppose we have now to do every little thing ourselves, however I’ve learnt that point is your Most worthy asset. Establish duties that are a time drain or aren’t core to what you are promoting growth. Are you able to automate invoicing? Use a cell app for expense monitoring? Delegate administrative duties if possible, even when it’s just some hours every week. Instruments like Solo by MYOB are particularly designed to cut back that admin burden, liberating you up for extra significant work and fewer stress.
4. Prioritise breaks:
1 in 4 male sole merchants taking no holidays is regarding. You merely can not pour from an empty cup so scheduling common breaks, whether or not it’s a brief stroll through the day, a weekend getaway, or an precise vacation is actually essential. These shouldn’t be seen as luxuries, slightly important breaks for recharging your psychological and bodily batteries. I now consciously plan breaks, understanding they enhance my productiveness and general wellbeing.
5. Do not be afraid to ask for assist:
That is maybe an important lesson. Whether or not it’s searching for skilled monetary recommendation, speaking to a psychological well being skilled, or just confiding in a trusted pal or supportive member of the family, reaching out is an indication of energy, not weak point. There are a lot of good sources accessible, and also you don’t need to navigate these challenges alone.
Whereas being your individual boss is highly effective, being a sole dealer requires resilience, planning forward and a proactive strategy to psychological well being. By acknowledging the distinctive pressures, constructing strong help techniques, and embracing instruments that simplify processes the place potential, Aussie sole operators can attempt for a piece life that’s not solely professionally rewarding but in addition personally sustainable.
Dr Matt Agnew is a knowledge scientist (with a ardour for synthetic intelligence), astrophysicist and engineer. With educational credentials spanning the STEM (Science, Expertise, Engineering and Arithmetic) portfolio, myriad appearances throughout a wide range of media channels, and a social media profile for reaching a large and assorted viewers, Matt is a professional, passionate and fascinating scientist and ‘edutainer’.
Solo by MYOB is an all-in-one cell app for Australian sole operators, freelancers, and the self-employed, serving to with issues together with invoicing, instantaneous funds, expense monitoring and ATO-ready recordkeeping.
For extra info, please go to solobymyob.com.
The publish Roses to reality: Dr Matt Agnew reveals why prioritising his mental health has been crucial in his business journey appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.
