3 Pros on How to Handle Stress and Build Resilience in Busy Times
Home professionals share tips on managing time and priorities in order to thrive at work
These past couple of years have given us all a master class on stress — and small-business owners have shouldered more than their fair share of it. We asked three home professionals to reveal how they have developed resilience during stressful times and to share their tips. We’d love to hear your words of wisdom in the Comments as well.
“I heard something powerful recently. A friend told me to control my ‘controllables,’ set myself small goals to celebrate the wins and try to learn from mistakes. This has helped me keep looking forward as a small-business owner,” Duval says.
“Setting a clear schedule for working hours has helped me reduce stress levels because it has given back valuable time with family. I have learned that valuing my own time and family time are just as important as my career.
“Also, learning to understand that not every client will value a design fee as a tangible service and that discounting in order just to get a job is not the best advice I can give myself,” she says.
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“Setting a clear schedule for working hours has helped me reduce stress levels because it has given back valuable time with family. I have learned that valuing my own time and family time are just as important as my career.
“Also, learning to understand that not every client will value a design fee as a tangible service and that discounting in order just to get a job is not the best advice I can give myself,” she says.
Learn about Houzz Pro software
“Without the skills of stress management, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with the demands of running your own business,” says Jung Yun, principal interior designer at Studio Jung. “By staying calm, you can remain focused on your objectives and keep your problem-solving hat on.
“All this helps build resilience and your overall sense of achievement at the end of each day,” Yun says.
“I think we’ve all experienced the stress of dealing with the impacts of COVID. For me, the usual stress of running my own business has been compounded by the demands of homeschooling. It adds a whole new level to the need for stress management skills and resilience.
“I have had to mindfully develop strategies that help deal with the challenges and make a positive difference to my life,” she says.
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“All this helps build resilience and your overall sense of achievement at the end of each day,” Yun says.
“I think we’ve all experienced the stress of dealing with the impacts of COVID. For me, the usual stress of running my own business has been compounded by the demands of homeschooling. It adds a whole new level to the need for stress management skills and resilience.
“I have had to mindfully develop strategies that help deal with the challenges and make a positive difference to my life,” she says.
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“You have to manage expectations and distractions,” says Kathy McKinnon, principal interior designer at Kathy McKinnon Interiors.
“Years ago I would work insane hours exploring all the options, which depleted my energy levels,” McKinnon says. “Now in those situations I step back to look at the big picture and make sure that I’m not being distracted from what needs to be done and the decisions that need to be made. I try and stay focused to work effectively to deliver the best possible design solutions for each client.”
McKinnon, Yun and Duval share their tips for managing stress and building resilience below.
“Years ago I would work insane hours exploring all the options, which depleted my energy levels,” McKinnon says. “Now in those situations I step back to look at the big picture and make sure that I’m not being distracted from what needs to be done and the decisions that need to be made. I try and stay focused to work effectively to deliver the best possible design solutions for each client.”
McKinnon, Yun and Duval share their tips for managing stress and building resilience below.
1. Build Mental, Physical and Emotional Fitness
“These things are very important to me and allow me to sustain a productive workload, while keeping me inspired and grateful to my clients for giving me the opportunity to work on their exciting projects,” McKinnon says.
“I try to take time out each day to exercise. I’m pretty disciplined and love exercising first thing in the morning.”
“These things are very important to me and allow me to sustain a productive workload, while keeping me inspired and grateful to my clients for giving me the opportunity to work on their exciting projects,” McKinnon says.
“I try to take time out each day to exercise. I’m pretty disciplined and love exercising first thing in the morning.”
2. Get Rest
“It’s important to develop good sleep patterns and know when to stop working in the evening. If I’m in a really busy period of work, I need to be able to perform well the next day and not be tired, and a good night’s sleep is essential for this,” McKinnon says.
“It’s important to develop good sleep patterns and know when to stop working in the evening. If I’m in a really busy period of work, I need to be able to perform well the next day and not be tired, and a good night’s sleep is essential for this,” McKinnon says.
3. Stay Connected
“Connecting with family, friends and your community is, I believe, the ultimate refresh button,” she says.
“Connecting with family, friends and your community is, I believe, the ultimate refresh button,” she says.
4. Be Organized
“Take time out to plan and prioritize your objectives both short- and long-term,” Yun says.
“Organizing my daily and weekly tasks helps me stay focused on my objectives so I use my time effectively. Apart from starting my day with time dedicated to assessing my schedule, emails and to-do list, I do a weekly overview of my projects and allocate my time accordingly.
“Of course, every day has its unexpected challenges, phone calls and problem-solving needs, so some flexibility needs to be built in,” she says.
6 Tips to Prevent Admin Tasks From Taking Over
“Take time out to plan and prioritize your objectives both short- and long-term,” Yun says.
“Organizing my daily and weekly tasks helps me stay focused on my objectives so I use my time effectively. Apart from starting my day with time dedicated to assessing my schedule, emails and to-do list, I do a weekly overview of my projects and allocate my time accordingly.
“Of course, every day has its unexpected challenges, phone calls and problem-solving needs, so some flexibility needs to be built in,” she says.
6 Tips to Prevent Admin Tasks From Taking Over
5. Be Realistic
“Try not to set unrealistic commitments and project deadlines to help minimize stress levels,” Yun says.
“I’ve personally had to develop the strength to occasionally say ‘no’ to clients, both potential and existing. I’m getting better at it, thankfully, so I don’t overcommit or disappoint. It’s about managing client expectations and communicating with them clearly from the start,” she says.
“Try not to set unrealistic commitments and project deadlines to help minimize stress levels,” Yun says.
“I’ve personally had to develop the strength to occasionally say ‘no’ to clients, both potential and existing. I’m getting better at it, thankfully, so I don’t overcommit or disappoint. It’s about managing client expectations and communicating with them clearly from the start,” she says.
6. Seek Balance
“Setting aside time for myself, my family and friends helps me stay balanced and reminds me of the important things in life,” Yun says.
“I tend to work late into the night on weekdays once my child goes to bed, so weekends are when I try to switch off and give myself time out,” she says.
“Setting aside time for myself, my family and friends helps me stay balanced and reminds me of the important things in life,” Yun says.
“I tend to work late into the night on weekdays once my child goes to bed, so weekends are when I try to switch off and give myself time out,” she says.
7. Be Mindful of Your Working Hours and Set a Clear Schedule
“This has helped me immensely in managing my workload and staying on track. At the start of the week, I’ll check for new projects, liaise with clients and set up expectations and the schedule for the coming week,” Duval says.
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“This has helped me immensely in managing my workload and staying on track. At the start of the week, I’ll check for new projects, liaise with clients and set up expectations and the schedule for the coming week,” Duval says.
Find out how you can communicate better with clients using Houzz Pro
8. Make Time for Family
“A daily walk with my son and our new puppy gets me out of the house and feeling the sun on my face. I use this time to chat with my son about his school day and hear what’s going on in his life,” Duval says.
“Every afternoon my husband and I have a cup of tea and bounce around what’s happing in our work lives, discuss new clients or projects, talk about anything exciting coming up, or trouble shoot. Even though we’re not in the same small businesses, we still feel like we’re working with a team member and it’s not so isolating. I look forward to this time every day,” she says.
“A daily walk with my son and our new puppy gets me out of the house and feeling the sun on my face. I use this time to chat with my son about his school day and hear what’s going on in his life,” Duval says.
“Every afternoon my husband and I have a cup of tea and bounce around what’s happing in our work lives, discuss new clients or projects, talk about anything exciting coming up, or trouble shoot. Even though we’re not in the same small businesses, we still feel like we’re working with a team member and it’s not so isolating. I look forward to this time every day,” she says.
“Houzz Pro is like my personal secretary without the additional salary. It’s the software platform that keeps me organized, on track and allows me to remember all the things I don’t,” Duval says.
“It’s perfect for everything from note taking, design ideas and everything in between. I couldn’t be happier with the functionality of the system.”
“It’s perfect for everything from note taking, design ideas and everything in between. I couldn’t be happier with the functionality of the system.”
“Houzz Pro is an invaluable time saver for me,” Yun says. “Anything that helps manage my time more effectively helps reduce my stress levels. Houzz Pro allows me to manage the administration, product sourcing/management, and presentation aspects of my projects all in a single program.
“It helps to have everything stored and linked in one central database, especially when you are handling a high number of projects at one time.”
“It helps to have everything stored and linked in one central database, especially when you are handling a high number of projects at one time.”
“It’s important to have a super-organized and efficient business in order to maximize productivity. Houzz Pro software allows me to do that,” McKinnon says. “The analytic tools are very easy to use. At a glance, I can see what trends clients are looking at and what projects they are seeking.
“It is an open communication system that utilizes a lot of useful resources, while marketing my profile and business,” she says.
Share: How have you built resilience and learned to manage stressful times? Tell us in the Comments.
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“It is an open communication system that utilizes a lot of useful resources, while marketing my profile and business,” she says.
Share: How have you built resilience and learned to manage stressful times? Tell us in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
“In the beginning, trying to please everybody and believing that I had to respond to every inquiry right at that moment left me very stressed. Also, taking things personally left me disappointed, when in reality it was more about my own expectations of myself and others,” Duval says.