Being a Business-of-One has plenty of perks (hello having full control over when you work and where you work)! You get to be your own boss and be 100% in charge of the creative direction of your business – and that is empowering! But with so much responsibility on your shoulders, it’s easy to convince yourself that you need to sacrifice your free time for your business, which can quickly lead to a deep sense of loneliness.
So many solopreneurs struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness. The key is being proactive about combating it. Because when you are a solopreneur, your business is an extension of you! And if you’re not putting yourself in the position to thrive, how can you expect your company to?
We built The Parsons Entrepreneur Academy Network so solopreneurs don’t have to go it alone. It is a place to join forces with other creative entrepreneurs to learn from each other’s business experience, keep each other accountable, stay inspired, and just feel less alone.
Finding community is only one aspect, though. So let’s break down how you can take charge of those pesky feelings of loneliness from the get-go:
Mental wellness as a daily practice
Working too much, sacrificing sleep, eating poorly and abandoning your hobbies are things most solopreneurs are guilty of. And yeah, you gotta make sacrifices to start a business. It takes hustle! But mental wellness does not need to be a big ordeal! It’s the little things that can make a big difference in your mood, motivation, and energy levels.
If you work from home, there are the classic suggestions… Take a morning walk around the block before you sit down at your desk, or go out to work at a cafe to keep your routine fresh. Practicing mental wellness looks different for everyone. Maybe it looks like writing in a journal everyday, or joining a Discord channel to discuss one of your hobbies. Or, maybe, just watching a music video or movie that brings you joy can make an impact.
Remember that you are your own HR department… Therefore, keeping you happy and healthy should be a top priority!
Take time to get out of your bubble
When you’re spending all day, everyday in your business’s bubble it’s easy to get a warped perspective of the entrepreneurial lifestyle. You might think it’s normal to work 12 hours a day, or to go days at a time without talking to anyone (hey, we’ve all done it, but oh boy, the burnout comes quick).
There are plenty of ways to break out of that bubble. You can find entrepreneur groups in your local community (or organize one yourself), you can join online communities (like the Parsons Entrepreneur Academy Network), or you can make time to look into the world of other entrepreneurs through interviews.
In the Parsons Entrepreneur Academy Network, we host regular interviews with creatives and entrepreneurs at all stages of growth so you can get a peek behind the curtain. We go deep in these interviews, talking about mental health, mentorship, therapy, inspiration, hustle and a whole lot more.
Just knowing that other entrepreneurs struggle with loneliness too can be enough to make you feel less isolated. And seeing how other creatives build ladders to bring themselves out of feelings of loneliness can inspire you to do the same.
The power of accountability groups
Each and every entrepreneur has their own set of experiences. Collaborative problem solving with fellow solopreneurs could shed a unique perspective that could be the spark you need to move past your roadblocks.
That’s why we launched Parsons Entrepreneur Academy’s monthly Accountability Groups. We recently finished our third group which was focused on building positive social media habits that will help you grow your business and brand online. Surrounding yourself with people who are making moves will inspire you to bring that same energy to your own business.
So, if you’re ready to break out of isolation, and be lifted up by fellow entrepreneurs – and to lift them up in turn… joining Parsons Entrepreneur Academy’s free community Network is a clear first step.
We’re always launching new Accountability Groups, and our Network members will be the first to know! It’s a powerful thing, to know you’re not alone. We’d love for you to join us.
About Parsons Entrepreneur Academy
Parsons Entrepreneur Academy was created in partnership with The New School and Parsons School of Design to give creative professionals the tools, skills, and knowledge to build a business around their passion. We developed a unique system specifically for working creatives and entrepreneurs based on three pillars: courses, community, and mentoring. Launched in January of this year, Parsons Entrepreneur Academy has been honored by Fast Company as a World Changing Idea for 2021, enrolled 621 creative professionals in our courses, hosted thousands of participants in our webinars, and has grown into a highly engaged and responsive community of over 10,000 creative entrepreneurs.
