Let's talk about Mental Health & Micro Business.

There's no doubt that running a small business with 0-9 employees (that's a micro business folks) is one hell of a journey right now. Bills are going up, customers are more cautious and the help out there for this size of business remains patchy at best.

So, it's not surprising that mental health can take a nose dive. Micro business owners are not only carrying a lot as they run their enterprise, but they are likely to be more alone and isolated that those with teams and lots of work colleagues (although leader isolation is real for everyone).

Given that 98% of all private business in the UK is micro in size, equating to 5.2 million businesses, it seems appropriate that we talk about mental health for small business owners as a real and meaningful topic. This isn't just about learning to take a yoga class after work.

What does good a good mental health strategy looks like for a micro business?

• Understanding that the micro business owner is the number 1 asset in a business is key. Learning to strategise how you look after that asset like a piece of expensive machinery or precious IP is a priority.

• Never underestimating the power of connection. In a world that worships 'big is better' it can feel like 'networking' and finding powerful peer connection is just for the big guns. Taking time to share experiences & leaning into a peer group of other micros is essential to lighten the load.

• Building in extra capacity really works. Micros tend to 'do it all' in their business. For boot strapping, this makes sense, but for mental wellbeing, it can take a toll. Outsourcing can help (book keepers, website support, social media help) as well as keeping the business model lean and efficient - being strategic works!

• Fit in some fun. Running a business feels (& is) very serious. Bills to pay, dreams to achieve all feels big and falling short hurts. But...finding a community to share ideas with over a cuppa, and learning to giggle about the madness of small business ownership can really make a difference to creativity.

• Coaching can unlock a great mindset & develop resilience. We service our laptops, keep our software updated and pay for the latest tech, but do we do this for ourselves? Investing in a great business coach can not only provide valuable support, but can develop your thinking and approach to life itself in a whole new way.

If some of these points are resonating and you're a micro business owner in the UK, check out what Simply Club offers to support your journey every day. Join our free subscriber club or dive into our community for the price of a weekly coffee.