I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard successful business owners say that they feel like they’re drowning. The irony is brutal, they’ve built something amazing, but it’s slowly killing them.
Work-related stress accounts for over half of all sick days in the UK, yet most of us treat the symptoms rather than the cause. We download meditation apps, book spa weekends or promise ourselves we’ll start that gym membership. But what if the real solution lies in fixing how we actually work?
When Success Becomes Self-Destruction
Your body wasn’t designed to live in a constant state of fight-or-flight, yet that’s exactly what happens when you’re juggling endless decisions, putting out fires and trying to be everything to everyone in your business.
The headaches that won’t shift, the 3am wakeups with your mind racing, that knot in your stomach that’s become so familiar you’ve forgotten what it feels like without it. These aren’t just “part of the job” – they’re warning signs your body is sending you.
Why Business Coaching Actually Works
Here’s what most people don’t realise; the stress isn’t coming from having too much to do. It’s coming from not knowing what to do first, how to do it well or whether you’re doing the right thing at all.
A good business coach doesn’t just give you a pep talk and send you on your way, they help you build systems that stop the chaos before it starts.
Getting Your Head Straight
The worst part about business overwhelm is that foggy feeling where everything seems urgent and nothing seems clear. You know you need to prioritise but when everything feels important, where do you even start?
This is where having an outside perspective becomes invaluable, someone who can look at your situation without the emotional attachment and help you see what actually matters. Once you have clarity on your real priorities, that suffocating feeling of being pulled in ten directions starts to lift.
Making Decisions Without the Drama
Every day brings dozens of decisions, from tiny operational choices to major strategic moves. By afternoon, your brain feels fried from all the mental gymnastics.
The game-changer is having frameworks – simple, reliable ways to evaluate options quickly. Instead of agonising over every choice, you develop patterns of thinking that help you decide with confidence and move on. It’s like upgrading from dial-up to broadband for your decision-making process.
Actually Trusting Your Team
If you’re like most business owners, you probably think it’s easier to just do everything yourself. After all, no one cares about your business like you do, right?
But here’s the thing – that mindset is what’s keeping you trapped. Learning to delegate isn’t just about freeing up your time. It’s about building a business that can run without you being the bottleneck for every single decision.
The relief that comes from knowing your team can handle things is transformative. Suddenly, you’re not the superhero holding everything together through sheer willpower.
Learning to Say No (And Mean It)
Time management isn’t about cramming more into your day – it’s about protecting what matters most. But saying no is harder than it sounds, especially when you’re worried about disappointing people or missing opportunities.
A coach helps you get comfortable with boundaries. Not the wishy-washy kind that crumble at the first sign of pressure, but real ones that stick. The kind that let you leave work at work and actually enjoy your evenings again.
What Happens When the Pressure Lifts
The changes don’t happen overnight, but when they do come, they’re remarkable. Clients tell me about sleeping through the night for the first time in years, about having energy to go for walks again, about actually enjoying dinner with their family instead of mentally running through tomorrow’s to-do list.
Your body has an incredible capacity to heal once you stop putting it under constant siege.
Your Body Starts Working With You Again
Those persistent headaches start to fade. Your digestion improves because you’re not eating lunch at your desk while frantically answering emails. You stop getting every bug that goes around the office because your immune system isn’t running on fumes.
Even the physical tension you carry – that permanent knot between your shoulder blades – begins to release when your mind isn’t constantly braced for the next crisis.
Getting Your Life Back
But the real transformation happens in how you show up for the people who matter most. You’re more patient with your team because you’re not constantly firefighting. You’re actually present during family time because your mind isn’t elsewhere.
Many business leaders discover they’re not just better at work – they’re better humans.
Building Something That Lasts
The goal isn’t just to feel better right now – it’s to create a way of working that serves you for the long haul. The systems and habits you develop become second nature, which means you don’t have to rely on willpower or motivation to keep stress at bay.
Think of it as future-proofing your sanity.
Finding Someone Who Gets It
Not all business coaches are created equal. You want someone who’s been in the trenches, who understands what it’s actually like to run a business, not just someone who’s read about it in textbooks.
Look for coaches who combine real business experience with a practical approach. Someone like Ruth Badger from Ruth Badger Consultants, who brings decades of hands-on business experience with a no-nonsense style that cuts through the fluff and gets results.
Time to Stop Waiting
If you’re reading this whilst feeling that familiar knot in your stomach, take it as a sign. Your body is trying to tell you something important – that the way you’re currently working isn’t sustainable.
The good news is that you don’t have to choose between business success and your health. With the right support, you can have both. But, the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to undo the damage.
Your future self – the one who sleeps well, feels energised, and actually enjoys running their business – is counting on the decision you make today.