Did you know that the recession is the best time to start a side hustle or a business?
And yes, we’re officially in one right now. Cuz a recession is defined as 2 quarters of declining GDP.
So even if it doesn’t feel like it where you live, or right now it’s pretty mild, we ARE experiencing a recession RN.
So why is the recession such a great time for a new biz?
Well, I have a podcast episode completely dedicated to this –
tune in here.
Right now, people are getting scrappy. They’re getting super creative. And the smart ones look for innovative opportunities to make some money.
Because the truth is – everything is so damn expensive right now.
And, I hate to tell ya… costs aren’t dropping anytime soon. So if your credit card suddenly feels WAY heavier in your wallet, you’re not alone. We’re all feelin’ it.
This is what makes right NOW such an incredible opportunity to get smart, get resourceful… and FINALLY start that little side gig you’ve always had in the back of your mind.
I know you had at least ONE idea back there.
Well, why not use this uncertain time as an opportunity to bet on yourself and bring it to life?
I promise that it’s not as hard as you’re making it out to be in your head.
The guide is really helpful if you have an idea, but you don’t really know where to start.
Or maybe you *do* have a biz and you’re like, “Ugh shit is changing sooo fast – I gotta reconnect to my passion.”
That’s where all good ideas start… with PASSION.
Whatever you’re passionate about has the opportunity to be something amazing.
But there’s often a gap between where you are now… and that amazing feeling.
And it can cause you to feel some stress – the kind of stress that’s actually a little unique to new biz owners.
So let’s bust that stress… once and for all, mmkay?
4 Stress Relievers for New Biz Owners
#1: Notice where you carry your stress in your body.
What does stress like feel to you?
Physically where do you carry it?
When I trained as a Yoga instructor, I learned that our hips are a huge receptacle for unreleased stress.
If you’ve ever cried in a yoga class – no, not from pain or frustration LOL – but actual RELEASE of emotion… you get this.
And BTW, there’s no shame in that. It happens A. LOT.
Yoga creates flow and flow is about energy. You’re literally moving energy around in your body and your energy fields.
Yep, I’m gettin’ a little woowoo wellness on ya. LOL
Well, it’s not woowoo to me, I’ve been living and breathing this stuff for over a decade.
Point being, we all carry stress in our body and it blocks our energy.
That’s why we feel tense.
Our muscles tighten up. Our energy slows or maybe it gets super frantic.
So, when you aren’t feeling great in your mind, bod, or emotions…
Pause. Notice.
Notice where you are feeling this dis-EASE (as in lack of ease) inside your body.
- Your neck?
- Your jaw?
- Your shoulders?
- Uncomfortable sensations in your belly?
- Tight lower back?
Most of us go through the day not connecting our mental state, our emotions, and our physical experience.
But it’s all connected.
Until you become aware of your stress, you can’t make changes, right?
So if you wanna tap into the well of passion that’s inside of you… pay attention to what stress feels like in your body so you can take proactive steps to release it.
#2: Consciously move your body.
The combo of noticing energy, making a decision to release it, and then physically moving your body is SOOOOO powerful.
It’s like magic.
Our bodies aren’t meant to carry all that stress.
Our fight or flight response kicks in – channeling our energy into motion.
So you can consciously tap into this natural instinct of releasing stress energy out of your body.
Here are a few of my fav stress-busting movement practices:
- Yoga (obvi).
- F45.
- Pilates.
- Spin – which I often do on my Peloton.
- Going for a walk – which I love to do with my dog or on the beach.
I’m also getting intrigued by these new woowoo wellness techniques like infrared workouts.
You literally workout in an infrared sauna. Barre, pilates, HIIT classes… all the regular classes… but IN a sauna.
It’s supposed to be incredible for your body and your mind.
When you physically and consciously move your body, it helps to unblock that energy you don’t need.
And it creates more flow and ease, which really is where creativity, innovation, and inspiration live.
#3: Communicate your intention.
I’m gonna tell you something kinda personal.
A couple weeks ago, I had a not-so-great convo with my husband.
Long story short, he had been carrying around a bunch of stress and emotions… and unleashed them on me.
They weren’t about me or us… but to me, it kinda came out of nowhere.
And not realizing his intention of WHY he did that, I gave some feedback he didn’t want to hear.
And you know what… I own this.
I own that I should have been more mindful and asked what his intention was before I said one word.
Because what I found out was… he simply wanted to vent.
But getting those feelings out of you when they feel unmanageable isn’t a bad thing. So long as you do it the right way.
To get the response you desire, it’s super smart to ask the other person if it’s ok if you vent to them.
That you just need to purge. Let them hold the bucket so you can verbally vomit in it, as I like to say. LOL
Then they know not to pipe in with solutions.
They’ll understand that you only want to use their ears. Not their mouth. LOL
My grandma used to say, “That’s why we have two ears and one mouth. We’re supposed to listen more than we talk.” #grandmatruthbombs
#4: State what you need.
This is a slight variation on communicating your intention, but it’s more specific.
And I think you’ll understand why I’m saying it this way.
Especially if you’re a woman.
As women, we are notorious for not saying what we need.
For example, let’s say you have a deadline and for *some* reason…
You haven’t taken care of it yet. *wink*
And you’re stressing the eff out about it.
9 times out of 10, when you state what you need like, “I could really use an extension…” you get a yes.
Sometimes that’s all it takes – a statement of what you need – and you’ll get what you need to eliminate the stress you’ve put on yourself.
When you use these 4 hacks regularly… you create a mindful approach to releasing stress.
And when you get rid of this heavy energy… you feel lighter. More activated. Pumped to do things. HAPPIER.
And you can find your passion easier.
I mean, think about it… with everything that’s going on in the world right now… inflation up by 9 friggin’ percent… people scaling back on their spending.
You might think – “Man, this is NOT the time to rock the boat. Or step out on my own. It’s probably way better to stick with what I know.”
And the fact is, THAT’S HOW MOST PEOPLE THINK.
But you and me? We aren’t most people.
And there’s a whole segment of people like us who see the opportunity in instability.
Who lean in when most people pull back.
And THAT is why a recession is the best time to start a business.
Everyone is looking for innovative, new ways to do things – especially when the standard ways of doing things have lost their shine.
Whether that’s because it’s become more expensive… or it’s simply not available anymore… or your priorities and mindset shifts… and you look for alternatives.
I mean, Uber was started during the last recession.
And look what happened to the monopoly taxi services had.
So, what’s your idea?
Do you have the next Uber inside of you?
I don’t mean some brilliant tech solution. I’m talking about an innovative solution to a desire or a problem you or a niche group of someone has… something you’re passionate about or KNOW would help others…
Now is the best time to bet on yourself… and lean in.
And that’s what I wanna help you do.
My Build Your Own Biz Online guide is free right now – for a limited time.
It’s gonna help you:
- Craft your vision + intention for your new side hustle or biz.
- Come up with a profile of exactly who it’s perfect for – so you can ultimately go out and find her.
- Map out your first offer (whether that’s a physical product, a digital one, a service, or something else you’ve got in mind).
- Get it in front of as many of your ideal customers as possible – the fastest and easier way – which is through the internet.
I’d love to hear which of today’s 4 hacks you resonated with.
Drop me a comment below and let me know.
I’ll see ya online...
XO,
Hayley