In the past few years, the word entrepreneurship has really generated a lot of buzz among youths in Nigeria. Many young people have now come to embrace the word “StartUp”. Wikipedia has defined a startup company as an entrepreneurial venture which is new and growing fast with an aim to using innovative products, processes and services to meet a marketplace need.
The goal of every startup is to scale (grow and expand) very quickly. This drive has probably driven many startup founders into a lonely path. Well, it has actually been said that the entrepreneurship path is very lonely. Does it have to be?
Many founders already in the lonely path are battling with health challenges secretly because of the unhealthy lifestyle associated with the Nigerian StartUp culture.
Healthfacts.ng in partnership with psyndup.com held a tweet chat with Aramide Shittu (@ScarztoBeauti), a U.S based Nigerian mental health therapist on discussing Mental health and the Nigerian Startup Culture. Below are excerpts from the chat:
2/2 manage feelings of stress, anxiety, burnout, etc to maintain a holistic mental wellness? @PsyndUp #StartUpHealth
— HealthFacts Ng (@HealthFacts_ng_) May 18, 2017
The tech industry is a fast-paced industry, you are constantly on the go and entrepreneurs are burdened with responsibilities, these two…
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
1. You need to be aware of when you are becoming stressed, What are your stress signals? what changes have you observed?
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
Are you more irritable, less patient, can't sleep, headaches, tire easily engaging in risky behavior? All these and more are signs of stress
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
the same way you schedule a meeting, schedule your breaks. If possible take the breaks as far away from your work environment as possible.
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
Learnt anything thus far?
1/2) 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year and start up folks @ScarztoBeauti @PsyndUp #StartUpHealth
— HealthFacts Ng (@HealthFacts_ng_) May 18, 2017
3/3) How can we change this narrative?@ScarztoBeauti @PsyndUp #StartUpHealth
— HealthFacts Ng (@HealthFacts_ng_) May 18, 2017
poor work/balance, bad habits and personality traits. All these can be combated by first being aware of them #StartUpHealth
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
Self-care is a deliberate act of taking care of yourself. It entails doing things that make you happy and help you relax. #StartUpHealth
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
treat yourself to something nice, socialize with people, go out for drinks with friends. Take care of you first!! #StartUpHealth
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
Take care of yourself FIRST! That's a very important statement that should be noted#StartUpHealth
— HealthFacts Ng (@HealthFacts_ng_) May 18, 2017
2/5 which could predispose them to mental health issues. They eat and sleep unhealthy, sometimes@ScarztoBeauti @PsyndUp #StartUpHealth
— HealthFacts Ng (@HealthFacts_ng_) May 18, 2017
4/5 How can founders be more deliberate about staying mentally healthy? @ScarztoBeauti @PsyndUp #StartUpHealth
— HealthFacts Ng (@HealthFacts_ng_) May 18, 2017
These bad habits need to change, that's the bottom line. You must be deliberate in taking care of yourself. #StartUpHealth
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
So eat right, get enough sleep (7-8hrs optimal), exercise, socialize. Plan/Put self-care activities on your calendar. #StartUpHealth
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
To all entrepreneurs (and really everyone) remember Failure in business does not equal failure in life. #StartUpHealth
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
Make time for loved ones. Social support is important in dealing with all types of life stressors. #StartUpHealth
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
For those who have a mental illness, You can be a successful entrepreneur and have (insert mental illness). #StartUpHealth
— ScarztoBeautiful (@ScarztoBeauti) May 18, 2017
And that was how it went. Interesting conversation. We also had a few comments from our audience
The thing we need to know: there'd still b business when we leave this space, so, it's important 2occasionally refill, refire #StartUpHealth
— Tom-Chris Emewulu (@tomchrisemewulu) May 18, 2017
Knowing your self, your team, knowing your start up. This insight gives you he information you need to be able to handle when u experience
— The BAGit Campaign (@BAGit__) May 18, 2017
things like anxiety, stress, burn out and in the long run help you prevent them from happening more too often than usual.
— The BAGit Campaign (@BAGit__) May 18, 2017
These are just excerpts. To get the full interview and other comments, you can use the #StartUpHealth on twitter.
You can also use the https://t.co/aohYkt6qjw portal to get answers to those burning questions you may have#StartUpHealth
— HealthFacts Ng (@HealthFacts_ng_) May 18, 2017
