Susan Urquhart-Brown, longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister is a career and business coach in private practice. The following is excerpted from her book, The Accidental Entrepreneur: Practical Wisdom for People Who Never Expected to Work for Themselves. ©2004 by Susan Urquhart-Brown; reprinted here with permission.

Do you lie awake at night feeling anxious, but you don't know why? Do you wake up in the morning and dread going to work? Is the excitement of being your own boss gone?

Does this sound familiar? Doing something you love and being your own boss are probably the biggest reasons you chose self-employment. Yet the other side of the coin may be the stress you feel about meeting your own high expectations for business success.

Jeff, the owner of a successful small manufacturing company, was lying awake one night thinking about work when he noticed that his body felt tense and rigid, and that his heart was beating rapidly. He was alarmed. "Why am I feeling so anxious?" Jeff asked himself. "I've just completed my best year in business and my personal life is great. Yet why am I feeling physically ill?" The next day he saw his doctor, who confirmed that Jeff had high blood pressure and put him on medication with the suggestion that he take some time off and try to relax. As Jeff was leaving, he thought "How can I do that?" Gradually he realized that all along he felt guilty about taking time off for himself. Consequently, he'd taken only two real vacations in ten years. After much soul searching and careful analysis of his business practices, Jeff decided to change how he managed his company—and himself.

Jeff instituted two significant changes at his company. First, he delegated more of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the business to one of his six employees. This put one layer of management between himself and production. Second, Jeff decided to be less of a manager and more of a leader. He developed long-range goals and gradually took charge of scheduling production so that he was able to spend more time planning ahead than playing catch-up. For himself, he discovered simple ways he could take time off without feeling guilty. Currently, some of his favorite activities to unwind are: taking longer lunches on beautiful days; playing computer games 10 to 15 minutes each day; and learning to play the guitar.

If this scenario sounds familiar, consider some of the following ways to reduce stress.

Reshape Your Attitude
Recently, I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Attitude is everything." I agree: attitude is the most essential component of making positive change. Your attitude is always noticed by others and reacted to accordingly. You may not have control over time, orders, customer demands, or your teenage son, but you do have control over your own attitude. A positive one is simply more productive and more fun. Sometimes, a simple change in attitude makes all the difference.

Delegate Work to Others
One of the common mistakes of owners who are growing their businesses is keeping too much control. After all, they got where they are by doing it all. But often, they don't know when to stop working: 60- to 80-hour weeks are commonplace. However, there is a time in all businesses when doing too much yourself is detrimental to you and your business. Know when to delegate tasks, decisions, and responsibility to others on your staff, or when to hire outside help. Keep an overview of operations, and remove yourself from handling some of the day-to-day details. This frees you up to spend more time doing what you intend to do best—building a profitable business.

Stress-Reducing Activities
• Take up a hobby—tap-dancing, gardening, volleyball. Many business owners say there aren't enough hours in the day to do their business tasks, let alone spend time on a hobby. However, a hobby can provide new focus, fun, and relaxation. Doing something you enjoy is one of the best stress-reducers.

• Take mini-breaks during the work day. Take a nap, read a book, walk around the block, or sit silently for 10 minutes doing nothing. Schedule time each day to do something for yourself that is unrelated to business.

• Schedule a vacation. Pick a traditionally slow time of year in your business. Plan a vacation to a place that you find relaxing. Buy non-refundable airline tickets so you won't be tempted to cancel at the last minute. Many business "emergencies" can be handled by someone other than you. Also, resist the temptation to take your cell phone and fax machine on vacation with you. Leave your business at home.

Look carefully at yourself and your business, and take heed from Jeff's experience. Find ways to put excitement, healthy challenge, and fun back into your business life. Learn to recognize when your stress level is too high. Take two of the above suggestions and listen to your business coach.