In addition, to carry out their project, entrepreneurs must be versatile and perform various tasks such as the identification and exploitation of business opportunity but also the acquisition of key resources, while seeking to obtain concrete and viable results on the economic level. In this way, entrepreneurs are notably recognized to sail in uncertainty and ambiguity which can sometimes undermine their well-being.
Wallonie Entreprendre, financial arm of Wallonia, will have to learn to finance itself on its own
What about well-being?
In return for their freedom, entrepreneurs are exposed to strong psychological pressure. The absence of a structured framework, financial uncertainties, workload, isolation or even difficulty in laying down limits between professional and personal life are real sources of stress on a daily basis. This stress often moves insidiously, resulting in exhaustion, sleep disturbances and drop in motivation. The hyper-investment in their project also leads many entrepreneurs to neglect their own well-being, thus putting their mental health to the test. Moreover, the results of the scan of the well-being of entrepreneurs achieved in 2024 show that 44 % of them declare to feel a high level of stress; And this rate tends to increase for 25-34 year olds.
However, the sustainability of the entrepreneurial project strongly depends on both physical and legal well-being of the project leader. Indeed, some researchers consider that the health capital of entrepreneurs is their first intangible asset.
Concrete tools to better experience entrepreneurship
To preserve their balance, it is essential that entrepreneurs take the time to listen to themselves and identify the alert signals. Establishing routines to preserve your well-being, practice regular physical activity, interact with other entrepreneurs or learn to delegate are all avenues to explore.
To support them, the UCM provides independents with several digital tools, such as Amarok E-Santé which makes it possible to diagnose the factors of daily stress, or Evoluno, an application dedicated to stress management, to improve sleep and energy.
Depending on cultural, family or social contexts, taking into account personal well-being can sometimes be relegated to the background or even perceived as selfish. However, it is essential to recall that preserving your mental health is not a sign of weakness but a condition essential to carry an entrepreneurial project in a healthy way. In this way, entrepreneurs give themselves the means to build a lasting and fulfilling project, without jeopardizing their most precious property: their health.
