By Tim Adler on Small Business UK – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs

One in five entrepreneurs have to work while they’re meant to be on holiday, according to training group Skillshub.

And nearly one in five entrepreneurs (18 per cent) did not take a holiday within the first two years of starting their business.

Indeed, 61 per cent of entrepreneurs say that running their own business makes them feel more like sweatshop workers – a world away from the entrepreneurial “rockstar” image exemplified by an Elon Musk or a Richard Branson.

Nearly 60 per cent of small business owners said they worked more hours than what they did when they had a regular job.

Is wellbeing leave a possibility for small businesses? – Xero has implemented wellbeing leave for its employees, but a policy like this may be unattainable for small businesses

And four out of five entrepreneurs experience poor mental health, according to the Skillshub survey of 200 small business owners.

Michael Aleix, CEO of team-building experiences company Teambuilding.com, said: “The initial years are full of intense pressure and stress, leading to long hours and little time for self-care or family life. It’s simply a lot of hard work and sacrifices.”

Entrepreneurial burnout

That feeling of entrepreneurial burnout is not just for small business owners, it affects founders of high-growth startups as well – the kind of businesses venture capitalists fawn over

According to VC Balderton Capital, 72 per cent of founders say that it’s hard to find time to prioritise looking after themselves, with four in five (83 per cent) saying that constant high pressure can lead to team burnout, with most (64 per cent) saying it can negatively impact business performance.

Unfortunately, the lack of selfcare and constant threat of burnout is part of the package, with 82 per cent of founders believing that working long hours is inevitable when you’re an entrepreneur.

Is a four day working week really a boon for productivity and staff wellbeing? – A UK PR company claims to be among the first businesses to implement a four day working week without cutting staff pay. But is this really the wave of the future for small businesses?

Balderton interviewed 230 founders to discover the levels of burnout among entrepreneurs.

To remedy this, Balderton has launched a Founder Wellbeing Platform to help founders take better care of their mental and physical health.

Suranga Chandratillake, general partner at Balderton Capital, said that the historic approach of simply working harder and putting in more hours no longer made sense.

“Rather than resulting in more success, Balderton’s research shows that, past a point, this can negatively impact decision making, creativity, and even result in burnout, which is cited as one of the top reasons that startups fail,” said Chandratillake.

Further reading

One in 10 small business owners contemplating suicide – Small business owners cite cashflow problems, trying to meet COVID-19 workplace guidelines and late payments as biggest factors affecting mental health

The post 81% of entrepreneurs work while on holiday appeared first on Small Business UK.

Source: SmallBusinessUK

By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs

It goes without saying that Ecuador is worth visiting for the Galapagos Islands alone. But again, it has a variety of climates – everything from mountains to cities to dry forests to tropical jungles. It’s all easily accessible too – a short drive can take you across half of the country. It’s a grand location for weekend trips.

The moderate all-year-round temperature make trekking and outdoor sports popular, but bear in mind that there are variations in the weather between different parts of the country.

Ecuador runs on the US dollar – again, this makes it easy to swing by the bureau du change before you head off.

Lots of rental and working spaces are available so you’ve got plenty of options on where to work when you’re out there. Ookla shows that Ecuador has a fixed broadband speed of 56.69mbps, placing it 76th in the world.

Eat encocado de pescado (fish with coconut sauce), cuy asado (grilled guinea pig), llapingachos (potato patties stuffed with cheese) and mote pillo (corn and scrambled eggs)

Some of the living costs are listed below:

• Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant – $30 (£23.50)
• 1 litre of regular milk – $1.07 (84p)
• 500g loaf of fresh white bread – $1.59 (£1.25)
• One way ticket on public transport – $0.35 (27p)
• Basics for 85m squared flat – $46.84 (£37)
• One-bed flat in the city centre – $353.44 (£278)

(Numbeo)

The digital nomad visa

https://www.gob.ec/mremh/tramites/concesion-visa-residencia-temporal-rentista

Name of visa: Rentier temporary residence visa

Fees: $320 (£254)

Length of stay: Up to two years

Can I extend my stay? Not stated

Requirements:

• Passport valid for at least six months
• Passport valid for at least six months
• Valid health insurance
• Clean police record

Minimum salary: Three times the country’s basic income which would mean currently you’d need a monthly income of at least £1,130.

How to apply: Online at https://www.gob.ec/mremh/tramites/concesion-visa-residencia-temporal-rentista

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Source: SmallBusinessUK