How I Manage Stress as a Start-Up Founder: From Brompton Cemetery Walks to Lebanese Comfort Food and Aromatic Candles
Discover Stress-Relief Techniques That Work: Mindful Walks, Yoga Rituals, and the Soothing Power of Scented Candles for Entrepreneurs
NOV 04, 2024
The Warm Glow and Calming Aroma of a Burning Candle to Ease Stress and Create a Serene, Peaceful Atmosphere
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There's a peculiar irony to feeling like the world's chaos is swirling around you. At the same time, you stand, coffee in hand, staring into your empty fridge, wondering if the milk had expired before your last shred of patience. But today, on Stress Awareness Day, I'm taking a breath (yoga-style) to pull back the curtain on what stress means when your home country is being bombed, your family is far away, and you've got a business clinging to the very notion of "start-up." Welcome to the world of Ghannouj, where the only thing rising faster than my blood pressure is my caffeine consumption.
I'm Lebanese, and while "away from home" has been my state of being for a long time, nothing prepares you for watching the news when it feels like your memories and childhood playgrounds are being shattered on screen. There is a helplessness to living far away, a sense of guilt even, that I'm out here chasing dreams and running businesses while my family back home deals with the relentless thrum of instability. I FaceTime them, watch the pixelated faces of loved ones smile and pretend that everything is fine, even when every fibre of my being is clenched with anxiety.
But there isn't space to freeze or fall apart when you're an entrepreneur. Stress becomes this ever-present companion, whispering about shipping deadlines, marketing plans, and brand identity. It's like a bad roommate who won't pay rent but expects a say in everything you do.
Launching a brand isn't as dreamy as sipping a candlelit chai latte under fairy lights. Ghannouj The Candle, my love letter to Lebanon's scents, has taught me resilience. It's made up of equal parts nostalgia, spreadsheet headaches, and a deep desire to share something authentic. But running a business like this, from supply chain hiccups to late-night marketing panic attacks, is enough to make anyone's hairline nervously recede.
To make matters worse, entrepreneurship has an ugly secret: it's all-consuming. The kind of stress that makes you question if your "off" days are indeed "off" or just brief, Wi-Fi-free moments when you imagine your email inbox plotting revenge.
So, how do I manage the madness?
Brompton Cemetery’s quiet, haunting beauty transforms into a calming oasis—perfect for a mindful stroll and a moment of tranquility
Let's talk about Brompton Cemetery. Yes, a cemetery. After all, it is November, Halloween pumpkins are still grimacing from the neighbours' porches, and a gothic stroll under the trees in that vast, silent park feels almost poetic. On most days, I'm not looking for poetry but for space. Walking here offers a pause button where I can let the wind snatch my anxiety away and calm my mind. Brompton Cemetery's sprawling grounds, with their whispering leaves and solemn statues, are surprisingly therapeutic. It's an unconventional spot, but hey, we all have our little quirks.
Friends are another healing force. This past Saturday, for instance, I hosted a lunch, and the heart of it was Chicken Musakhan—a dish that's a warm, aromatic hug. We gathered around, talking, laughing, and dipping bread into the rich olive oil goodness, and for a few hours, everything else faded into the background. Laughter, as it turns out, is still one of the best antidotes to stress. And so is food, especially when it's shared.
Chicken Musakhan: A Hearty Palestinian Dish Made with Sumac, Caramelized Onions, and Freshly Baked Bread—Perfect for Gathering Friends and Relieving Stress Through Good Food
For a more structured calm, I do yoga and breathing exercises three times a week. I roll out my mat, light a candle, and embrace the stretch and stillness. Focusing on my breath is like pressing "reset" on my frazzled mind. It's a reminder that even when life feels breathless, there's still a rhythm, a steady inhale- exhale I can return to.
And then there's the small, personal ritual of making a hot chocolate in the evening. It's simple, nostalgic, and made infinitely more luxurious by the glow of a Ghannouj candle. Yes, I'm shamelessly plugging my candles. But trust me, when the rich scent of cedarwood or orange blossom fills the room, it's a slice of calm I'm more than happy to share.
On Stress Awareness Day, we're reminded of the need to care for ourselves and hold space for our worries and joys. Whether it's walking through a cemetery, hanging out with friends, breathing deeply on a yoga mat, or letting the comfort of a scent transport you to better times, it's about finding what keeps you grounded.
So here's your invitation to make a little ritual of your own. And if you'd like a candle to accompany your self-care moments, might I suggest one from Ghannouj?
Take a breath, light a flame, and remember—you're not alone.