Reducing Stress and Optimizing Time: Key Strategies for Founders from Angel Club's Founder Flow Session

In a recent Angel Club webinar led by wellness expert Tarin Calmeyer, founders, entrepreneurs, and investors gathered to explore effective strategies for managing stress and optimizing their relationship with time. Tarin, the founder of Remote Team Wellness, guided attendees through powerful exercises, highlighting practical techniques that busy startup leaders can immediately apply to their daily routines.

Connecting Mind, Body, and Time Management

Tarin emphasized the importance of founders prioritizing their wellness, not as a separate task but as an integral part of their entrepreneurial journey. She opened the session by encouraging founders to step away from distractions, inviting them into a mindful state to explore their current relationship with time and stress.

“Your time is actually all that you have. Learning how to respect and manage your time effectively in relation to your energy is crucial,”

Tarin Calmeyer

Attendees reflected on their current habits, examining tasks and responsibilities that either energized or drained them. Through guided meditations and thought-provoking questions, Tarin helped founders clearly identify activities they could do immediately, tasks that could be delayed, and responsibilities that could be delegated or completely deleted.

The Three D’s of Time Management

One powerful tool shared was Tarin’s "3 D’s": Do, Delay, and Delete. Founders were encouraged to:

• Do tasks that are essential and immediately aligned with their core objectives.

  
  

• Delay activities that, while important, could be scheduled for a later time.

  
  

• Delete or delegate tasks that are not contributing significantly to their core goals or well-being.

  
  

“Ask yourself regularly, 'What am I saying yes to that’s actually a no?'”

Tarin Calmeyer

Building Real Support Through Angel Club

Angel Gambino, founder of Angel Club, emphasized how vital consistent support is for founders, who often deal with burnout and isolation. Unlike traditional accelerators, Angel Club offers ongoing, flexible support throughout the year before, during, and after a founder’s accelerator journey.

“We’re about catalytic connections—to the resources and relationships that help move the needle. We facilitate introductions ranging from: peer-to-peer, mentor-to-founder, investor-to-founder, investor-to-investor, and advisor-to-founder and investor—that help founders grow through key stages of their startup and investors grow portfolios tha make an impact and a return,” Angel said.

For many, the impact is personal.

“Angel Club is changing everything for me. The access and community is real, and the events and tools—especially Founder Flow—are helping me avoid burnout and lead with clarity. It’s not just another founder group. It’s a legit catalyst for growth.”

Jon-David Hague, founder and member.

Embracing Flow and Protecting Energy

Participants were also encouraged to identify where they experience the most flow in their work and to fiercely protect that time through clear boundaries. This includes safeguarding time for wellness practices such as meditation, physical exercise, and purposeful downtime.

“When you prioritize wellness, you don’t just reduce stress—you enhance your capacity to lead, create, and innovate,”

Tarin Calmeyer

TL;DR: Key Takeaways for Founders to Reduce Stress and Optimize Time

• Prioritize wellness as essential, not optional.

• Use the "3 D’s" (Do, Delay, Delete) to manage tasks effectively.

• Clearly identify and reduce activities that drain your energy.

• Regularly assess your commitments by asking, “What am I saying yes to that’s actually a no?”

• Protect your high-flow periods with firm boundaries.

• Leverage supportive communities like Angel Club for ongoing guidance and connection.

  
  

Mercury: Supporting Startups Every Step of the Way

Founders looking to optimize their operational efficiency can explore Mercury, our partner and the preferred financial platform of many startups. Mercury offers startups:

• Dedicated, expedited signup and personalized account support.

• Easy-to-use digital banking tailored specifically for startups.

• Access to robust financial management tools and integrations.

• Streamlined processes to effortlessly manage fundraising, payroll, and expenses.

  
  

Ben Kromnick, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences, put it succinctly:

“At Mercury, we’re committed to providing innovative financial solutions tailored to the unique needs of startups in healthcare and life sciences, while our team supports startups across all sectors and stages. That’s why we value our partnership with Angel Club—it aligns with our mission of empowering founders through community, resources, and financial guidance.”

Ready to simplify your startup's financial management and accelerate your growth?

Learn more about how Mercury supports startups and experience dedicated and expedited onboarding with our specialized account team here.