Men’s Health Week is from June 9 to 15 and spotlights the key health challenges faced by men and boys across Australia.

It is a time dedicated to raising awareness of male health issues and encouraging men to take proactive steps towards improving their physical and mental wellbeing.

For the 1.6 million sole traders across Australia, achieving balance between work and personal life can feel challenging, especially when admin tasks consume valuable time. The key challenges that can be faced include:

Social Isolation: The lack of colleagues and support networks can lead to loneliness and negatively affect mental wellbeing.

Work-Life Imbalance: Long hours and constant admin demands contribute to stress and burnout, impacting personal relationships and self-care.

Financial Strain: Irregular income and financial insecurity are significant stressors for sole traders.

Dr. Matt Agnew, scientist, mental health advocate & sole trader says: "Being a sole trader is a hugely liberating and empowering experience, but it would be remiss of me not to mention some of the challenges you can face. I can go an entire day without seeing or speaking to anyone face to face, and if you have a flexible working setup like me, it’s very easy to slip from working from home to living at work. Isolation, exhaustion, and a lack of social interaction are extra things that you need to manage on top of your actual work to ensure you find a healthy work-life balance.”

Research from Solo by MYOB shows that 1 in 4 (25%) male sole traders don't take any holidays at all, and for a surprising 1 in 10 (12%), it's been three or four years since they had a proper break from work. It is therefore perhaps not hugely surprising that 60% of male sole trader respondents agree that to some extent they’re physically or mentally exhausted by the demands of being their own boss.

Dr. Matt adds, “As we head into Men’s Health Week, I firmly believe that recognising these challenges is the vital first step. It's about opening up conversations and finding practical solutions. Being your own boss can be incredible, but the sole trader life demands resilience, smart planning, and an open approach to mental health. By acknowledging the pressure points, maintaining support systems, and embracing tools that simplify tasks, Aussie sole operators can build successful and rewarding professional and personal lives.”
Solo by MYOB is the all-in-one business admin app for Australian sole operators. Customers get access to an online community of fellow sole traders to share advice and practical tips, fostering collaboration and reducing isolation.

For more information, please visit solobymyob.com.

About the Research

The research was commissioned by Solo by MYOB and conducted by McCrindle and is the collation of quantitative data gained through a national survey of sole traders in Australia. The survey was in field from the 17th to the 22nd of January 2025, yielding 1,059 completed responses.