You’ll be surprised how quickly things can go from awesome to awful in this job. There are great and bad days, but the role challenges tend to stay with you. Entrepreneur burnout is a serious risk for those who love what they do because there will be days when that love feels like the most arduous task in the universe. Burnout can creep up on anyone, but by staying alert to the early signs, you can avoid it completely or catch it before it significantly impacts your business and your personal life.
And if you find yourself burning out, these tips will help get you back up and running sooner rather than later.
1. Don’t work alone.
A successful business is more than just the work you do every day. It’s about the culture and environment you create for your team. It’s about how you treat your customers. And it’s about how you interact with others in your industry and your community. Dealing with people can be tricky at times, but one way to help alleviate the pressure and keep your spirits high is to make sure you’re not working solo. Establishing and nurturing relationships outside of your business can help you feel less isolated. You may not have time to join a book club, but you can make time to have coffee or lunch with a friend or mentor. There’s a lot of insight to be gained from bouncing ideas off someone who isn’t as close to your project. And that can help you avoid getting stuck in your own head.
2. Take occasional breaks.
This doesn’t mean you should take a vacation every month. It means that you should take regular breaks from your routine to re-evaluate your goals and get a clear view of your present situation. You can take a walk outside, go on a mini vacation with friends, or spend a day on a hobby that doesn’t have anything to do with business. Even tiny breaks during the day where you play a game of Spider Solitaire or do some pushups can have an effect. All of these activities can help you get a new perspective on the world around you, which can, in turn, help you make better decisions when it comes to the future of your business. Taking breaks is also important because it’s the only way to recharge your batteries. Taking time away from your daily tasks isn’t just a luxury: it’s vital for your health and happiness.
3. Delegate what you can.
Being an entrepreneur gives you the freedom to make your own rules, but it doesn’t give you the freedom to do everything. It’s important to understand which tasks are critical to your success and which tasks aren’t worth the risk. The trick is knowing where to draw the line. This can be a struggle for many entrepreneurs, especially when you’re working in a field that you’ve chosen because you’re passionate about it, not because you’re qualified to do it. But the fact is, you can’t do everything yourself, and trying to do so is a surefire way to burn out. So, if you know you’re not skilled or experienced enough to do something, don’t feel bad about outsourcing it. From managing social media to answering customer support, there are plenty of ways to take some of the burden off your shoulders that don’t require you to hire employees.
4. Make your why bigger.
You have an “inner why”, which is often the driving force behind your business. You have an “outer why”, which is how you explain that same driving force to others. If your business is a combination of passion, experience, and good ideas, it won’t be easy to put yourself out of a job. But if you’re not able to clearly explain what your product or service does, how it benefits your customers, and why people should buy from you, you’ll find it much more difficult to make this a long-term career. Make your why bigger by writing it down, reading it aloud, and sharing it with others. Your customers may not know the exact reason they’re buying from you, but if they understand the why behind your business, they’ll be more likely to recommend you to others. When your why is bigger, it will be easier to stick with your business during tough times, which can help avoid a serious case of entrepreneur burnout.
Conclusion
Entrepreneur burnout is a serious risk for those who love what they do, because there will be days when that love feels like the most arduous task in the universe. Burnout can creep up on anyone, but by staying alert to the early signs you can avoid it completely or catch it before it has a significant impact on your business as well as your personal life. And if you do find yourself burning out, these tips will help get you back up and running again sooner rather than later.
