6 Ways to Mitigate Entrepreneur Burnout
Burnout is a real problem, but there are steps you can take to manage the risk.
Burnout occurs when our bodies become overly stressed from working long hours under high pressure with little downtime in between (AKA "chronic stress"). It leads us into a vicious cycle where our energy levels dip so low that we don't feel motivated enough to keep going—which only further increases our stress levels!
Burnout is a serious problem, but it's also very common among entrepreneurs. In fact, one survey found that about 75% of entrepreneurs have experienced burnout at some point in their careers.
Burnout can take many different forms and affect anyone who works for themselves or for a startup company.
Here are some signs that you might be experiencing entrepreneur burnout:
You're more irritable than usual, especially toward people you love and care about
You have trouble concentrating on tasks that used to be easy for you
You feel exhausted or unmotivated to do work that used to come naturally
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, there's no need to panic—you can manage your way out of this situation. The first step is performing an honest self-assessment; if you answer yes to all three bullets above, then it's likely time for a change.
Here are 6 ways you can avoid burnout as an entrepreneur:
1. Know your limits.
You should know when to take a break, how much help you need, and when it's time to say no.
Know when you are too busy and not getting enough sleep.
If you have been working hard for a long time and are not seeing the results in your business yet then it could be because there is something else going on in your life that needs attention.
2. Develop a routine.
The key to avoiding burnout is having a routine. If you don't have a routine, it's easy for your business to drift into chaos and for you to feel overwhelmed.
Develop a routine for the day, week, month, and year so that you can get the most out of your time and energy.
Each week I have my own schedule of what needs to be done on Monday through Friday so that I know exactly what tasks are on my plate each day. This helps me avoid stress and stay focused on what matters most. It also gives me an opportunity to reflect at the end of each week about how things went as well as look forward to what I want/need next with my business or life in general!
3. Use time management tools to stay efficient.
The tools you use to manage your time will depend on your needs. To-do lists are great for capturing ideas, but not so great for setting deadlines or tracking due dates. Calendars are better suited for that purpose, but they’re not as good at helping you plan and prioritize. A timer can be helpful if you need a reminder to take breaks throughout the day (and sometimes it feels like we all could be doing more work!), but it won't tell you what tasks need completing next.
A time management app can handle all of these tasks in one place and make them easier than ever before! There are lots of options out there: some are more focused on productivity while others focus on personal goals or team collaboration. It's up to you how much flexibility and complexity are right for your business needs!
4. Try batching tasks together, like creating a group of related tasks and doing all of them in one day.
Batching tasks together can help you avoid burnout. For example, if you want to make calls and write emails, doing them at the same time will be more efficient.
When it comes to batching tasks together, one of the most important things to keep in mind is timing. You want to ensure that you're working on your most important tasks during a time when you are the most alert and energized (more on this later). If possible, try getting up earlier or working late into the night if that's what works best for your schedule (and remember: entrepreneurs tend to have flexible schedules anyway).
5. Keep your workspace organized.
Keeping your workspace clean and organized will help you feel more relaxed. When you can see everything, it’s easier to cope with the stress of being an entrepreneur, because you don’t have to worry about finding things or missing something important.
If you keep a messy desk, it will only add to your stress levels. When there are papers everywhere, food crumbs on the table, or toys everywhere — this is distracting and makes it harder for you to focus on what needs to be done next. So don’t let yourself get too distracted by all the clutter!
Make sure that everything has its own place at home so that nothing feels out of place anymore when looking around at all those different items in one glance during each moment of waking up each morning (or whenever else). Doing this helps reduce anxiety levels as well because we always know where things belong; therefore helping us feel calmer throughout every day as well!
6. Ask for help when you need it.
Asking for help is a powerful, effective way to prevent burnout. But when it comes to asking for help, there are some things you can do to be more successful. First, know that asking for help is not a weakness—it's an essential part of being human! Second, don't be afraid of rejection; most people are happy to help if they can. Lastly, make sure that you ask the right person (or people) for the right kind of support.
There's no one "right" way to ask someone else for assistance with something they're good at doing or have experience with: You can explain what you need in detail or just say "I'm having trouble with XYZ," and let them take it from there. How much information you share depends on how much time and energy you want them to spend on this particular task versus others that might be more pressing at the moment—and also on what type of relationship exists between yourself and whomever it is who might consider helping out (a friend? Coworker?).
Want more tips on avoiding burnout? Sign up for my email list here.
