When you start a small business, you know that you are going to have to work hard for a long time to get the company established and hopefully make it successful, but even knowing how tough it is going to be, it can be quite a shock when reality sets in and you find yourself with very little free time and a whole lot of stress.
It is not surprising, then, that businesses owners tend to suffer very frequently from burnout, especially in those crucial early years. Burnout is bad for your body and mind, and bad for business, so it is really important that you do what you can to avoid, or at least minimize, it in your life. Here are a few things that will help that:
Unplug often
You may not be able to turn off your business phone to stop answering emails for a whole day but you really should make an effort to unplug when you can, even if it’s just for 15 minutes at lunch and a couple of hours at the end of the day.
This will give you a chance to decompress and do things you enjoy whether it’s spending time with family or playing a few rounds on the golf course which Stephen Troese Jr finds a very good way of getting over the executive stress of the boardroom. Anything you can do that lets you get away from business life for a bit will be beneficial.
Delegate
You might feel like you should be doing everything in your business because the buck stops with you, and it is your vision that you are looking to achieve, but that way madness lies. No one can do everything, and if you try, not only will you burn out, but you’ll probably make mistakes too. So, sit down and identify the areas where your talents truly lie and delegate as much of the rest to your employees or some decent freelancers instead. You’ll instantly feel a weight off your shoulders.
Learn to meditate
You can learn to meditate in as little as 10 minutes each day and I would really suggest that you do. Why? Because meditation is very effective at relaxing the body and mind in very little time It is also known to boost creativity, productivity, and happiness levels, all of which will help you achieve your best in business.
Talk
It’s so important, when you’re a busy business owner looking to avoid burnout, that you have a decent support network who understands what you are going through and who have your back when you need them. These can be other business owners or good friends and family, maybe even a therapist – it doesn’t matter as long as you have someone you feel comfortable talking to who can offer empathy and maybe a suggestion to help you out from tie to time.
Business burnout is no joke, so you should be taking it as seriously as you take running your business!
