How to Avoid Burnout as an Entrepreneur
Avoiding burnout as an entrepreneur is not as easy and straightforward as it may seem.
But with the right mental tools and a decent amount of willpower, you'll be able to manage your business and your stress levels, even during the busiest times.
The first step
If you own a business, the first step is to recognize that you are at risk of mental health issues and burnout more than other professions.
I talk about this in my new book when I mention a 2013 study published in Entrepreneur Magazine.
The article explains that "new entrepreneurs often make themselves less resilient by neglecting their health. They eat too much or too little.
They don't get enough sleep. [...] So it should come as little surprise that entrepreneurs experience more anxiety than employees."
Changing your habits requires spaced learning.
An Entrepreneur's to-do list is never completed, and problems seem to pile up faster than you can address them.
Those open loops can hijack your mindset and, ultimately, your physical and mental well-being. So the best way to avoid that is to be deliberate about what you do during your work hours and downtime.
So let's look at the steps you can take starting today
Prioritize your schedule
Having clarity around what to do and when to do it is the most important factor when it comes to managing your days and mindset
The first step is to prioritize thinking and planning time.
Most people experience burnout because they dive head first into many projects at once and can't finish them all.
Instead, at the end of your work day, carve 5 minutes from your busy schedule to list out and rank your following day's to-do list by priority.
Then the day after, commit to tackling your workload in that priority.
The key is not moving on to the next task unless you are done with the previous one!
Closing your open loops is the best way to clear your headspace and improve your mood and confidence.
There’s nothing more rewarding than completing something and moving on to something else. Don’t leave open loops as they will interfere with your focus and clarity.
Don't hang out in your inboxes
Now that you tamed your multitasking habit, it's time to control your urge to visit email inboxes and other messaging apps when you are not working.
Instead, choose downtime activities that induce flow or a sense of well-being.
Playing an instrument, painting, or tending to a garden are all examples of activities that can feel extremely rewarding and help you stay in the moment.
To the new entrepreneur, these "extracurricular" activities can seem like a waste of time.
After all, how is gardening going to help you with sales and marketing?
So to answer that question, let me ask you another one. Why do loggers spend time sharpening their saws instead of doing their job the whole time?
That's simple! They know the importance of keeping their tools in tip-top shape.
As an entrepreneur, your mind and body are your most important tools. So it comes as no surprise that you must recharge them and care for them.
Find out what makes you relax and prioritize that in your after-work schedule
Deal with burnout before it happens
You don't need to wait until you get a panic attack to manage your mental well-being.
There are some red flags you can spot much earlier.
Are you checking your phone compulsively (email inbox, social media, messaging apps, and mobile games all count)?
Are you skipping your basic self-care and personal-hygiene routines?
Are you emotionally absent when you are around your friends and loved ones?
These are all symptoms of an internal imbalance.
So when you realize that you are heading in the wrong direction, make it a point to reset your healthy habits.
Every entrepreneur should have a list of all the activities they deem important to maintaining their mental health.
You may come up with a list like this:
Daily walk at a park,
taking a warm bath at the end of the day,
meditating in the morning,
calling a friend twice a week,
working out four times a week, etc.
Don’t wait until it’s too late! Act when you see the first signs.
The tools to overcome burnout
When you feel stressed out, look at the list and make it a point to follow through with those rituals.
When problems arise, we tend to sacrifice self-care first, so you must reset your habits deliberately.
If that's not enough, you may want to look into therapy.
Websites like BetterHelp provide affordable remote counseling, and that could make a massive difference in the way you approach your burnout.
Conclusion
When you feel stressed out and anxious, there's no point in working harder.
That's because the quality of your work won't be up to your standards, and you will likely enter a vicious cycle that will end with your next burnout.
Instead, you must learn how to manage your mind and your actions better.
If you are overwhelmed, take a step back and list out all the actions or habits that may help you relax and feel better about yourself.
That list is going to be your best friend.
Read it often and try to incorporate those elements into your routine.
When you couple this technique with the habit of planning and prioritizing your days the night before, you will create a burnout-proof business.