Avoiding Entrepreneurial Burnout

I started my first business at 15 years old and I have owned a business ever since, even during my military service while on active duty for 6 years. One thing that I have learned to focus on is how to avoid getting burned out because building a successful business and running it full time can absolutely destroy you if you let it.

I have mentored other entrepreneurs and non-profit founders for years so I have learned many things from the experiences of others as well. If you have anything to contribute to this post then please share them in the comments because I would love to be able to educate as many entrepreneurs as possible!

Photo by Garrhet Sampson on Unsplash

1: Determine Your “Why”

When first starting any business, you should have a solid why behind you. Why do you want to start a business? What is your reason?

This has to be a very strong reason because it will need to be a motivating factor that will keep you going when the hours are long or there are hiccups in your business plan.

There will be so many times that you may want to give up and go back to working in the Rat Race but if you have a strong why then you will be able to keep pushing forward. I have learned this from experience.

2: Figure Out What You Are Passionate About

Start a business in an industry that you already have a passion for because if you are not passionate about it then you wont stick with it for the long haul. A friend of mine started a series of Laundromats a few years ago and they flopped pretty quickly because he gave up. He refused to delegate any tasks to anyone else because no one could do the job better than he could but he had no desire to fix washing machines or install dryers.

The long hours caught up to him and he sold the Laundromats at a loss to his family and to himself. He had put the blood, sweat, and tears into building his business and then he let it fall away. When we talked later he admitted to me that he had always wanted to own home cleaning businesses but thought that the Laundromat would make more money.

Business shouldn’t be just about money, it should be about what you want to spend your days working on. Please keep that in mind.

3: Set Working Hours and Stick to Them

Every newbie entrepreneur seems to pride themselves on how many hours they work and how little sleep they get but this is the quickest way to burn yourself out. If you plan on building a business and running it long term then you need to set working hours and stick to them.

I used to work 80+ hour weeks but then I realized that I was starting to resent my business and that’s the last thing that I wanted to do. I loved my business and it was my baby. But, I needed some me time and I needed to spend time with my family too.

4: Have A Solid Support System

Sometimes you need someone to talk to or run ideas by and having a solid support system that backs you up is so very important. No man or woman is an island and we all need people that see our vision and support us in creating that vision. And when you need a break or a shoulder to cry on, they are there to pick you up and dust you off.

Other times you need a break and having someone there to pick up the slack so you can take a much needed break can make all the difference. With that being said, you have to be willing to rely on your support system sometimes when you need them.

5: Take Care of Yourself

Self-care is one the most important things for busy entrepreneurs. Exercise reduces stress while eating healthy gives you the fuel that you need to keep going. Listen to your body and let it tell you exactly what it needs and follow it. If you don’t know how to read what you need then learn to listen to it now.

Don’t give yourself the excuse that you don’t have the time, make the time. Because no one and nothing in this life is more important that you and your well being.

6: Delegate Tasks You Don’t Want to Do

There are certain parts of business that I just absolutely cannot stand, like website design. I am seriously not interested in website design and don’t really have time to learn it. If I am forced to work on website design then I take hours to get something simple done when my time could be better spent working on business activities that I actually enjoy.

I delegate website design to someone else that is much better at it than I am and because he enjoys the work. It’s a win-win. He does work he enjoys and I am able to do the work that I enjoy.

Photo by EveryGirlBoss.com on Unsplash

7: Get Rid of Stress

I wont lie to you. Building and running a business is stressful but so very rewarding. Blowing off some steam is so very important because if you are stressed then it can affect the way you conduct business and your personal relationships.

There are so many ways to limit your stress: taking a shower or bath, reading, exercising, cooking, traveling, meditation, journaling, and so many other ways. Find something that works for you and take time to indulge once in awhile in order to keep your sanity.

8: Focus On One Task At A Time

So many people think that multitasking is an effective use of time but if you don’t focus on the task at hand then you likely wont get the task done as quickly or as effectively.

I have spent so many days running errands, talking on the phone, and trying to juggle so many responsibilities that it becomes so overwhelming. Thankfully, I learned the blessing of single tasking so I am much more present and in the moment. This method has improved my business relationships too because clients feel listened to now and everyone likes to feel listened to.

9: Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Running around putting out fires in business is the most stressful thing in the world to me so I have learned to plan for potential problems before they come up. This prevents me from having to run around like a chicken with no head if something happens. I know that I cant plan for every damn thing that could ever possibly happen, I’m not that naïve. But, if I know something is coming down the pipe, like taxes being due or a client needing to be invoiced, then I plan for it beforehand.

10: Get Enough Sleep

This should be number 1 but I wanted to end with the most important point on the list. Running a business is hard with long hours and if you aren’t getting enough sleep then you may not be able to keep up with everything if you aren’t well rested.

I actually passed out one time walking down the street because I hadn’t been getting enough sleep, then I spent two days in the hospital because they diagnosed me with exhaustion and dehydration. It would’ve been much smarter to just get sleep rather than spend days in the hospital where I couldn’t get anything done.

What have you done that would help others to avoid burnout while building or running a business? What advice would you offer to new entrepreneurs? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks so much for reading!

Ivy