Avoid Burnout – 5 Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs
Posted on 11. May, 2010 by Matthew Toren in Business, Entrepreneurship, Personal Development, Productivity
We entrepreneurs are a hard working lot. If we want success, we have to be. And a lot of times that means long hours, deadlines, and pressures that can add up over time. Studies have shown that if you don’t take steps to care for yourself while you’re working to build your dreams, you can do some real damage. In fact, some estimates say that up to 90% of visits to doctors’ offices stem from stress-related issues. And what good does it do to build a successful business if you’re not around to enjoy it or have to deal with health concerns because of it? To avoid burnout and enjoy the journey – and the rewards – more, follow these tips:
1. Exercise more than just your brain. As an entrepreneur, you’re continuously giving your brain a workout, but don’t forget about your body. One of the best ways to reduce stress, and condition yourself to handle more stress, and handle it better, is to stay in good physical shape. If you’re going to take time out of your busy day to participate in any activity, few will have a more positive, lasting effect than exercise. And if you think you don’t have time for it, you might have some misperceptions about what it takes to stay in shape. You don’t need to spend hours a day working out to reduce stress and feel better. Just a few minutes a day, a few days a week will help a lot, and you’ll feel a difference quickly.
2. Watch what you’re putting in your gullet. Along the same lines as exercise, watching your diet is important for feeling your best and will help you deal with stress and burnout. Busy entrepreneurs are often on the move, and need to grab a quick bite on the go. Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, what you’re stuffing your mouth with isn’t always the stuff that will keep you feeling your best. Something as simple as cutting down on high-sugar snacks and drinks can make a big difference in how you feel, and you’ll be far less likely to experience that common afternoon burnout, much less long-term burnout.
3. Don’t go it alone. Trying to do everything yourself is a one-way ticket to entrepreneurial burnout. Unfortunately, it’s also very common among people building their own businesses. Whether it’s our independent nature or the need to save money, we entrepreneurs are often reluctant to hire anything out, and it can end up hurting us in the long-run. The good news is that we can maintain control of our businesses and actually end up saving money if we approach this problem properly. Consider finding one or more virtual assistants or freelancers to help you out. You’ll not only pay less than you would for employees, but the time you’ll free up will allow you to concentrate more on the things that are making you income. And the best part is that you’ll avoid burnout by delegating those tasks that you’d rather not do anyway, which will make you feel better and will free up time to follow some of the other advice on this list.
4. Get social. A necessary ingredient in a truly fulfilled life, and a key to preventing burnout, is to set aside time to participate in activities that you enjoy and are completely unrelated to your work. Going out with friends, attending a sporting event, seeing a movie, or hitting the beach with the family can all help to get your mind off your pressures for a little while. The key is to have some fun while focusing on something other than your business. That’s not to say you won’t think about work at all, but your concentration will be on your friends, family, and the activity you’re participating in. When you do return to your work, you just might be surprised at how refreshed you feel, and the ideas and inspiration that come to you!
5. Manage the clock. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but we definitely don’t all make the most of that time. A lack of time management skills can seriously contribute to burnout. If you’re not managing your time well, deadlines creep up faster, you find yourself rushing everywhere, and you might end up dealing with the added stress of letting people down by not being able to follow through as you promise. There are a lot of online tools to help you manage your time, and technology can make a big difference in this area. Another way to improve in this area is to compartmentalize your tasks. In other words, group all similar tasks so you aren’t hopping all over the place and can focus on one area until you’re ready to move to the next. For example, set aside a specific time each day to focus on social media and a time for email, rather than checking them throughout the day. This will increase your focus and ultimately save you a lot of time.
What other tips do you have for managing stress and avoiding burnout? Or, what’s your biggest challenge with managing your business and avoiding burnout? Share in the comments!
Popularity: 4% [?]
21 Responses to “Avoid Burnout – 5 Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs”
Leave a Reply
Read this fantastic interview with one of the most respected & successful internet marketers to date...
Entrepreneur, bestselling author and public speaker Seth Godin is interviewed by Adam Toren...
Find out a little more about the founder of Pembridge Partners - the experts in business growth...
Great advice and an inspiring interview from a young entrepreneur straight out of Yale College...
- Search Engine Marketing
- settlements
- promotional items
- Bamboopink of JudeFrances Launching now
- Payday Cash Advance Loans
- Personalized Pens
- Promotional Products & Corporate Gifts
- Promotional Products
- Promotional Products
- Custom Logo Imprinted Promotional Products
- Promotional Pens
- ceramic wedding bands
- Marketing Internships
- Chicago condos
- Web Design
- Business Opportunities
- Cash Advance
- tungsten rings
- JG Wentworth
- Platinum Wedding Bands
- Add Your Link Here
Alex Dropshipping
11. May, 2010
Getting Burnout is a very awkward situation since it will affect everything that you are doing. Exceeding to the limit of your body will lead into stress and burnout which means instead of having the chance of doing more work you will not be able to do any work.
The tips given in this article is really great! It will not only help a lot of people avoid burnout but it will also help people discipline themselves and manage their time. Most of the tips are practical but people are just forgetting to do them.
Great Tips!
Alex
John Paul
11. May, 2010
Good tips.. you need to get your body and head right before you can get the work done.
Komodo Dragon
11. May, 2010
Watching your diet I feel is one of the most important things you can do, I know for myself personally when I used to have a bad habit of drinking Soda, my emotions, moods, and feelings would be like a wild roller coaster ride. At one point I was really ready to go and work at what it is I needed to do, and the next moment I felt really bad and just was in a no work mood. People would be surprised that just by changing their food and drink habits on how much more of a productive day they would have! :D
Laptop Briefcases
11. May, 2010
Great tips. This reminds me that I really need to do more exercise and eat better. Being healthy is one of those things that is easy to put off for another day. The sooner I deal with that, the sooner I’ll feel better and find more energy. I am trying to get more into outsourcing too. I’ve been outsourcing writing tasks for a while now, but I think I really need a virtual assistant to get my business to the next level.
Kelvin Forex Indicator
11. May, 2010
I bet this is something that most entrepreneur experience. We are always thinking of ways to do more with lesser time and this eventually adds on to our pressure.
I think socialize with friends on weekends does help to relieve my stress at times. I always make it a point to exercise 30 minutes a day to keep myself fit and I think it does help.
Database Software
12. May, 2010
In addition to avoiding burnout, stepping away from business (to exercise, relax, or whatever) can you give the distance you need to more objectively evaluate where your business is at and what you could be doing better. Sometimes you need that perspective to revisit your bigger picture.
Savannah Fence Company
12. May, 2010
It’s sometimes really hard to make time for a work out during a busy day, but it makes all the difference in your overall work ethic, drive and ability.
Legitiamte Work From Home Jobs
12. May, 2010
Every once in a while I need to be reminded to take time away from the stressful situations within my business. Thanks…I needed to read this post.
It’s difficult to drag myself away from my computer. After all, that’s where I make my money. But I do have the discipline to quit in the late afternoon – I have no choice…must prepare dinner and clean the house on occasion.
Samantha Milner
12. May, 2010
Hi guys,
It seems like no matter what you do in life, there will come a time you will become burned out. When it happen to me I had to stop everything and it took me about 7 months to get myself back together. It was a horrible experience for me and my family. Right now everything is back to normal and I’m really enjoying life again.
Kind regards,
Sam
X
Laptop Briefcases
12. May, 2010
Glad to hear that you got over your burned out stage Sam. Once you do get burned out it can be tough to recover and get back to where you want to be. That is why it is best to do whatever you can to prevent it from happening in the first place.
CarTransporters
13. May, 2010
Best way to get back in it 20 min work out, good diet, and nice cold red bull. Works for me.
Karthick
15. May, 2010
Fantastic five.
PHP Tutorial
16. May, 2010
At one point I was really ready to go and work at what it is I needed to do, and the next moment I felt really bad and just was in a no work mood.
Brandon Connell
16. May, 2010
You just reminded me to get off my fat behind and use the treadmill tonight. I was using it as an end table and I work at home on my laptop so I don’t nearly get enough exercise to avoid burnout. I am and have been burned out for some time now, but I keep on tickin’
Web Design Los Angeles
16. May, 2010
Health is Wealth this said is very true, as mentioned, we as entrepreneurs if not take care of our self than it would be more difficult to manage the things and work pressure but sometime it really becomes very difficult to manage that was i felt, sure i wanted to tryout your tips to stay stress free.
Credit Girl
17. May, 2010
Another thing that I love to do or actually have to do is change it up every once in awhile. The same routine can get so boring so instead of going about my usual day, i might switch a few things around just to mix it up.
Brandon Connell
20. May, 2010
I had to come back because of a burnout article I just wrote. It’s about utilizing guest posters to help contribute scheduled posts which will allow you to get breaks.
Lsmith
27. May, 2010
Great post – those are some great tips for entrepreneurs who surely work relentless hours! When it comes to opening up your own business, it’s easy to get very passionate about it and spend all your time on it, but those are some great tips to reduce stress.
Another great thing for entrepreneur or those looking to start a small business are business plan templates – they are a great resource and can help you to not feel so overwhelmed at once. You can use it to layout your initial thoughts, refine your strategy, and get materials ready to present to investors.
mature singles
12. Aug, 2010
I seem to be in front of a computer more than ever and sitting at a desk for 20hours a day is really unhealthy! Must get out more…must get out more…must get a life.
M.Akif
19. Feb, 2011
Great tip thnx
raul - como perder barriga rapidamente
22. Mar, 2011
thank you very much for the tips I apply them to avoid burnout