Entrepreneurs and small business owners experience higher burnout than traditional workers because they work longer hours and twice as hard. When you’re an entrepreneur, you’re running all aspects of your business, from managing employees and inventory to doing marketing and, for some, bookkeeping. 1-in 3 entrepreneurs work more than 50hours a week, while 1-in-5 work upwards of 60+ hours a week! While having a strong work ethic is important, non-stop work can’t go on forever, as there’s usually a breaking point, aka burnout.
In this article, learn ways to keep the flame of your business going–without burning out.
There are many freedoms and advantages to running your own business, but in today’s work culture, where everyone is always on, it can be a challenge to step away from your work and carve out time for yourself. With all the pressure on your shoulders, experiencing burnout is inevitable.
Avoid Getting Overwhelmed
As a business owner, you set the tempo. If your motor is constantly running, the work continues. Eventually, this pattern will consume you to the point where you’re losing track of tasks, feeling overwhelmed, and potentially letting down clients–not good! So how do you avoid feeling overwhelmed by your work? By stepping back and taking a broad view of your business.
The advantage of owning and running your business is that you can reflect on the things that are working and the things that aren’t. If you have a staff, think of ways to delegate tasks better, so it’s not all on you!
Cut Back On Your Hours
While working excess hours has some benefits, like completing more tasks, it takes a toll on your physical and mental health. If you’re regularly bringing work home, it’s hard to turn the work off. Create boundaries and set hours for your business because when you don’t stop, the work won’t stop.
Delegate Tasks
When running a small business or starting an entrepreneurial venture, it can be tempting to be involved and take control of every aspect of your business. While that might feel like the right thing to do, you’re adding more responsibility to your plate, and that’s a quick way to experience burnout. The early stages of setting up a business are the perfect time to delegate tasks and take some responsibility off your shoulders. That can look like hiring a virtual, part-time, or full-time assistant to help with client communications or hiring an accountant to do bookkeeping. Remember, employee satisfaction grows when employees have autonomy in their positions.
Take Time Off
Remember to take breaks throughout your workday. Whether that’s going for a short walk around the block, running an errand, or simply taking a lunch break by yourself. These quiet moments will make the work day more productive and meaningful.
Go on vacations! You’re allowed to disconnect from work and enjoy your personal life. Consider taking multiple short vacations throughout the year instead of one big trip–this gives you things to look forward to. That way, you’re not waiting for one dedicated week off all year.
Have A Life Outside Of Work
One of the best ways to avoid feelings of burnout is by respecting the work-life balance of you and your employees. Encourage employees to use their vacation time, put policies in place of no work emails after a certain time, and create a flexible work environment where employees can take time for doctors’ appointments. When you and your employees have a rich life outside of work, it keeps the feeling of burnout at bay.
Establish Priorities At Work
Being a business owner can feel like you’re a chicken running around with its head cut off. You’re busy juggling various tasks, and it’s easy to lose sight of which tasks take priority. To achieve your goals/vision, it’s a good idea to take a step back and figure out your true priorities. A great way to do this is by working with an EOS® (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Implementer like Tabetha Sheaver. Tabetha helps entrepreneurs and business managers implement EOS® strategies to strengthen key components of their business, set boundaries, and create structure in the workplace–helping establish priorities and streamline tasks
How Tabetha Helps Entrepreneurs Succeed
The Entrepreneurial Operating System® is a proven system that helps businesses clarify, simplify and achieve their vision.
An EOS Implementer like Tabetha helps business owners build a strong foundation for their business to grow on top by implementing the key principles of EOS®: strategy, execution, and control. Tabetha will guide you through every step of the implementation process to help your business goals, ideas, and plans come to fruition.
What are you waiting for? Schedule a call with Tabetha Sheaver today. She has the insights and years of experience to help take your business in a new direction.
Tabetha Sheaver is a CEO, executive coaching specialist, project management professional (PMI), and an award-winning business success partner. She helps CEOs regain control of their companies with organizational change management strategies. While helping entrepreneurial leadership teams to be open, honest, and healthy, Tabetha’s experience and insight have made her an in-demand public speaker and presenter nationwide.
