Burned Out? 3 Ways to Get Your Groove Back as a Business Owner
Original photography posted at Unsplash by Bethany Legg.
Original article posted at Architectural Digest by Stefanie Waldek.
It’s been a long, long year, so it stands to reason you might be feeling a little burned out all around. But work-related burnout, in particular, can happen whether or not there’s a global crisis, and it’s unfortunately a very common phenomenon for business owners who are constantly pushing themselves (and potentially their employees) to the limit.
“I know I’m burned out when the aspects of my job which typically bring me great joy begin to feel like a burden,” says product designer Lauren Meichtry of Elsie Home.
“The stress-burnout pattern is cyclical. Increased stress increases burnout, which in turn increases stress,” says industrial psychologist Dr. Gena Cox, founder of executive consultancy Feels Human. “Business owners must manage their stress and the stress of their employees so they do not reach the burnout phase. Reducing burnout is much more difficult than reducing stressors.”
But if you’re caught in that loop, don’t feel hopeless. There are ways to recover—and to learn from the experience to prevent it from happening again. Here are three behavior-based steps you should take to keep burnout at bay.
Take a break.
While you might feel the need to keep hustling through a period of burnout—running a business is definitely an uphill climb that requires stamina—if you’ve reached the point of burnout, it’s crucial to give yourself a breather to recalibrate before finishing a project. “It might seem counterintuitive, but taking time off when I’m particularly overworked or stressed helps me get centered,” says interior designer Dana Wolter. “I am task-oriented, so slowing down and setting aside my to-do list for a few days offers rejuvenation and insight. I find it is in the quiet times that I am most rejuvenated, creative, and inspired.”
Along those lines, start staying no to new projects that don’t feel right. “Oftentimes, I’ve found that I get burned out because of a difficult client, and in the most recent instances, I forced myself to complete both projects, which led me to hate my job for about a year afterward,” says interior designer Sarah Stacey. “Nowadays, I walk away from projects quickly that aren’t a good fit. One job isn’t worth burnout.”
In saying no to something that doesn’t feel right, you can give yourself room to find the projects that really get you going rather than bog you down, which ultimately will grow your business in a more sustainable direction.
Don’t harp on the past—but do learn from it.
If you find yourself falling into the “I wish I had done this instead” mentality when you’re burned out, don’t linger in that negative place too long. Instead, use those thoughts to redirect yourself toward a path that will alleviate stress and prevent burnout in the future. “Business owners can manage their own burnout by redefining the goalpost,” says Cox. “They need to let go of what could have been and focus on making the most of the new reality. The longer they delay on this, the more they will be stressed.”
When you have the mental capacity to do so, take a step back and consider the roadblocks in your overall workflow that might have contributed to your burnout so you can address them moving forward. “I have recently increased my staff so that we can find some balance. We have also streamlined our processes and focused on being hyper-organized,” says Wolter. “In a hectic time, like we’re in at the moment, being organized and efficient just helps alleviate some of the stress that comes along with this business.”
Find accountability buddies.
Developing camaraderie among colleagues can definitely provide an emotional boost when you’re feeling drained. “I scheduled days to work with close colleagues to keep me motivated to work,” says Stacey of a recent period of burnout.
But don’t just vent with your work friends about the challenges you’re facing. Instead, expand your network to other business owners; set goals together, and hold each other accountable for acknowledging and alleviating stressors in the workplace. Says Cox: “The best way for a business owner to build their confidence is to have a clearer sense of what is happening ‘out there,’ rather than navel-gazing.”