As a small business owner, you pour your heart and soul into your venture. When the next, big exciting idea comes up, you chase it. You get caught up in the hamster wheel of keeping up with posting online, answering the emails, writing the blog posts, building the email list, paying the taxes, meetings…it’s a LOT. While entrepreneurship can be rewarding, it also comes with its fair share of challenges, including the risk of burnout. The relentless pursuit of success, long working hours, and the weight of responsibilities can take a toll on your mental and physical well-being. In this blog post, we'll explore the signs of burnout, its impact on small business owners, and I’ll offer up some actionable tips to help you navigate burnout and regain your passion for your business. This post is for me as I’m coming out of a pretty intense season of burnout and I thought I’d share my learnings for others who may be in a similar boat.

Navigating Burnout as a Small Business Owner: Tips for Getting Back on Track 

Recognizing the Signs of Burnout

First things first, let’s talk about what burnout looks like. Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion, often resulting from prolonged periods of high stress and overwhelming responsibilities. In my course The Art Within, I talk a lot about burnout and the power of flow state with Dr. Lara Salyer and this topic is something that hits very close to home for me as I’ve been in the middle of navigating a season of burnout myself. Some symptoms I’ve had an some common signs of burnout include:

Exhaustion: Feeling drained and fatigued, even after a full night's sleep.

Lack of Motivation: Struggling to find joy and enthusiasm in tasks you once enjoyed.

Decreased Productivity: Experiencing a decline in work performance and efficiency.

Emotional Detachment: Feeling disconnected or detached from your business and clients.

Physical Symptoms: Experiencing headaches, stomach issues, or increased illness.

Irritability and Mood Swings: Becoming easily frustrated or experiencing mood swings.

And something I didn’t realize until recently with talking with one of my mentors was, I think I’ve been pushing through burnout for a few years now. Just piling on the next deadline, course launch or season to push through and forcing myself to ignore the symptoms of burnout through distractions. Can you feel me?

Tips for Getting Out of Burnout

Recognize and Accept Burnout:

The first step in overcoming burnout is acknowledging its presence. This was a big one for me. Like I said above, I think I’ve been in a season of burnout for a really long time and it wasn’t until I acknowledged it that doors and opportunities for rest and growth opened up. Allow yourself to accept that burnout is a real and common experience. Avoid self-criticism and remember that burnout does not define your abilities as an entrepreneur.

Take a Break and Rest:

Step away from your business for a short period to recharge and don’t feel guilty. Nothing is more important than your health. Nothing. Whether it's a day off, a weekend retreat, or a two week vacation, giving yourself time to rest and rejuvenate is crucial for recovering from burnout. Better to rest now than find yourself bed ridden from exhaustion and health issues due to overworking.

Reconnect with Your Passion:

Because I allowed myself to pause and rest, I’ve been able to reflect on what initially fueled my passion for my business. Why did you start your business? Rediscover the reasons why you started your journey and realign your goals with your core values. Maybe this looks like making really big changes with your business, hiring or delegating so you can spend your time doing what lights you up, or maybe it looks like completely reinventing your business because it no longer aligns! Allow yourself to go through this process to reignite your enthusiasm for your work.

Set Boundaries:

This is so important, but incredibly difficult for business owners to turn it off. In order to avoid burnout, you must establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Avoid overworking and prioritize self-care. Learn to say no to additional commitments that could exacerbate burnout. I was so guilty of just working myself to the bone, saying yes to things and crazy deadlines because it just had to be done, but this is a trap. If everything is urgent, nothing is. Set priorities and boundaries around your work and your life.

Delegate and Seek Support:

Delegate tasks to capable team members or consider outsourcing non-core activities. If you don’t know what I mean by non-core activities, check out my blog post on time management. Seek support from friends, family, or a business coach who can provide valuable guidance and encouragement. Some of the best money I’ve ever spent has been hiring a life coach. I never thought I’d be one of those people, but I found someone who’s shown me the importance of pouring into myself, helped me change my perspective and bring clarity to my decisions and life. Mentorship and guidance is HUGE.

Practice Mindfulness and Stress-Relief Techniques:

Engage in mindfulness practices like meditation or deep breathing exercises. I’m a huge fan of the app The Breathing Room and meditation is something I talk about and demonstrate my process quite a bit in The Art Within. These techniques can help reduce stress and improve mental clarity.

Reevaluate Your Business Strategies:

Assess your current business strategies and make adjustments where needed. Focus on high-impact tasks and let go of those that are not contributing significantly to your business goals. Remember, as the CEO of your business, you should be focusing on CEO tasks. When we get caught up in the minor tasks that don’t allow us to be in our zone of genius, that is where burnout and fatigue set in. You didn’t set out to start this business so you can spend your time answering emails.

By recognizing the signs of burnout and taking proactive steps to address it, you can reclaim your passion for your business and regain a sense of balance and well-being. Remember, you are not alone, and seeking support from others can be instrumental in your journey to overcome burnout and continue thriving as an entrepreneur. Prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and remember that taking care of yourself is vital for the success of your business in the long run.