There’s no getting around it; burnout is real. I had heard about it and brushed it off as a slight inconvenience, but experiencing real burnout was completely life-altering for me. If you’re a solopreneur (working from home, parent, or all of the above), then your days are full from beginning to end. Burnout eased up on me, and before I knew it, I was all tuckered out. No matter how much I tried to push through and snap out of it, I was sluggish, unenthused, and generally feeling unlike myself. If you’re feeling burned out or just want to know how to avoid this doom and gloom situation potentially, then I have 3 tips to steer you through or around this not-so-joyous-experience. Here goes:
01 | Boundaries
We hear about establishing boundaries regularly, as a business owner and in life, in general, but adequately doing so is another story. When you’re busy, powering through appears to be the solution. You have things to do, people depending on you, and life doesn’t stop because you’re not up to it. So what do you do? You establish proper boundaries. If you’re a solopreneur or working from home, be sure to establish a work start and stop time. Be firm with yourself and don’t allow the just-let-me-accomplish-one-more-thing attitude persuade you. You may also consider reducing your work hours and really settling into work when you schedule work time. If we’re honest with ourselves, longer work hours don’t necessarily equate to greater productivity. Also, avoid the temptation to work on weekends. Your body and mind need adequate breaks to be productive. If you’re working 7 days a week, eventually, burnout will catch-up to you.
02 | Scheduled Self-Care
Scheduling self-care is difficult because it feels optional and sometimes guilt-inducing. No one will know if you’re not taking care of yourself, and almost no one (besides you) will care if you’re not doing it. Can I tell you that it matters? It really does. Our bodies and minds need regular breaks, adventure, humor, love, and relaxation. If you’re not giving yourself this important care, you’re robbing yourself of happiness and increased productivity. I know because I’ve neglected self-care while knowing its benefits. In my burnout period, I could no longer ignore the need to take care of myself. It was too apparent that not doing so would cost me greatly, so I did it.
The first week of intentional self-care, I scheduled a weekend trip to Savannah. The city is a relatively short drive from my home and allowed me to stay within most pandemic safeguards, so I went for it. It didn’t entirely do the trick of bringing me back to myself, but it certainly helped. I was able to let go of my environment for a bit and embrace something new. I left most of my electronics (except my iPad and phone) at home, so I didn’t feel compelled to work. I also scheduled sight-seeing and dining so I knew that I would be immersed in my trip.
On my second self-care weekend, I went out boating with my family. My Dad, Captain Bob, as he is known within our group, navigated us through various areas on the Gulf of Mexico. It was relaxing and the perfect self-care expedition to get me out of my burnout rut. Your self-care doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it does need to be effective, whatever that means for you. For me, it meant leaving work in the 9-5, Monday through Friday category, disconnecting from my e-mail – after hours and on weekends, and changing up my environment and routine.
03 | Re-examining Your Journey
When you’re on the road to or through burnout, you need to take time to re-examine your journey. Why did you start your company? Are things going the way you envisioned? Are you truly living the life that you thought that you would? If you’re not, then make a plan to slowly course correct. Where are you meeting your marks? What needs to be different to get to the life you truly want to lead? Let your questions and small but daily actions lead you back to the life you want.