5 Ways to Avoid Burnout as an Entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur and most times a boss can take a toll on you, and you might experience a bad day or bad week once in a while. However, experiencing burnout goes beyond just having a bad day. Author Christine Louise defines burnout as “a ‘silent condition’ induced by chronic stress that is characterized by emotional [or] physical exhaustion, cynicism and a lack of professional efficacy.” Burnout is psychological and it could result to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work. It has been mostly assumed to result from chronic occupational stress (e.g., work overload). If you are the kind of entrepreneur that wears his ‘workaholism’ like a badge of honour, any semblance of a balanced life might soon fly out of the window. You suddenly might not have the energy or desire to hang out with your friends; you might constantly neglect your health and become disillusioned with your work. Left unchecked, burnout can wreak havoc on your health, happiness, relationships and job performance. And the after effect could be devastating. So, In order to recognize burnout and combat it early, it’s important to know what to look out for. Fatigue: The moment you start to feel tired and exhausted over every little thing (mental or physical), it’s time to take a step back. You might be experiencing burnout. Loss of Passion and Motivation: There was a time you were totally in love with your job and your passion was over the top, but now you lack motivation and passion to do same job. Suddenly it is hard to get yourself to work in the morning and you just have the uncontrollable urge to call in sick. You are experiencing burnout. Sudden Mood Swings: Maybe you are not prone to mood swings; you even used to be the jolliest fellow in the room but all of a sudden you can’t find a stable mood.  The moment you start to feel alienated, depressed and depersonalized you are burning out. Work is Your Life: You no longer have friends. All you do is work, and all you think about is work to the extent that people around you complain that you work too much. Failing Health:  A good sign of an impending burnout is when you start to fall ill more often as chronic stress usually takes a toll on one’s health.   So, now that we know what to look out for, how do we avoid burnout? These are 5 simple ways:   1. Choose your battles Being an entrepreneur can be a daunting task. You have so many job descriptions; some of which you enjoy doing and some that you do just because they have to be done. To avoid burnout, you have to choose your battles. Out of the many things you have to do, focus on the things that you enjoy doing and spend more time doing them. When you are doing what you enjoy, it’s easier to avoid burnout. 2. Make time for yourself As much as you believe your growing business needs all your attention, you also need your attention. As an entrepreneur you have a lot to do, so it might seem logical to skip some meals, cancel a date and become nocturnal. However, your body needs care and attention to grow. When your body is not getting enough care, it is likely to break down. If you really want to keep the business running, then take time to rest, hang out with friends and eat right. Remember health is wealth. 3.  Find your balance Finding the balance between work and play can be difficult. You don’t want to work too much that your body gives up on you, at the same time you don’t want to play too much and let the job suffer. So find a balance between these two; work hard and play hard. 4. Plan and Take a vacation Work can be emotionally and physically tasking. You need to be alert and in tune with your passion for the business to progress. So at the beginning of the year, plan a vacation and take it. Try not to postpone this vacation. Go somewhere enlightening and refreshing. 5. Cut yourself some slack You are human and can make mistakes.  Give yourself a chance to make mistakes then learn from them. Don’t be so hard on yourself that you compare yourself to Captain America. Allow yourself to be emotional; be tired. Get in touch with your weak side; indulge it when it seems feeble. If you keep repressing the emotions and get too hard on yourself, you risk a burnout and ultimately a nervous breakdown.   About the Writer: Chris Bamidele is a passionate and unapologetic Nigerian, who believes in God and humanity. He is a writer, blogger, and an aspiring Television Director; and an optimist to the core. He blogs at www.chrisbamidele.wordpress.com and tweets @Chrisbamidele

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This article was first published on 16th February 2015

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