24CA94B3-B84B-43FA-B544-A42D8F7D933F What is business burnout and how do you avoid it? - Business Growing Pains 24CA94B3-B84B-43FA-B544-A42D8F7D933F

What is business burnout and how do you avoid it?

by | Mar 27, 2021 | Articles by Andrew Brabant, Medium Business, Small Business, Startup Businesses

Mar 27, 2021 | Articles by Andrew Brabant, Medium Business, Small Business, Startup Businesses

Andrew Brabant

 Introduction

One of the most impactful business growing pains that an entrepreneur or business owner can experience is burnout.
It is almost inevitable unless you commit to identifying the signs and counter acting them with very specific countermeasures.
I have tried to provide some tools for identifying burnout in yourself and others and a set of ideas that you can follow in your life to ensure that you remain focused on your business and don’t feel disillusioned or resentful of your business. Business burnout can happen at any stage or time of your businesses growth from startup to large enterprise.

Business Burnout refers to frustration and lack of interest in everyday activities, which contributes to poor results. It’s the result of a long period of high stress and constant pressure to meet a certain level.
Burned-out business owners often feel like they are on their own and must do everything themselves because they don’t trust their employees to be responsible for their work.
According to the doctors who categorise burnout as a separate medical condition, the key criterion for being diagnosed is that an employee’s daily occupation – whatever their job may be – must be directly related to their mental and/or physical health deterioration. This can include a real or perceived inability to cope with the demands of the job, a problematic response to work-related stressors, or a combination of the two.
Burnout can also affect people dealing with a personal stressor that affects their ability to do their job, such as dealing with a breakup, caring for a sick family member, or grieving the death of a close one.

SIGNS YOU’RE HEADING FOR BURNOUT

Burnout in the workplace isn’t just a minor issue that needs to be addressed. It’s a difficult and pervasive reality that can have a wide range of negative consequences in your life. Burnout symptoms and job stress are frequently affected in the following ways:

  • You’re exhausted and cynical.
  • You are unable to think clearly.
  • Your performance is decreasing.
  • You’re always working even when you’re not working.
  • You have a poor attitude toward your employees.
  • You resent your familiy for dividing your time.
  • Physical symptoms such as headaches, illness.
  • Nothing looks good enough.
  • You spend less time socializing.
  • You are unable to sleep.

1.: STOP WASTING TIME AND GET ORGANIZED:

It can be a main cause of stress if you don’t control your day-to-day business administration activities, files, and other data. Disorganization is nothing more than a distraction when you’re working hard and focused on your work. Taking the time to organize your files, computer, desk, and processes can help you avoid stress-related burnout.

2.: DELEGATE AND DIVIDE RESPONSIBLIITY:

DON’T TRY TO DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF.

Recognize your areas of weakness, enlist assistance in those areas, and learn how to delegate effectively so you can maximize the most of your time and skills. Entrepreneurs have a reputation for “doing everything.” Assign appropriate tasks to qualified employees or vendors who will help you achieve your business goals. It broadens your mind and helps you to be more creative.

3.: SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS:

You’ll experience frustration, disappointment, and fatigue if you go too long without seeing any measurable results. Break down large projects, goals, hopes, tasks, and other similar items into smaller chunks.

 

Make it clear to your team what you expect of them, and let them know if late nights, early mornings, or a short weekend are expected. Set clear goals and expectations for yourself as well.
You can avoid overworking yourself for the sake of work by setting a bar to clear for the week or month.

4: IDENTIFY AND REMOVE STRESSORS:

Make a list of the things in your business that cause you the most stress and see if you can eliminate them. It could be an annoying customer who never pays on time a particular supplier, a faulty printer, or sifting through spreadsheet after spreadsheet every day.
You must identify these stressors to develop a strategic plan for getting them done and off your to-do list as quickly as possible.
Making a change can make your workday more enjoyable, lowering your risk of burnout.

5: JUST SAY NO:

It’s never easy to say no to work, but there’s no faster way to burn out than taking on work you don’t want to do.

Every “yes” you say adds to your to-do list, draining your energy and inhibiting your creativity. Reduce your immediate commitments. Some things should be put on the back burner. Make a list of your ideal client and project, and compare all incoming work to that list before accepting it.

In order for you to focus on the number 1 thing that will make the biggest difference to your business and your life, you must say no to the things that distract you from this course.

 

6: TAKE ACTION! DON’T PROCRASTINATE:

It’s understandable to put off the things you don’t want to do, but it’s not a good strategy for running a business.
As business owners, we will always have to do things that we don’t particularly want to do. They won’t go away if you avoid them. They’re still there, but they’ve turned into a real source of guilt and anxiety, making it difficult to get through the workday.
Set aside some time once a week or once a month to focus solely on the tasks at hand. It might be contacting the Tax office, figuring out your technology, reviewing your database, or making those follow-up phone calls. Reduce the frustration of a never-ending to-do list by simply getting things done.

 

 7: SET WORK HOURS:

It’s too easy to see and find work that needs to be done and therefore work around the clock to get it done, but this is inefficient

When you’re dealing with work overload daily, it can feel like you’re on a treadmill and that you’ll never catch up. This is discouraging, stressful, and frequently results in burnout.
When we have a schedule, some of us perform better. If you find yourself in this situation, consider setting aside specific work hours. It can be 9-5, 5-9, or whatever hours work best for you, but once you’ve established a schedule, stick to it.

 

Conclusion

The most efficient way to avoid burnout is to schedule and commit to regular holidays experiencing something new or doing what you love, or just relaxing for a change.

This is the most effective way to avoid burnout, and it’s also the one that most of us overlook. You get sucked into a culture that requires you to work too many hours a day, too many days a week because you’re so passionate about your work and committed to your goals.

Vacations are a good way to get away from it all. Holidays allow you to recharge your batteries, maintain perspective, and revive your passion for what you do.

Some other great ideas for building resiliance and gaining equalibrium are:

  • Exercise
  • Meditation
  • Sports
  • Hobbies
  • Mentoring & Coaching

What ever it is that allows your body and mind to recharge, then make sure you do it.  Growing a business is a journey and not a destination.

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