When your days are filled with tonnes of emails to check, meetings to attend, fires to put out, and many responsibilities to take care of, it won’t be surprising to find yourself feeling weak, tired, anxious, irritable, exhausted, drained, depressed, forgetful and the list goes on. How do you manage burnout and work fatigue so that you can sustain yourself for the long haul?
There are different ways to deal with burnout. One, you can do something before it happens and, two, you can find a way to overcome it or relieve yourself from it when it occurs. Burnout is a huge challenge to many business owners, so we have put together a few tips, including some pointers and experience shares from entrepreneurs John Anderton, Founder and CEO of Butterfly, Mark Calabro, Co-Founder of HungryHungry, and Anthony Holdstock, Director and Owner of Sharp & Carter.
Try to separate home and work, workdays and weekends
Setting boundaries between work and personal life can be a struggle for many entrepreneurs. However, you often need to switch off from all the demands of the role and devote certain time for self-care. Take some time to focus on yourself after work or during weekends. While it can be a challenge, it is something that can be beneficial in the long run.
It is a tough thing that Mark tries to conquer as well. “I try to keep work away from weekends but that’s difficult as knowing I have a tonne of stuff to round off from the week gone, which also builds anxiety, so it’s not easy.”
John sees it as a way to avoid burnout by having a “strong separation between home and work”, such as “ignoring emails at night and on weekends,” for example.
Know your limits and learn to say “no”
Even though you want to be on top of everything and stay in control of things within and around you, there are times when you need to say “no” or acknowledge the stop sign before you run out of energy to keep going. Especially that entrepreneurs are living a life that is always on the go and with various obligations to attend to, it is better to take a pause and assess if the things before you are something you can carry out at the moment. If not, delegate tasks to your team. Seek help when needed.
“Knowing my limits” is one of the ways John deal with work burnout and entrepreneurial fatigue. There is wisdom in not going beyond what your body and mind cannot take. There’s nothing wrong with admitting there are certain things that no longer be accommodated on your plate. Listen to your body. Don’t overdo yourself to the extent that you exhaust yourself.
Take a break or vacation
“Rest if you must, but don’t you quit” is a famous line in the poem “Don’t Quit” by Edgar A. Guest. True enough, resting is not quitting. Instead, it is one way to recharge yourself so that you will have all the energy to tackle the next big thing along your journey.
A vacation is also something that John finds helpful in avoiding or relieving one of burnout. “Holidays or at least dreaming about holidays,” he commented. It’s good to be away for a while, be in a different environment or scenery, and do something that you don’t get to enjoy every day, for a change. It allows the mind and body to rejuvenate and have more stamina when coming back for work.
Exercise
Exercise can do wonders not only to the body but also to the mind and one’s overall wellbeing. This is why John makes sure that “Physical exercise is built into my weekly routine,” he revealed.
Anthony has been keeping up with his exercise as well. He shared, “I don’t think I have ever had burnout or experienced burnout. But maybe that’s because of what I do consistently. I exercise for 1 hour at 5 or 6 times per week; running 10km every second day and HIT/Strength workouts on the other days and 1 to 2 rest days per week.”
On the other hand, Mark admits to facing certain challenges when dealing with burnout, but he tries to overcome them with exercise. “I struggle. Exercise is my sure way of levelling myself out, usually with a 3-4km run.”
Meditate and reflect
Meditation and reflection can help you clear your mind, organise your thoughts and focus on the more important matters. It can also open your mind to insights and ideas that you may have missed due to the various things that have been preoccupying your mind. You can take a few minutes each day to just have some quiet moment by yourself and do meditation exercises. Reflection also helps you review the things you’ve done and give serious thought to what is on hand or those that are about to come.
It is one of the preferences that Anthony does to avoid getting burned out from work. “I try to make sure I have time set aside for reflection, learning and family time,” he remarked.
Spend time with family and friends
Spending time with your loved one -- be it in the comforts of your home, the fun and familiar atmosphere of your favourite hangout place or the excitement of a trip -- can help ease your worries and burdens. The positive energy you generate by being surrounded by people who are dear to you can inspire you to have a better outlook of work, despite its many challenges. As Anthony has mentioned above, quality time with his family is something that he makes sure to set aside in his schedule.
Read, learn and equip yourself
To take a cue from Anthony’s remark about setting aside time for learning, trying something new that can expand your knowledge and hone your talents can get you motivated. Learn a new skill, tap on your creativity or start a new hobby. Read books about your interests, grow a garden, build a piece of furniture, do some handicraft, or study a new language. There are lots of activities that can take your mind away from the pressures of your job while, at the same time, contribute to developing your capabilities as an entrepreneur and a person. Little accomplishments from your other interests or new endeavours can increase your drive to do better at work.
Talk with someone who can understand your situation
Sometimes, all it takes is for you to be able to let out your frustrations, problems and disappointments that come with your many responsibilities as a business owner. That is why it is helpful to surround yourself with like-minded people who can understand and relate to your predicament. This is the beauty of EO through its Forum, which fosters peer-to-peer sharing between members in a trusted and confidential environment.
How do you deal with burnout and fatigue? What are the ways you do to overcome it? We’d love to hear from you. Share a tip in the comments section below.