You’re the one always telling your team to not overwork themselves, take it easy, and ensure that they’re taking care of themselves at the end of the day. Your team is critical to your operations as a start-up business, and you can’t keep on the way you’ve been running thus far without their help. Unfortunately, too many first-time business owners get themselves caught up in the hustle-and-bustle of the business world and forget about themselves along the way. Burnout is no good for anyone, but as a first-time business owner it’s the last thing you’ll want to be dealing with. In this blog, you will know How to Avoid Burnout as a First-Time Business Owner.
Occupational burnout is a very real phenomenon – and it was even recently recognized as one by the World Health Organization, back in 2019. Too much of a good thing will lead to burnout. But how do you prosper as a first-time business owner while taking time to yourself? Is there way to balance it all?
By the way – another great way to avoid unnecessary stress as a do-it-all business owner is to carry insurance. Your friendly Calgary insurance brokers would agree that peace-of-mind is more than just a “nice thought.” It can seriously help to alleviate your stress about all the “what ifs” and the “but maybes.” That being said, here are some tips for avoiding burnout as a first-time business owner.
Be mindful of your capacity and don’t take on too much.
It can be tempting when you’re just starting out to have huge expectations and try to tackle too much at once. New clients, new contracts, new projects – you’ll want it all. After all, how else are you expected to succeed? It’s important even from the very beginning that you be mindful of what your capacity is (and this can certainly take some trial and error) and avoid taking on too much if you can. Once there are too many things on your plate, the stress can accumulate fast.
It’s OK to say no where you need to do it. If you need to, try creating a priority list to determine if the prospect incoming work is worth handling at the same time and decide based on that.
Put time aside to have to yourself and relax.
Relaxing as a business owner – and especially a first-time one – is easier said than done. Pretend like relaxation time is just as important as any meeting or any other aspect of running a business and insert a ten, twenty, or thirty minute-slot into your workday to avoid serious burnout. Take some time to do something that you enjoy which is not work-related, such as going for a walk, reading a book, or even doing some journaling. If you feel your thoughts starting to spiral, concentrate on cycling back and starting anew. It’s important to take time to let go of your daily stressors, even if it’s only for a small percentage of your day.
Physical exercise can put your overworked mind at ease.
Suffice to say, there’s so many benefits to physical exercise. Exercise can be anything from going to the gym and pumping weights, going for a run, swimming, yoga, or even just simply plotting out around a half-hour walk a day. Exercising releases endorphins, which not only boosts your mood but stabilizes it throughout the day. You can make a habit of exercising daily, or just a few times a week. This can also support your sleep, reducing your stress levels.
Exercise can be both physical and mental. Try reading a book or doing a challenging puzzle. You may even pick up a new hobby along the way to do something that is other than work. This is especially important during high times of stress or periods where you cannot get outdoors.
Know when to reach out for support.
Occupational burnout can happen, whether we do our best to prevent it. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or otherwise highly anxious, consider contacting a close family member, a friend, or even a trusted employee. Talk about anything unrelated to work, such as your favourite sports’ teams, television, video games, or your hobbies. Support can go a long way, especially during periods high stress or where you’re starting to feel the impacts of burnout.
Winter can also bring on a lot of stress, even if the workload doesn’t seem particularly high at the time. The lack of natural sunlight and the lessened opportunity to go outside and enjoy the warm weather can hit hard for some folks, so it’s a good idea to reach out when the weather gets cold, and the days get shorter. It isn’t a bad idea to check in with others around this time, either.
Burnout can be seriously difficult and has the potential to impede our business operations. Working hard is important, but it never supersedes your own health. Take care of yourself and break the cycle of overworking to support your own health and overall be a better business owner!
