Starting a new business is hard work. There are so many things to do and so many pieces to put into place that a new business owner can quickly find themselves overwhelmed and suffering from burnout. Burnout is defined as the “complete exhaustion of a person’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being.” Nearly half of new business owners report feeling burned out from working long hours and trying to do it all. Here are nine easy ways to avoid burnout when starting a new business.
1. Have Others Help You
One of the best ways to avoid burnout when starting a new business is having others help you get started. Many new business owners try to do everything themselves, investing long hours and lots of mental energy in getting their new business off of the ground. Working without relief is a surefire path to burnout. Instead of trying to do everything yourself, find a trusted individual or two that you can delegate some of the more trivial tasks to so you can focus your energy on the things that matter the most.
2. Have A Set Schedule
Working from sunrise to sunset every day isn’t healthy for anyone, no matter how stoic you may be. To create healthy boundaries between your work life and your personal life, create a schedule for when you will work on building your business and when you will stop to focus on your personal life. Setting boundaries early will help you avoid burnout later on down the road.
3. Take A Day To Unplug
One of the things that contributes to burnout when starting a new business is not taking a break from work-related technology. At least once a week, you should take a day when you don’t make work-related phone calls, don’t check your work-related emails, and refrain from tasks that are business related. For many new business owners, that day is Sunday because fewer businesses are open, but that day can be any day of the week that fits into your business plan.
4. Take Care Of Yourself
Another way to avoid burnout when starting a new business is to make sure you are taking care of your physical and mental health. Sometimes when we get busy, we can forget to eat or choose unhealthy foods because they are fast. We can also stay indoors or stay seated for too long and choose working over a healthy amount of sleep. Make sure you are taking breaks, eating healthy at reasonable times, and getting the proper amount of sleep to keep your body and mind in good shape.
Other Ways To Avoid Burnout When Starting A New Business
- Go outside regularly to get fresh air and some exercise.
- Take time out for your hobbies and other things you enjoy doing.
- Change the scenery from time to time so you are not looking at the same things all of the time.
- Network with other new business owners for strategy sessions and problem solving.
- Take a break if you are feeling overwhelmed so you can de-stress and regroup.
Too Much Hustle Can Be Harmful
While working hard can be a virtue, an endless hustle can be harmful to your health and your mind. The human body can only take so much and needs time to regain energy and focus. Sometimes, you have to take a step back from the grind and refocus your mind. These nine tips to help you avoid burnout when starting a new business are a great place to start.
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Toi Williams began her writing career in 2003 as a copywriter and editor and has authored hundreds of articles on numerous topics for a wide variety of companies. During her professional experience in the fields of Finance, Real Estate, and Law, she has obtained a broad understanding of these industries and brings this knowledge to her work as a writer.
