All small business owners are going to experience work burnout at one point or another. The trick is to recognize small business burnout before it starts. Additionally, you should have a plan in place for when you feel less than motivated at your company.
First things first. According to Wikipedia, burnout is a psychological term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work.
Causes
One of the many reasons small business owners experience burnout is they are running on empty. They are putting in long hours at the office and suffer complete exhaustion. Not taking care of yourself physically will burn you out quickly.
Another cause for small business burnout is stress and/or anxiety. As a business owner, you will have to deal with difficult situations including angry customers, disgruntled employees, accounting issues, etc. Stress causes burnout and burnout causes more stress – it’s a vicious cycle.
Are you trying to manage every aspect of your business? How many “office hats” do you wear? Most small businesses include a variety of departments including: marketing, business development, HR to name a few. It’s great to set high standards for yourself, but you need to delegate some of the work. If you can financially afford it, hire people to help. You’ll be happy you did
Solutions
Take care of your physical needs is the number one way to avoid office burnout. You need to make sure you are eating three meals a day, exercising, and socializing with friends. There are a number of other ways you can unwind including massage, reflexology, and even talk therapy.
Enjoy your free time. Do you have a spouse and/or children? Even if you don’t have those, you’re bound to have friends and/or pets. Spend time with these people (or animals) and plan fun activities. Don’t bring your smartphone unless you absolutely have to.
One of the best ways to avoid burnout is to create a routine. In today’s digital age, there are a variety of ways to organize your life. You can create repeating tasks at work, schedule breaks, and set aside time for employees. Remember, it takes doing something 30 times before making it a habit so stick with it.
Small business burnout is 100% avoidable. Watch out for burnout triggers such as running on empty and major stress. Take some time to enjoy your non-work life and you’ll never have to experience office burnout again!
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