Entrepreneurship can be one of the toughest professions in the world. Almost every employee dreams of being their own boss. But is that the best career approach?
When I started off as an entrepreneur way back in 2004, little did I realize the territory that comes with it. Sometimes, entrepreneurs end up working 10 to 14-hour days for more than a decade and may have only debts and bad health to show for it.
One widespread problem with entrepreneurs that many people don’t talk about is burnout. Entrepreneurial burnout is real, especially among work-from-home business owners because the separation between work and play can be hard. Besides, loneliness can be more dangerous than any disease in the world.
Research has shown that work-from-home can be dangerous if not handled properly.
What Is Entrepreneur Burnout?
Burnout is when you have nothing left in your tank – mentally, emotionally, or physically. It’s a complete breakdown of your physical and mental state.
Why Does It Happen?
There can be several reasons for burnout. Here are some of them.
#1 Prolonged Periods of Stress
Stress for prolonged periods of time is a major reason. Entrepreneurs generally don’t shut up shop; they are working almost 24 hours a day, if not physically at least mentally.
A person working a 9-to-5 job generally shuts up shop after his workday is over. However, entrepreneurs are constantly worried about cash flow, day-to-day tasks, hiring, and strategy even when the day is over. There are no set working hours for an entrepreneur.
Overworking can be detrimental to an entrepreneur. The human body is delicate and can only handle a certain amount of pressure at a time. However, pressure and stress are part of the job. Prolonged stress for several years can be extremely dangerous.
Unexpected business events like lack of cash flow, losing customers, and longer operational hours can overwhelm an entrepreneur at any given point.
#2 Lack of Meaningful Progress
Hard work does not always produce results. After several years, if the business is still struggling, it can cause regret and loss of confidence, even leading to depression.
#3 Failure and Loss
Many entrepreneurs have filed for bankruptcy after sacrificing decades of their life building a business. Savings wiped out. Submerged in debt, and not knowing if they will ever find a job to pay off their debts can drain an entrepreneur emotionally, especially if they have a family.
What are the symptoms of burnout?
Almost every entrepreneur experiences burnout sometime or another. It’s important to know the symptoms and take necessary precautions.
Here are the symptoms to watch out for:
#1 Complete Exhaustion
If even after a good night’s sleep, you still wake up tired and exhausted, then it’s a sign of burnout. Body aches, bad stomach, and headaches are common symptoms.
#2 Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Imagine getting angry for no reason or panicking over simple things. All these are signs that one is close to being burned out.
#3 Feeling Overwhelmed
Are simple tasks that were simple and easy taking longer than expected? Even sending an email or going for a meeting can seem overwhelming.
#4 Loss of Enthusiasm and Motivation
The best part of entrepreneurship is waking up to do what you love. Most entrepreneurs find the weekends to be boring and can’t wait for the week to begin. However, when burnout strikes, entrepreneurs tend to become less enthusiastic and lose motivation to do anything they once loved.
How Do You Avoid Burning Out?
Burnout can happen to anybody if they don’t watch out. Here are some ways to reduce the probability of burnout happening to you.
#1 Set Realistic Expectations
Disappointments can happen if one doesn’t achieve his or her goals. Warren Buffet says, “We enjoy the process more than the proceeds.” Entrepreneurship should be about doing what you love, not necessarily becoming the next billionaire.
Keep your expenses low, stay out of debt, and figure out a strategy that helps you cover your monthly expenses without going into debt.
#2 Establish Appropriate Boundaries
Get a social life. It’s common for entrepreneurs to mix up their personal and professional lives. Take a break after a long day’s work. Try to maintain balance if you are working from home.
#3 Stick to Fewer Goals
Many of us have a huge list of goals. When one is self-employed, it is easy to get distracted by new goals. Write down your goals, and then focus on your five most important goals. Ignore your other goals until you have achieved your five most important goals in life.
What do you do if you are already burned out?
If you are already burned out, there is no need to worry. Don’t lose hope; it’s possible to recover.
Here are a few things you can do.
#1 Introspect
If your existing lifestyle has caused you to burn out, then it’s time to change your lifestyle. Think, what got you here? What are the habits that are causing you to burnout? Make a ‘Do-Not-Do’ list and replace them with a ‘To-Do’ list.
#2 Eat Well
Eventually, we are what we eat. It’s easy for entrepreneurs to ignore their health. Good nutrition can reverse the side effects of burnout. Even better—hire a nutritionist who can help you with your diet.
#3 Exercise Frequently
Just like a diet, exercise can play a role in mitigating stress. Exercise releases endorphins or happy hormones that can make you happy.
#4 Get Professional Help
Don’t be scared to acquire professional help. Seek help from a counselor or a therapist. Burnout is too serious an issue to fix it yourself.
Conclusion
When burnout strikes an entrepreneur, passion can turn into stress, which is difficult to manage. Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint, so it’s important to identify ways to stay passionate without burning out.
