3 Simple Steps to Prevent Burnout As a Business Owner

As a business owner, you have a lot on the go and slowing down isn’t always an option in order to see your business succeed. But when you consider the fact that more than one in three Canadians are experiencing burnout, it might be time to reassess your mental, physical and emotional health to ensure you’re not running the risk of burnout.   So, what exactly is burnout and how do you prevent it as a business owner? Keep reading to find out.   What Is Burnout?   Any working employee can run the risk of burnout, but business owners might actually be more at risk. That’s because as a business owner, you’re often solely responsible for the success or failure of your business, and that can lead to a high amount of stress and anxiety.   Burnout is a mix of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by stress over a prolonged period of time. The symptoms of burnout can include:  

• Physical aches and pains
• Disrupted sleep
• Reduced productivity
• Irritation
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Detachment
• Frequent illnesses

  These are just some of the signs of burnout, but it can look different for everyone. And as a business owner, the signs and symptoms of burnout can make it even more difficult to run your business, contributing to a vicious cycle of stress and anxiety.       How to Avoid Burnout As a Business Owner   Avoiding burnout as a business owner is critical. After all, when your employees and your business depend on you, you can’t afford to be sidelined by these symptoms. So, how do you prevent burnout while still maximizing your productivity and effort to see your business succeed? It’s certainly easier said than done, but there are steps you can take and we’ll dive into them next.   3 Steps to Prevent and Avoid Burnout   Preventing burnout comes down to three simple steps, but it’s how seriously you take these steps that makes the difference.  

1. Recognize and watch for the symptoms of burnout.

 

2. Act on the first signs of burnout by seeking support and finding ways to manage your stress.

 

3. Prevent burnout from occurring by building up your resilience to stress through diet, exercise, and by creating outlets to release stress regularly.

  So, how do these apply to you as a business owner? You’re in a somewhat unique position, given the fact that starting and running a business comes with a certain amount of stress and long hours as a default. But there are ways to give yourself a better chance of preventing burnout, such as:  

• Having a trusted person help monitor you for signs of burnout. This can be your significant other, your business partner, a parent, a friend, or anyone that you trust to know when something is off and help you act on it.

 

• If you start to feel overwhelmed, find ways to lean on your employees to help relieve some of the burden. After all, that’s what they’re there for!

 

• Build daily stress outlets into your life in the form of hobbies, exercise, and time with friends/family. Even just thirty minutes twice a day can drastically improve your mood and emotional health to stave off burnout. Consider this as protected time in your calendar.

 

• Take care of your physical health by eating well and finding exercise that you enjoy doing. Your physical health is incredibly important to your overall health and wellness, but it’s often a low priority for business owners with long hours and high stress.

 

• Reevaluate your time. When are you most productive during the day, and are you using that time block for the most important items on your to-do list? Are you wasting time on tasks that could be delegated? A weekly review of your time can help you not only be more organized and focused, but also help ensure you’re spending time on what matters most to the success of the business.

    Stress and anxiety are a fact of life, especially as a business owner. But taking care of your health and wellness can pay you back dividends when it comes to seeing your business succeed long term. After all, if you’re benched because of burnout, who will give your business the care and attention it needs?   Key Takeaways   Owning a business is no easy feat. In fact, small business owners say that running a business is four times as stressful as raising children. Prevention is absolutely key when it comes to burnout, so be sure to pay attention to the signs before it spirals out of control.   We’re here to help. Let us take some of the work off your plate with expert accounting advice and bookkeeping services. Contact us today to see how we can help.