By being hyper focused on and super excited about your business, you can find it very hard to avoid burnout.
In getting started in business or in re-creating your business for substantial positive growth towards entrepreneurial freedom I have used this quote often;
“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.”
Unfortunately there can be a high price to pay if you develop a habit of non-stop working in a highly stressed state that continues throughout your career. Often you feel external pressure to continue the pace. You may mistakenly believe (likely unconsciously) that busy means productive, long hours leads to success, and stopping means diminished results. Your sense of worth becomes inextricably tied to your work.
By not building quality renewal into your business model and day to day action plan you will not avoid burnout and will experience diminished performance. Yes your performance will actually diminish, as will your results (very counter intuitive, I know!). You risk stress related illnesses and may firmly plant yourself on track for a catastrophic event such as a heart attack or even death.
By renewal I simply mean to recharge your energy, reconnect with what really matters most in your life, and rekindle the fire inside to do all that it is you love to do in business and in life. Your body cycles through periods of high and low energy every day and night. When you work at a go go go pace and push through those periods of low energy rationalizing “I’ll rest on the weekend” or “I’ve just got to get through to vacation” or “I can’t stop because I have a deadline” your stress builds, your ability to avoid burnout decreases, and the likelihood of all the risks rises.
Collapsing in exhaustion or artificially propping yourself up with caffeine indefinitely is not healthy, not sustainable, and no way to live.
Avoid burnout by taking these 5 steps to renew consistently all year
Daily – Take 2-3 minute microbreaks every 90 minutes while awake aligning with your natural cycles of low energy. In them renew – physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually depending on your need in each instance. Get up and move, sit and clear your mind, call a loved one, and walk in nature are a few simple examples.
Weekly – Create a 1-3 hour window every week to reconnect and renew in a similar pattern to daily but for an extended period. Choose your activity according to your need.
Monthly – Plan a recharge day (A Nurture Day!) – this is an all about you day with the support of work, family and others. From the moment you wake up to going to bed is all designed to support you renewing. Be creative in what you do and who you involve.
Quarterly – take an extended weekend closer to home and go away, unplug, let go, recharge and live!
Annually – take a longer stretch of time and go away, unplug, let go, recharge and live!
The result of renewing your energy consistently…
- You’ll have more energy, get more done in less time, and enjoy doing it a whole lot more.
- You’ll actually achieve greater results in your business.
- You’ll earn more and work less because of your energy, focus, and attitude!
- You’ll feel better, connect with family and friends more, and do more things you love.
- You’ll have a life and business you love.
- And… you’ll avoid burnout!
Remember…
“Life is meant to be embraced, enjoyed and fully lived, not merely endured!”
To your success,
Brent
Beginning with a degree in exercise science and kinesiology, Brent Haydey has evolved over thirty years as an entrepreneur; building four businesses, and as a health, executive, and life coach.