A ‘small business fixer’ on coping with burnout

“If you’ve just returned from vacation and are feeling charred to a crisp (and not just from sunburn), attempting to power through your exhaustion and disengagement won’t be sustainable,” said Julie Bee.

She ought to know. Bee is the author of the new  “Burned: How Business Owners Can Overcome Burnout and Fuel Success” (Matt Holt, $28). The business owner-burnout strategist has been dubbed the “small business fixer,” with more than 15 years in the entrepreneurial field that have led her to be recognized by Fast Company and Forbes.

Her insight above is borne out by statistics :  A recent nationwide study found that 41 percent of employed Americans report experiencing burnout after taking time off, with Bee adding that entrepreneurs – often doing many tasks during 60-hour workweeks — are particularly at risk :

“Expecting a vacation to stave off burnout isn’t realistic, because time away doesn’t solve the problems that were causing your stress. Not only will those problems be waiting when you return, there may also be a whole new set of fires for you to put out. That can be enough to tip you over the edge into burnout.

“To be clear, I’m pro-vacation – and yes, self-care can temporarily relieve some of the pressure. But if you don’t want burnout to take a serious toll on your business, finances, relationships and health, you need to get to the root of what’s causing it. ”

Here are nine things Bee said to know about burnout (post-vacation or otherwise):

If there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s stress. If you’re stuck in the dark, it’s burnout — “With burnout, you have little or no energy left to move forward,” said Bee. “The passion you once felt for your business has turned to dread. When faced with a challenge, you may feel ‘stuck’ or just plain indifferent. Instead of fulfilling you, your responsibilities feel like a burden – and you can’t see an end in sight to being in this state.”

Know your red flags: You’re sleep-deprived, snappy and buying stock in dry shampoo — “Most of us don’t go from ‘fine’ to ‘running on fumes’ overnight. There are usually red flags that indicate you’re headed toward burnout – actions, habits or behaviors that indicate you’re off-balance, stressed and working unsustainably.”

Be alert for trigger warnings:  Scour your schedule for stressors — Triggers differ from red flags, because they are external. “Burnout triggers are often seemingly small things like hearing the phone ring or seeing a difficult client’s name appear in your inbox. They don’t even have to be work-related:  A spouse’s bad mood or the sight of your overgrown lawn can also cause your stress to spike. It’s important to identify burnout triggers so you can eliminate, limit or deal with them.

“Your triggers might be extra stressful if you’re returning to your business after a vacation. Instead of dealing with your triggers from a Zen-like mindset you cultivated while relaxing poolside, it’s likely they’ll seem even more intrusive as you frantically play catch-up.”

Master your new mantra — No (for now) — “Maybe you do have a fantastic idea that is right in your business’s sweet spot – but first you have to make space to properly develop and execute it. Sometimes the best way to speed up is to slow down.”

Run the “why” test to pinpoint what’s causing your symptoms — First, think of something that’s causing you stress – your burnout triggers are a good place to start – and list three thoughts or feelings you have about that stressor. Now ask “why” about each thought or feeling and answer as honestly as you can.

Now that you’ve diagnosed your burnout, treat it — You might carve out more time for important work by determining which of your daily tasks you can eliminate, delegate or save until later. If the pile of minor emergencies that cropped up while you were on vacation tipped you over the edge from “stress” to “burnout,” you need to create a plan for more effectively covering your absence the next time you’re out.

“Don’t do this alone. You need a team to support and advise you – key employees, business partners, loved ones, even a therapist. When you’re in a state of burnout, it’s hard to see things clearly and objectively. Outsiders may see something you haven’t noticed and offer a fresh perspective, and they can also get close to the source of the issue without succumbing to stress like you might.”

Then focus on your personal recovery – Being burned out means that you’ve been depleted faster than you could replenish. Now that you’re on the other side of the urgent fire, you can focus on the personal toll it has taken. To start, identify an action or activity that will comfort and replenish you that can be accomplished in the next 30 days, like taking a hike or talking with someone you trust.

“These types of self-care actions won’t cure your burnout, but you need to capture a few quick wins so you’ll have the attitude and energy to make bigger, more impactful changes that will help you prevent (or at least mitigate) future burnout.”

Put a prevention plan in place – Create thoughtful guardrails designed to keep you from traveling too far into your red-flag danger zone. One anti-burnout strategy Bee recommended is to define your ideal workweek.

“For instance, on what days of the week will you work and at what times? When will you work on big-picture, visionary tasks? When will you invest time with your staff? When will you do tasks you do not enjoy? How often will you network? How will you handle personal calls, texts, etc. while you’re working? Answering questions like these can help you set boundaries, prioritize effectively, work efficiently and communicate clearly – all of which will give you more bandwidth to deal with stress and setbacks.

“I also recommend defining your personal life in a similar way. A good work-life harmony doesn’t just happen. You have to think about how you want to show up and what you want to accomplish outside of work.”

Finally, make peace with burnout being like a bad penny (albeit one you can still spend wisely) — As Bee has said, burnout often isn’t a one-and-done event. You’ll probably encounter it several times throughout your career. But, she added :

“Nearly every entrepreneur I know who has gone through burnout has taken away something valuable. Sometimes it’s a lesson or an idea. Sometimes it’s a full-on breakthrough or reinvention. My best advice for embracing burnout is to adopt the classic improv rule of ‘yes, and…’ Own and name your circumstances (that’s the ‘yes’ part). Then figure out how to make the most of it…or at least move on from it (that’s the ‘and’ part)….”

“The good news is, if you do the hard work of addressing your burnout now, you stand a much greater chance of actually enjoying your next vacation – and of climbing smoothly back into the saddle once it’s over.”

 

For more, visit https://www.thejuliebee.com/.