Something that’s not spoken about enough is the importance of self-care and how to avoid burnout as a business owner. The decision to set up your own business can be empowering and thrilling, but it can also push your work/life balance to its absolute limit… that’s why business owners need to be especially mindful to look after themselves. 

Research shows that entrepreneurs are working on average 50.5 hours per week compared to the UK average of 37 hours. If you’re running your own business, you’re probably working at full capacity compared to if you were employed. But working more hours is a recipe for you to forget to practise self-care and head, slowly or rapidly, towards burnout.

What is burnout? 

The official definition of burnout by the World Health Organisation is as follows:

“Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed… Burn-out refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.”

The problem with burnout is many of us don’t see it coming. 

As the definition suggests, it’s caused by not successfully managing your stress and practising good self-care. The small things that we let slip build up and over time cause a compound effect. 

Key symptoms of burnout – 

  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Forgetfulness
  • Lack of energy
  • Anxiety/depression 
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Mental distance from work
  • Tendency to get ill more often
  • Reduced professional efficacy 

Someone who was once happy and passionate about their work can become extremely negative because of burnout. This can creep up to you suddenly.

Signs of burnout as a business owner

Burnout, especially amongst business owners, is becoming a significant issue in the UK. 

I’ve noticed lots of people who run their own business come to Spero Solutions for advice or help from us as freelance virtual assistants and virtual business managers. The impact burnout has on people has been more noticeable during the pandemic, as people felt like there was information overload with no escape. 

If you’re a business owner and you’re too busy, the chances are you’ll deal with it by putting your head down and trying to get through it. But this is something we should all un-learn. 

Once you get to the point of burnout, you may need to take a complete break to return to full health. That can mean even less efficient working for a longer period, plus the negative impacts it can have on your overall wellbeing and cash flow!

So, it’s important to spot the signs and act without delay if you think you’re heading towards the point of burnout. It will not only help you directly to avoid burnout as a business owner, but it’s protecting your company from risk too. 

Spotting the signs of burnout as a business owner – 

  • If you no longer enjoy going to work or talking to your team.
  • If you feel you have no control over your business or feel trapped.
  • If you’re working all day and taking work home in the evening.
  • If you’re unable to switch off from work and struggle to sleep.
  • If your to-do list feels impossible to complete or it fills you with absolute dread.

Any of these signs show you’re at risk of running out of steam altogether.

Overall, if you’re working too long hours, losing control, or feeling overwhelmed, you need to take a step back and reassess.

What can you do to prevent burnout? 

The good news is that you can avoid burnout with good self-care practise and setting boundaries for your work/life balance. As a business owner, one of the joys of working for yourself SHOULD be making your own rules. If you see any signs of burnout appearing, make your own self-care a priority. 

Getting organised is key in how to avoid burnout as a business owner. By effectively managing your time, you can feel in control. I’d recommend you start scheduling time for EVERYTHING. That includes blocking out down time, exercise, and breaks in your diary.

To stay productive throughout the day, you need to be looking after yourself. Assess your daily habits and think to yourself – 

  • Am I getting enough sleep?
  • Am I eating well?
  • Am I drinking enough water? 
  • Am I taking short breaks throughout the day? 

A helpful suggestion could be scheduling a mental health day once a month – this is something I’ll be implementing in my business soon. I’ll take a day out, with no responsibilities or jobs, to do something that I enjoy doing.

Your self-care will look differently to the next person’s. Whether that’s an afternoon playing golf, watching movies in your pyjamas, or taking up a new hobby, it doesn’t matter. It’s important to have time for what YOU enjoy doing, outside of work. It will guarantee to help you avoid burnout and enjoy running your business again.

As part of your time management, schedule time to start your day in a meaningful way. It’s proven that if you start your day with meditation, gratitude, journaling, and exercise, it makes a difference to your focus and mood for the rest of the day. There are lots of books out there to help with this idea, such as the 5AM club.

Hiring a VA to reduce the potential for burnout 

One of the main reasons business owners choose to work with a virtual assistant is to help avoid burnout, or to successfully manage their way out of it. 

Don’t be afraid of asking for help and learning the art of delegation. It may seem hard at first but finding a trusted ally to support your business operations can be a much-needed lifeline. You don’t have to run your business all by yourself. 

Hopefully, this has helped you to realise how self-care is an important factor to keeping your business running smoothly. Avoid burnout as a business owner by implementing a few small changes to look after yourself.  And if you need a virtual assistant to help you stay in control of your business, rather than it controlling you, get in touch.