Burnout is a serious problem.
It’s not just about being tired or stressed out (although that’s part of it). It’s when you’re so exhausted that your health suffers and you can’t perform at your best.
Most leaders have felt the effects of burnout in their lives from time to time, but if left unchecked, they can become debilitating and lead to career-ending consequences.
If you are an entrepreneur who has been working hard towards their goals with a strong work ethic, we applaud you, but also want to caution you.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to start prioritizing your physical and mental health.
Officially, burnout is the effect of excessive and prolonged stress.
It is emotional, physical and mental exhaustion that occurs when you aren’t able to meet constant demands.
Stress is the feeling of “too much” — too many pressures, too much on your plate. You feel hyperactive or anxious because you know if you could just get everything under control you would feel better.
Burnout on the other hand is the feeling of “not enough.”
You feel empty, depleted, beyond caring. This crosses over into hopelessness, the sense of being dried up and disengaged. There is a loss of motivation or hope.
You are detached and depressed.
As you can see, there is a big difference between feeling stressed and truly feeling burnt out.
There are five stages of burnout — where are you on this list?
We believe burnout PREVENTION is just as important as burnout RECOVERY. One of the best ways to stay accountable to your health is to lean on a trusted team member.
When you work with a trusted team, or an Executive Assistant, they can hold space on your calendar for rest. They can schedule your week so that periods of high performance are followed by periods of recovery.
An EA can also hold you accountable to consistent start and end times for the day, reserving time for exercise and honoring family commitments.
The more you stay accountable to activities that help you feel whole, happy, rested and productive, the more likely you are to stave off burnout.
If you are a solopreneur, invite a mentor or a member of a trusted business community to check-in with you periodically about your mentally, emotional and physical help.
Leaders who ignore their own mental, emotional and physical well-being have nothing left to give their team and customers. They deplete quickly and struggle to serve because they are constantly running on fumes.
If left untreated too long, burnout can require some leaders to take a step back in the form of a sabbatical to reset.
This is an extreme result of ignoring burnout for too long. There are easier, more practical steps to move beyond burnout.
Leaders: don’t neglect what you need. You are worthy of the same support you so freely give to others.
Would you like the help and accountability of an Executive Assistant to keep you from experiencing burnout? Schedule a strategy call with us. We can help you find your right-fit teammate.
