Entrepreneurial Fatigue Syndrome
It has a name and you know how real it is: that overarching exhaustion from the stress of owning your own business. Those with boring jobs fantasize about working for a better boss…themselves…without realizing the price required. Whether a business thrives or fails to thrive, its owner will be one exhausted dude! The result? Burnout
Forbes estimates 42% of small business owners have experienced symptoms of burnout in the last month. They cite fatigue, crankiness, sleep issues, eating issues and malaise as key signals—but you already know that, don’t you? You may be feeling a little ragged around the edges, and it’s time to deal with it before the rush of the holidays hits you.
So how do you handle the challenges of living with your passion project? And that’s what it is, isn’t? You fell in love with an idea, a fire that fueled your business: a concept, a product, or a service. You dreamed of sharing it with a world simply dying to hear about your brainchild. And then you encountered the harsh reality of less than enthusiastic listeners, too much paperwork, and wearing every hat. Suddenly your passion is dripping through the floorboards and you’re draining your reserves, wondering how much gas is left in the tank.
Working through exhaustion and learning how to cope with too much to do is the basis of the cure for burnout. You know you have it when everyone else rejoices with a fresh bounce of fall energy and you still feel like you’re dragging your left foot. This month we’ll examine strategies you might employ to prevent or ratchet back the effects of Entrepreneurial Fatigue Syndrome.
Strengthen that $afety net. One of the first things you can do is so basic that it is often overlooked. Those reserves need to remain at a comfortable level. When they shrink, so does your comfort level. It preys on the back of your mind. Whether you borrow, tighten the belt to save more, or look for investors, you need to determine what a comfortable reserve looks like and get it into your savings account. More on that later.
Take baby steps forward or backward. You may have transitioned into a new phase without a modicum of prudence. Things were going well. Perhaps you expanded. Maybe you started a new line. Find a comfortable zone for growth and stay in it. The economy is too fluid to trust wild growth and too unforgiving if you become stagnant. That sweet spot where you feel just a teensy bit daring and not the least bit bored is a safe place to straddle your business. Tweak your business until you find yourself squarely in a good place. Stay there a while…but more on that later.
Adjust your lifestyle like the Federal Reserve manages interest rates. Decide how much sleep you need and get those ZZ’s. Cut back on social obligations. Exercise. Drink more water. Practice the habits you think you might need to embrace someday. Just make that day now. More on that later as well.
Make time your friend. As much as we all hate Daylight Savings Time, it graphically illustrates what happens when money business and the fourth dimension collide. I have one word for your lack of organization. P-L-A-N-N-E-R. I know a few lighthearted Lindas who skip through their days, and you probably do, too. Just remember that you don’t see those Lindas when the weight of too much to do finally hits one of them like a ton of bricks. Learning to make the most of your planner is a good way to cure those entrepreneurial blues. Yes, more on that later.
It's a jungle out there, and everyone needs a tribe. It may be a professional organization, a subgroup within the Chamber, or friends who also own businesses. It’s early in the month, so you have time to jot down Chamber activities on the schedule. You can make a call and jot down the date of a gathering….but find your tribe. My network isn’t one of business associations or contacts. It’s a group of gals with the same values as mine, and we cheer each other on. Literally. Even introverts can set a goal and find support. Write that into your calendar.
Let’s spark a revival to banish burnout and be ready for whatever lies ahead.