Avoiding Burnout as a Business Owner

Running your own business can feel overwhelming sometimes. And it can lead to burnout if you don’t figure out how to optimize your time.

Here are some burnout prevention strategies that work well for me (this is Amy, btw).

Block Scheduling
Map out your calendar by scheduling blocks of time for different types of activities. For example, I enjoy working with individual coaching clients on Friday mornings and writing content for this newsletter on Friday afternoons. I draw a lot of inspiration from my clients, which feeds my writing.  Mondays are my admin days, and I block off the entire day to avoid meetings. I prepare for the upcoming appointment, work on my marketing strategies, and generally organize myself for the week. Having these blocks of time to focus allows me to get into “flow” and work more efficiently and effectively.

Brain Breaks
I take breaks throughout the day to “do nothing” and allow my brain to wander. Once I got past the negative self-talk that I didn’t have time for a break or I was being lazy, I discovered this is a phenomenal energy management strategy. If you feel completely exhausted at the end of the day, I encourage you to give this a try! According to the neuroscience gurus, you’ll get the best benefit by taking a 20-minute break every 90 minutes. I’ve found that even a 5-minute break works wonders for my energy.

Vacation Days
When I worked at a corporate job, I always planned my vacation days to ensure I took full advantage of the benefits. As a business owner with unlimited vacation days, I forgot to take time off. See item #1 - block scheduling. I’ve added vacation scheduling at times of the year when I know I’ll need a break. 

In fact, by the time you read this blog, I’ll be relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas. Don’t worry; Michael and Rachel are holding down the fort (and probably secretly hating me right now).

Taking care of yourself is an essential part of being a business owner. You can give your best to your clients when you feel at your best.