Entrepreneur burnout is real; here’s how to combat it

Entrepreneurship can be lonely and difficult. Many entrepreneurs report higher levels of stress and mental illness.

Before you burnout, here are some ways to recognize problems and address them before they become bigger issues.

Training and development courses can be a great way to learn the skills necessary for working efficiently rather than burning yourself out.

Signs of burnout

The first step to alleviating burnout is recognizing it in the first place. While this isn’t a complete list, if you are experiencing many of these issues it could be a sign you’re working too hard.

Exhaustion – Everyone gets tired but if you’re falling asleep in the middle of the day, that’s not normal.
Anxiety – Sometimes anxiety can be productive, but a constant state of worry and stress is definitely not.
Feeling overwhelmed – If you feel like you’re drowning because of too many responsibilities, you are headed for a fall.
Physical symptoms – These can include being sick more frequently, weight loss, headaches, insomnia, achy muscles and more.
Cognitive issues – Problems with cognition include difficulty performing routine tasks, memory loss, making silly mistakes and more.
Interpersonal conflict – Find yourself fighting with family, friends or even employees more often? Irritability is a sign of overwork too.
Never switching off – Being an entrepreneur requires commitment, but there should be times when you aren’t thinking about or working on your business.
Dissatisfaction and negativity – Only seeing the negative side of life and being unable to celebrate small successes to focus on problems is another sign of entrepreneurial burnout.
Losing motivation – You can only maintain a high level of stress for so long. If you reach the tipping point, you could find yourself without any motivation to continue.

If these signs of entrepreneur burnout sound familiar, don’t worry. There are ways to help combat the issue and start having a good relationship with your business again.

Why you’re feeling burnout (and what it’s doing to your business)

Many entrepreneurs are surprised when they start experiencing burnout. A lot of times their business is their passion so it’s difficult to understand why things become difficult.

Researchers in the United States and New Zealand identified three main reasons for entrepreneur burnout in a study on the effects:

Role conflict – This concept refers to the feeling of being pulled in too many directions. Many entrepreneurs can have trouble navigating the relationship between their personal and professional lives since business tends to leak into their home life so much.
Role ambiguity – When you work for someone else, you usually have a set job description and responsibility. When you work for yourself, your job is not clear cut and you find yourself unsure of what to do in many situations. This ambiguity is stressful.
Role overload – Overload may be the most familiar concept for entrepreneurs, especially in solopreneur businesses. If you have no one else to rely on and have to carry the entire weight of your business’s success on your shoulders, it can quickly become unbearable.

Hard work is universal, but the work culture of the United States tends to prioritize long hours with few breaks and a lot of after-hours work, too. This can be even more pronounced in entrepreneurs.

Counterintuitively, working hard and putting pressure on yourself to succeed can actually be the reason your business is failing. Researchers have found that the high levels of burnout associated with role overload are negatively correlated with commitment and satisfaction. In other words, the more stress you put on yourself, the less committed and satisfied you may become with your business.

Ways to decompress and reduce stress

If you’re experience entrepreneur burnout, there are plenty of steps you can take to address the issues and consequences before your business starts to suffer.

Self-care – This catch-all term can refer to almost any activity that promotes physical or mental well-being. For example, going for a walk or jog outside, taking a bubble bath or meditating are a few activities that can help you reduce your stress level.
Eating well – One of the first things that goes off the wayside when you’re stressed is nutrition. Refocus on eating healthy food and you could find a whole new mindset.
Taking time off – When was the last time you took a day off? While a two-week vacation may be unattainable for many entrepreneurs, even just one day off work can do wonders.
Setting boundaries – This means setting times during which you won’t be working. When you get home, don’t answer emails, texts or phone calls. Use your time off to decompress.
Professional development – Training and development courses can be a great way to learn the skills necessary for working efficiently rather than burning yourself out. We have some amazing small business programming you can take advantage of.

Difference between burnout and depression

A study released in May of 2018 found that mental health issues directly or indirectly affected 72% of entrepreneurs that participated. Furthermore, entrepreneurs were more likely to experience depression, ADHD, substance abuse and bipolar disorder than comparison participants.

When does entrepreneur burnout become a mental health issue? How can you tell the difference between depression and overwork?

These questions are delicate and should not be taken lightly. It can be difficult to recognize the warning signs of depression in yourself. This self-assessment can’t diagnose depression, but it is a good starting point for entrepreneurs that may be feeling like their burnout could actually be a more serious issue. Always contact your doctor if you are having mental health concerns.

Entrepreneur burnout doesn’t have to be the end of your business. Being proactive in combatting the signs and consequences of burnout can help you continue to grow your business without losing your passion.