Avoiding Burnout Blues

Burnout is defined as physical or emotional exhaustion as a result of long-term stress. But most small business owners scoff at the idea of burnout. "I love this company. I'm just very, very busy trying to build a successful business." Sound familiar? Read on.

Often business owners eat, sleep, breathe and live their businesses. They spend every day (and many nights) managing people, tracking finances, and monitoring the other mundane daily tasks of running a business. As time marches on, pressures build, and an owner can quickly display signs of burnout.

So, what's the big deal? Burnout can occur in any kind of job. That's true, but when you're the boss, the symptoms can seem overwhelming.

Physical symptoms of burnout can include exhaustion, depression, headaches, stomach problems, changes in sleeping habits and sexual dysfunction. Burnout can also manifest itself through apathy, negativism, increased worry, depression, boredom, frustration and lack of motivation and emotional control. Unless they are acted upon, the symptoms of burnout can transform into behavioral changes such as loss of enthusiasm, anger outbursts, withdrawal, constant complaining, family problems and increased use of alcohol or drugs.

Burnout is nothing to be ashamed of. Ask yourself these questions: Has your performance slipped? Are you working longer hours to make up for it? Are you working fewer hours because you are beginning to hate what you do? Are you bored with the business? Are you depressed, angry or frustrated much of the time? If you answered yes, then you may be a candidate for burnout. The good news is that there are things you can do to avoid or reduce the symptoms.

In order to form a sound foundation for good physical and mental health, eat right, sleep right and exercise regularly. Also, see your doctor for regular checkups. These lifestyle corrections alone will go a long way toward reducing the burnout factor.

Delegate! Even you cannot efficiently do everything. The more time spent on projects others can do, the less time is available for your own projects. The classic example is the recordkeeping. Most business owners hate accounting, yet many insist on doing their own bookkeeping, believing they are saving themselves money. In reality, the accountant normally will save you money in the long run. He knows the laws and the taxes much better than you do. Entrepreneurs should use their time to manage the business, not conduct on-the-job training to make themselves accountants.

Schedule some time for yourself, and do some of the things you want to do. Take a break. Go fishing. Read a book. Sit on the deck and do nothing. Have a night off with the family every week. Take 10 minutes after lunch every day, and doze a little bit. These things refresh and rejuvenate the mind and the body and can help reduce the burnout factor.

Become more sociable. Cultivate a relationship with someone you trust and are comfortable talking with, and then talk with this person regularly. Share your concerns with this person. Keeping the issues that bother you bottled up inside is a recipe for problems.

Consider creating a stress-free location in the business. Set up an area with non-business related items that will take your mind off the job for a few minutes. In this area put simple games, puzzles, silly putty and a bulletin board of friendly and funny photos. Go there when you feel the pressure building.

And finally, laugh a little! The old axiom "humor is the best medicine" must have been referring to a cure for burnout, because it really does help! Look for the humor in daily incidents. Share a joke with someone, and listen to ones others wish to share with you. Some of these things may sound childish, but the idea is to relax the mind and reduce that used-up feeling. You won't see many children suffering from burnout.

Note: This article originated from the Georgia SBDC, authored by David Dunn. It was adapted for MO SBDC by Mary Paulsell, Assistant State Director, Missouri Small Business Development Centers. Used with permission.