You have finally finished the work that has been piling up on your desk. Your business is thriving in spite of all the hard work you put into it. You are feeling great about everything happening right now – until one day when suddenly, things take a turn for the worse.
What are the signs of burnout?
Do you feel like your work is a never-ending treadmill? That you’re working harder than ever and not getting anywhere? If so, chances are that you’re on the edge of burnout.
When you’re on the edge of burnout, it’s hard to see things clearly; we tend to make bad decisions. We lose our creativity and our excitement for life burns out.
How do I feel when I am starting to feel burnt out?
Personally, if I start to feel tired, exhausted, moody and unmotivated all the time then maybe it’s time to try re-evaluating my career. For me, I start forgetting important deadlines and rushing through the work just to get it done, which ultimately impacts the quality of my work.
Is this just me or can you relate? Here are 5 warning signs that as a small business owner you are on the path to mental and physical exhaustion that usually comes from stress or overwork.
Warning Sign #1: You Feel Like There Are Never Enough Hours in the Day
Tell me if this sounds familiar: You start working first thing in the morning. Hours go by and suddenly you realize it’s lunchtime but you don’t have time to eat. You eat in front of your computer if you do. Every interruption is an annoyance and you feel yourself sighing from tension throughout the day. Evening comes and you’re stressed because of all the work you didn’t get done. You just always feel that you are never on top of it all.
Warning Sign #2: Your Baseline Mood is Frustration
When you’re the one who juggles all the balls and they’re starting to drop… frustration is inevitable. Sometimes it feels like you’re just not moving fast enough.
It’s a sign that you’re carrying (juggling) too much – client satisfaction, new business development, and profitability – just to name a few.
Warning Sign #3: The Quality of Your Work is Slipping
If you’re someone who takes pride in your standard of excellence this is one of the hardest facts to face. It’s an awful feeling when you know you aren’t giving your best and only offering subpar to your clients.
Even worse when they call you out on it and complain. It makes you sink even deeper into panic and gets that hamster-wheel zooming.
Warning Sign #4: Strained Business and Personal Relationships
Your tolerance for your employees’ failures, interruptions or mistakes is pretty much zero. They feel the strain and end up performing worse.
Your personal relationships suffer – your partner is a safe place to let off some of that steam. You feel bad because you know they don’t deserve it and promise to handle the stress better… until next time.
Warning Sign #5: Your Health and Wellness Start to Deteriorate
There is only so much our bodies can take before it exhibits physical and mental symptoms of stress:
- Shoddy nights of sleep
- Poor eating habits
- Non-existent or over-strenuous exercise habits
Getting sick means you have to slow down, do you have time for that? I know I don’t.
How do you not make yourself feel guilty about being burnt out?
It is easy to feel guilty about being burnt out. But you should not be ashamed of feeling exhausted and “not good enough.” It’s important to take care of yourself first so you can provide the care, service and attention that your customers deserve.
How do you avoid burnout?
First, reduce the number of tasks you are taking on, delegate responsibilities to a partner or team members, and avoid overextending yourself.
Next, take time out of the office to relax and reflect on what is important in your life outside of work.
Finally, It’s not easy to create a work-life balance, but by educating yourself on healthy work habits & practices and identifying your values in life you can get into the habit of working less and spending more time with your family and friends.
Give yourself a break so that you can come back stronger in the future.
If you are ready to reassess your workload, take a break, and prioritize what’s important for you, contact me at info@abovealladmin.ca or visit my website Above All Admin to learn more about how we are using our Business Solutions to support our clients.
