In the pursuit to achieve one’s goals and achieve financial freedom, a solopreneur can become a workaholic. A surefire way to tell that you’re a workaholic is when you find it hard to stop working even on days and hours when rest is expected. You no longer have time to do other things you love and spend with your family.
Why workaholism is dangerous to your solopreneur business
Proud to call yourself a workaholic? Don’t be. Being a workaholic actually has negative implications on your business.
For one, putting in longer hours don’t translate to productivity. Workaholism increases your mental stress and as a result, your creativity, planning, and problem-solving abilities take a nosedive. What about your health? Yes, you become less able to give your body the care it needs.
Not only is workaholism detrimental, but it’s also unrealistic. How long can you sustain it? The truth is that we only have limited hours in a day to do productive work.
Related: Your Health Affects Your Business [And How to Take Better Care Of Yourself]
How to Recover from Workaholism
Step 1: Stay in the present moment.
Stop feeling out of control by putting your full attention to where it needs to be – NOW. Whether you’re lost in visions of the future or regrets of the past, stop. When you engage with the present, you can get more things done and face the next day with a renewed sense of energy. Most importantly, you get to truly enjoy free time because there are no unaccomplished tasks.
Step 2: Focus on long-term growth.
While there is nothing wrong about setting milestones (and in fact, they keep you going), don’t forget the essence of growth over the long run. Don’t stress yourself over day-to-day mistakes. Stop imposing unrealistic rules on yourself. Embrace all setbacks as learning experiences that will eventually lead you to where you should be. Stop worrying when there’s room for improvement!
Step 3: Improve 1% each day.
The reason why you feel tired and overwhelmed is that you expect yourself to be 99% better than you were yesterday. Just improve 1%. That is all you need to make a difference in your business. It’s easier to make a habit out of something doable. Good habits are more likely to stick if you practice the 1% rule – and you get to keep some energy at the end of the day.
Step 4: Learn to say no.
To achieve balance in life, you have to learn to say no to more work. Overcommitting is wrong when your plate is already full. Draw the line and don’t feel guilty about it. If your solopreneur business is growing and taking more work means sacrificing your personal time, hire someone who can say yes to the work. Speaking of hiring others, I’ve written up five things to know about outsourcing.
Step 5: Commit to doing something for your health on a daily basis.
To recover from being a workaholic entails that you give your body the nutrition and movement it requires. Your health is everything. Will you be able to do the things you need to do for your solopreneur business to thrive if you’re sick? Invest in your health each day. Exercise. Go outside for sunlight and fresh air. Have non-negotiables such as work breaks and ample sleep.
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Final Thoughts
Start with simple life changes to recover from workaholism. Practicing work-life balance is an essential investment for your business (if you’re so worried about that) because now, you’re able to focus and take the time off. Know someone who seeks recovery from workaholism? Share these tips!
