Burn out is a word that’s being thrown around in the workplace and hits leaders too—especially solopreneurs. When you start as a solopreneur, you’re on a high. You know you have to put in a lot of hard work to make a difference.
At first, you can work long hours and survive because you’re pumped. But if you live off adrenaline, soon the body will force you to stop.
How do successful people avoid burning out?
A mentor or coach is essential for solopreneurs. Look to successful people who launched businesses from the ground up and learn a few lessons:
Bill Gates: Add variety to your every day at work
Bill Gates avoided burning out right from the start by keeping things fresh. For him and his colleagues, there was always something new and exciting to look forward to every day at work. That means getting out of our comfort zone. While routines are great, shaking it up helps avoid monotony.
Arianna Huffington: Make the best decisions after you sleep
Collapsing from exhaustion led Arianna Huffington to accept the principles by which the body works. As a sleep advocate, she encourages people to ‘work in a way that allows you to make your best decisions’ because you can’t run on empty.
It’s fascinating to hear these words from her: “Ultimately, it’s just business. It’s not a matter of life or death, ‘not a sport’.”
True enough, we can’t let our business run our entire life. As Peter Drucker puts it, “You cannot do a job if a job is all you do.”
Gary Vaynerchuck: Pursue happiness, not financial gains.
Even the man that sparked the hustle movement and a lot of intrigues is getting 6 to 7 hours of sleep a day and works out. He remains as passionate as when he started his business but he has listened to his body and gives it what it needs.
And the point of all his hustling? Happiness. He can work 12 hours on a given day doing what makes him happy.
Read more: How to Find Meaning in Your Work as a Solopreneur
Jeff Bezos: Delegate and focus on key decisions
The brain behind Amazon does not don the badge of honor of sacrificing sleep for business. He gets a full 8 hours’ rest each night and starts his mornings slow.
How does he do it? He trusts more people in his business and effectively delegates. Jeff Bezos encourages business leaders, solopreneurs included, to focus on making key decisions.
Solopreneurs find it hardest to let go of control as we want to ideate in a way that truly resonates with what we have in mind.
But to empower others with the passion you have in you, and delegate tasks you hate to people who love them (bookkeeping, for example) you open room for growth and avoid burning out.
Jack Ma: Pursue other passions/hobbies
When Jack Ma calls the 12-hours a day for 6 days work week a ‘huge blessing,’ you know he is passionate about what he is doing.
If you love what you do, you can work long hours and still avoid burning out. But, if you hate being at work, even cutting down to a 4-day work week won’t benefit you.
Jack Ma is passionate about things besides work. He practices Tai Chi which, ‘gave him enlightenment on how hardness and softness assist each other…how things integrate.’
When you can’t slow down (yet)
Elon Musk’s response to Huffington in a tweet reminds us that for some, slowing down is not an option. When you’re in the middle of a big project, you have to keep paddling fast like a duck while looking calm above the waters. But if you don’t want to burn out:
1. Set a definite timeline.
There is a time when priorities come down from their urgent spot. Define and look forward to this moment of calm when you can celebrate your success, big or small.
2. Make every effort to adopt healthier habits.
Whether it’s yoga, a 7-minute HIIT app, or a midday walk, you need to exercise. When it comes to sleep, take frequent power naps to get through this time. Skip caffeine and power-up with plant-based food and fresh fruits.
Read more: Your Health Affects Your Business [And How to Take Better Care Of Yourself]
3. Cut distractions and ineffective use of time.
No, you don’t have time for that 15-minute compilation of funny cat videos or to scan through your IG feed. Finish the urgent and overwhelming workload first.
4. Build a great team and support system.
You have to look out for yourself and other members of your team (seriously consider having one) to divide and conquer the great tasks ahead of you.
Final Words
In brief, do work you love but don’t let it be the only thing you do. The management of time is also the management of self. Sleep and self-care are as important as your client.
It’s not a race even if you have a schedule and deadlines to keep. And finally, allow others to help you out. It won’t make you any less of a solopreneur if you have an efficient team, mentors, and a support system with you so you won’t burn out.
