Fantasy to Reality: Create Work-life Balance
Most of us start a business because we have big dreams and builder energy to see it through. But everything has a tipping point, and maybe you’re approaching business burnout. If you’re there, any thought related to your business may be triggering a sense of existential dread, and maybe you’re thinking about burning it all down to the ground, changing your name, and starting a new life in a country far away. This escape plan would be a solid solution, but you can avoid the pain of letting go of your life’s work by moving toward a better work-life balance.
I bet you either rolled your eyes or chuckled at my mention of work-life balance, because as a fellow business owner, I get it - it sounds like “just do this one thing and it will cure everything!” but you and I both know that’s simply not true. There’s no magic pill to cure business burnout, but there are some simple strategies we can employ to help prevent and/or reverse our burnt-out state of being.
TIME BLOCKING
I talk more about this in my tips for productivity. When it comes to preventing burnout, time blocking isn’t about doing more, but creating intentional time for both business tasks AND your personal time. This strategy can help hold you accountable to both the important moves in your business AND taking care of yourself and loved ones in the ways that will support your energy in continuing to show up for your business. That said, if you’re really trying to prevent burnout, your calendar should not be totally blocked out…hear me out with the next bit…
INTENTIONAL WHITE SPACE
If you’re already time blocking, you’re going to need to time block white space - this is space on your calendar where you deliberately refrain from scheduling anything - yes, anything - no plans, no tasks, nothing. You need space to just be. Your next big hit of clarity or peace is not going to come from “getting it all done” - it’s going to come to you in the quiet moments when there are no expectations sitting in your psyche. You’re probably thinking that honoring intentional white space on your calendar as a business owner seems like an impossible feat, but I’m telling you - it’s the secret sauce to your success. If you find it difficult to totally unplug from the work grind or the personal improvement path, it might be time to explore why that is. Or maybe you’re so burnt out, that the idea of doing absolutely nothing at all sounds like something you could easily fall into, and so you should honor that.
MINDFULNESS
Whatever IS on your calendar, whether its business, personal, or white space - being present with whatever it is will also help ease the overwhelm that contributes to burnout. Next time you feel in a rush to get anything done for the sake of checking it off your list - I challenge you to pause - then, check in and drop in - to whatever it is you’re doing. Mindfulness in every moment is medicine for the burnt out body. Constantly living in the future, thinking about what’s coming next, instead of what’s here and now, keeps our nervous system in hyper-aroused state of being. Maintaining this state of “fight or flight” is what causes the burn out because our bodies were not built to sustain this way of being over the long term. Allow yourself to be bored - it will save your business, and your health.
BE RESPONSIVE
Mindfulness and being present to the moment also means knowing when to slow down and when to speed up. Before you add that task to your list, that meeting to your calendar, pause and assess the true level of urgency required of it. If it can wait, let it. If not, prioritize it. Life and business is a lot like roller blading - there is a time to push and there is a time to simply coast at the speed you’ve gained. You’ve got to keep your eyes ahead to be able to adjust your course to avoid obstacles. You’ve also got to keep your eyes at the ground immediately in front of you so you don’t hit a break in the sidewalk, and cause a crash. The longer you go without a break, the more difficult it can be to spread your awareness across these facets of the journey.
DELEGATE
Delegate the smaller things that add up quickly when you leave them all to yourself to accomplish. Delegating is a great way to create more space on your calendar for self care - or that precious, medicinal white space. When you delegate, you want to make sure the person taking over these tasks could do them as well, or much better, than you could - ensuring this will help you truly unplug and reduce the stress that’s causing your burnout. A virtual assistant can be the help you and your business have been praying for, so get in touch! I’m here to support you along your journey, and make sure you have the energy for the long game.
