{"id":1681,"date":"2020-07-28T13:44:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-28T03:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gpadviser.com.au\/gpl-theme-1-2015\/2020\/07\/28\/how-to-avoid-burnout-and-find-balance\/"},"modified":"2020-07-28T13:44:00","modified_gmt":"2020-07-28T03:44:00","slug":"how-to-avoid-burnout-and-find-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gpadviser.com.au\/gpl-theme-1-2015\/2020\/07\/28\/how-to-avoid-burnout-and-find-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid burnout and find balance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cBurnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long\u201d \u2013\u00a0<\/em>Michael Gungor<\/p>\n

Isn\u2019t that the truth. Owning a small business is not for the faint hearted. You start with an idea and your passion sets it on fire. At first working all hours and juggling jobs for other income while you build seemed like nothing. Studying and honing your craft in the pockets of time you had just worked out.<\/p>\n

Drive and determination to launch kept you going.<\/p>\n

After launch, the late nights just kept coming, then your focus shifted to finding and retaining customers to make the business profitable. Working weekends, missing social and family events as yet another \u201cgreat idea\u201d has to be explored RIGHT NOW.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Your relationships become strained from the lack of attention. Your body hits exhaustion from your adrenal glands pumping stress hormones day in and day out as you go-go-go at rapid pace.<\/p>\n

One day you wake up and realise this business you\u2019ve created is all consuming. Why does it feel like you\u2019re \u201cdoing it all\u201d and getting nowhere?\u00a0 And the truth is, maybe you don\u2019t even like IT anymore?<\/p>\n

Here it comes\u2026 hello BURNOUT.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve been running at the same pace for days, weeks, months even years\u2026 and you\u2019ve literally held no space for anything else.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201c<\/em>Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive prolonged stress.\u00a0It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Melinda Smith, M.A.\u00a0(HelpGuide.org)<\/p>\n

From this place, I see it go two ways with my coaching clients.\u00a0<\/p>\n

DOWN\u2026 where you end up continuing this cycle and eventually get sick, lose all the passion and drive for your business, lose a relationship, lose yourself in the process. Or, all of these combined from the overwhelming stress and anxiety.<\/p>\n

Or, you go UP. You shift your priorities and bring your life back into BALANCE. Focusing on cultivating a healthy relationship with your work, a healthy mindset and body, and spend time reconnecting with the people in your life.<\/p>\n

How to get back in balance<\/h3>\n

The key to living a fulfilled life is balance. Work, rest and play. What is success, if at the end of the day you have no one to share it with? Isn\u2019t one of the fundamental reasons why we start our own business to have the freedom to run your day and make your own decisions?<\/p>\n

Getting back into balance means\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

1. Tapping out for self-care<\/h3>\n

Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it\u2019s necessary. How can you show up and grow your business \u2013 if you haven\u2019t first filled your cup? You cannot keep taking from an empty well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Self-care isn\u2019t all day spas and attending expensive health-retreats. Take the time to find what self-care looks like for you. Start with this question:\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is one thing that you haven\u2019t done in a VERY long time that gives you JOY? Go and do that.<\/p>\n

2. Tapping out for Exercise<\/h3>\n

Moving your body is essential to mental wellbeing. Take a walk in the fresh air, go for a jog or bike ride. Book into a gym class or go for a swim. Make time for yoga or paddle boarding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Your body deserves love and your energy stores will fire from the movement. It will also help you get better sleep and clear your mind.<\/p>\n

Try something you\u2019ve always wanted to do and haven\u2019t made the time to do yet.<\/p>\n

3. Tapping out for connection<\/h3>\n

At our core we ALL crave connection. Relationships start to break when people don\u2019t feel like they\u2019ve been heard or valued.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When you think of the people you want to share your success with \u2013 who are the first 3 people that come to mind? Organise a 1:1 catch up with those 3 people this month. A coffee date or dinner, a weekend trip away, or just a walk in the park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If your connection has been strained under the weight of work and time apart then commit to not talking about work AT ALL when you meet. Turn your phone off, ask a lot of questions and actively listen to help rebuild the connection.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When you make the time to reconnect with yourself and spend time with people that you care about your energy well will be overflowing!<\/p>\n

Remaining in balance<\/h3>\n

Doing it once this month is easy \u2013 the key to truly staying IN balance comes down to PRIORITISING and TIME BLOCKING your self-care, exercise and connection time on your calendar on a weekly or monthly basis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m too busy\u201d \u2013 is a choice.<\/p>\n

You would time block for a client, you would do it for a child\u2019s school concert, you would do it for the dog\u2019s vet appointment\u2026 so, what prevents you from doing it for yourself?<\/p>\n

Carve out the time, you are 100% worth it!<\/p>\n

1. The ideal is three times per week you find time for:<\/p>\n