Burnout Prevention for Entrepreneurs and Coaches

Show Notes

Background

Last week we talked about challenges, how to get your mindset right, and how to overcome and thrive in these challenging times. One of the things that can come with challenging times is burnout, and we need to be very careful about it, especially as entrepreneur owners and coaches, to ensure we don’t take on too much stress. We need to look after ourselves and avoid burnout. So today, the topic is how to prevent burnout in entrepreneurs and coaches.

What is Burnout?

Let’s start with the definition of burnout. Burnout is a condition of emotional, physical, or mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged or intense stress. It happens when you’re feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to keep up with constant demands. If this stress persists, your interests and motivations can severely fade.

Burnout is not something we want as entrepreneurs and certainly not as coaches, particularly when we’re taking on stress from our clients. We need to make sure we’re not doing that and protect ourselves. Ensure that you’re not getting into that chronic fatigue situation or worse, which could lead to declining performance and sometimes even depression. If this is triggering you, please seek professional help because it’s really important. Whether that means talking to a coach or seeking further medical intervention, especially if you’re worried about depression, get the correct advice.

How to Prevent Burnout

Today, we’re talking about preventing burnout and the levels where coaching can help and some suggestions. If that’s not your situation, continue to listen, and let’s see if we can help stop some of this burnout that we’re facing as coaches if we’re not careful. You need to think about what you can do to prevent it.

1. Work Life Balance

In chapter 11 of my book, The Coach’s Marketing Roadmap, I talked about balance and ensuring that you can balance your life and coaching practice so it has longevity, making sure it’s something that works for you and has that healthy balance.

I’ve also spoken about balance in other podcasts. Check out Episode 140 How to Run a Business Without Sacrificing Work/Life Balance with Joey Drolshagen Sometimes balance is not even; it can be for a season or a reason. Sometimes you’ll find you’re working more and playing less, and other times playing more and working less. It’s about that up and down balance and getting it right most of the time across the board. If you’re doing a project and need to dig in and work, that’s okay. But if work is getting to the point where you’re not getting rest, recovery time, or playtime, you need to look at whether it needs restructuring. Do you need to bring on some help? When you start growing, you get a bookkeeper or other people to help. Make sure you are looking after yourself.

2.Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Experiencing imposter syndrome often leads to burnout. If we have self-doubts and worry about whether we can really do it, whether we have the qualifications and experience, those are concerns my clients often talk about. They may have experience in a corporate area and are new to coaching, but it’s lived experience and life experience, and you can bring that into your coaching too. Sometimes it’s not just about having experience in what you’re coaching, because in pure coaching, you don’t need the experience; the client has it. But in my experience, having a working knowledge of your area helps, and bringing a corporate background can be beneficial.

Click here and listen to Episode 216 How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome in Your Everyday Life and Business With Sheila Buswell

3. Manage Your Time

Are you leaving everything to the last minute and then stressing because there’s no time, or you’re doing a subpar job? I’ve talked a lot on the podcast about not aiming for A-plus. B-plus is okay in many cases, but subpar is not. If you’re not giving yourself enough time, think about what time management tools you can use. If you’ve got too much on your plate, say no. Remember, “no” is a complete sentence. Hold those boundaries for yourself, just like we ask our clients to do. Practice what you preach, and prioritize your tasks, ensuring you do the most important things first.

Don’t feel like a frog in a boiling pot, scrabbling at the edges and not realizing you’re about to get cooked. Make sure you’re managing your time well, prioritizing, and being grateful for the little things. Often, we don’t realize how many things we could be grateful for until we sit back and think at the end of the day.

Click here to listen Episode 225 Essential Time Management Strategies for Coaches

4. Prioritise Self-Care

Self-care is crucial. Make sure you’re taking time off, whether with family or by yourself, and not trading your work-life balance to run pillar to post for the family. It’s a balance for the season, but ensure you get some downtime and sleep.

Sleep is really important, and most of us don’t get enough. Make sure part of your self-care is getting enough sleep and getting off those devices we’re often addicted to. Sometimes, though, that can be downtime too, so find the right balance. Maybe you need to bring in some mindfulness practices like meditation to quiet the chatter in your brain so you can sleep. Journaling is a great way to get those thoughts out of your head. Make notes before bed, so you’re not constantly lying awake thinking about what you need to do.

Build a sustainable work environment for yourself and your clients. Ensure you have enough time between clients so you’re not running back-to-back, without even a break to eat or use the restroom. Look after yourself, because if you’re not at your best, you can’t give your best to your clients.

As coaches, we need to look after ourselves. As entrepreneurs and business owners, we need to ensure we have longevity too. There are many time management tools I’ve discussed on different podcasts, so check those out.

5. Stop Limiting Beliefs

What limiting beliefs are holding you back? Is it the belief that you’re too busy, or that you can’t say no, or that you can’t set boundaries? Consider whether it’s a scarcity mindset. Check those limiting beliefs and stop them now. We’re often our own worst enemies, and self-doubt can spiral into negative thoughts we don’t need.

If you don’t have a coach, get one. It’s crucial to empty out those thoughts, and having someone else look at them can help you see the forest for the trees. Make sure you’re looking after yourself, exercising, eating well, and doing what you need to prevent burnout. The biggest thing is ensuring you have the balance you need.

Click here and listen to Episode 237 How to Manage Then Remove Your Negative Beliefs With Anne McKeown