The Burnout You Never Saw Coming

Many years ago, when I was a fresh 21-year-old entrepreneur, I had one idea in mind: to build something from nothing and become successful. I was naive about the challenges ahead, both personally and professionally. These experiences have since shaped me, offering valuable lessons along the way.

However, before I reached my current position, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in a burnout just 5 years into my journey. Were there warning signs leading up to that moment? And how did I bounce back? In this article, I will delve into the crucial aspects that define the journey of an entrepreneur, from understanding failures and recognizing burnout signs to equipping oneself with tools to prevent it.

Signs of Weakness

Let’s start with the unpleasant part. Burnouts happen very often to many people, especially entrepreneurs. And yes, there are signs and alerts. The sad truth is that most people either don’t see them or refuse to admit they’re experiencing these signs. Maybe some have to experience them to truly understand? This gray zone often depends on the individual. While some trust only their own feelings and gut instincts, others absorb advice and then make judgments. No matter which group you belong to, the signs are consistent.

But what are these signs? They aren’t always glaringly obvious and they tend to build up slowly over time. Here are some of the most common:

• Stress: “It’s normal to have stress,” many say. My brother once shared with me his belief in two types of stress, and it’s an idea I’ve held onto. The first is good stress, which pushes you a little but doesn’t dominate your actions or feelings. Then there’s the other kind, the one we all know too well. It’s the type that keeps you up at night, makes it hard to step back, and feels like it’s taking control.
• Sleep: How boring is this list you might think? You’ve been hearing these tips all your life, yet the chance of you lacking quality sleep is high. Sleep is the slowest of signs, it builds over years and years. It’s not about the hours you sleep, but rather the quality of that sleep. Whether you realize it or not, if you don’t address poor sleep quality early, it can come back to bite you.
• Eating (un)Healthy: This might sound like age-old advice, but its importance can’t be understated. As time passes, our bodies have a way of reminding us about our past dietary choices. An occasional treat is fine, but gradually developing better eating habits can benefit both your health and professional life.
• Results are irrelevant: We often hear the phrase “Enjoy the journey.” Balancing our focus between the end goals and the path to get there is crucial. As a young entrepreneur, there’s a risk of becoming so obsessed with outcomes that the journey itself is overlooked. It’s important to embrace this journey because, as time moves forward, you might realize that these were the pivotal moments, not just the achievements at the end. How does this relate to burnout? The fixation on results can be an obsession, sometimes making us think it’s the only reason we’re striving. This can lead to disillusionment when milestones are reached but don’t feel as fulfilling as expected. Often, the incremental progress, daily improvements, and small victories along the way hold more intrinsic value.
• Playing catch-up: Control is a topic we touched upon earlier, and one of the biggest challenges to our sense of control are unexpected events and developments. For instance, consider a day when you’ve set aside time to work on a marketing campaign, but then a client contacts you with an urgent issue in their operational system. Suddenly, your plans are sidetracked, and you’re scrambling to address this new priority. Such disruptions are part and parcel of the entrepreneurial journey; it’s rare to consistently stick to our ideal plans. Yet, there’s a danger here. If you constantly find yourself reacting to events rather than proactively steering your course, over time, you may lose sight of your broader objectives. This constant game of catch-up, if it becomes habitual, can see external events dictating the pace and direction of your life.
• Most commonly used word — “Tomorrow”: When discussing personal and professional well-being with fellow entrepreneurs, a common thread emerges. Many will readily agree on what’s beneficial or detrimental. Yet, there’s a catch. They’ll often add: “I’ll start making those changes tomorrow,” or “next week,” or “once this busy period is over.” Based on my observations, most of those who use such phrases won’t make any changes until faced with a drastic wake-up call, like a burnout. It’s a simple truth: if deep down you recognize something’s amiss, and you truly understand its significance in preventing burnout, then the time to act is now, not in some distant tomorrow.
• Working too much: A common belief among new entrepreneurs is that success is directly proportional to the number of hours put in (wrong). The notion goes: the more you work, the higher your chances of success. However, studies have shown that consistently clocking in over 60 hours a week significantly raises the risk of burnout. There’s wisdom in the saying “less is more.” Periodic breaks and time off can not only recharge you mentally but can also have a positive impact on the long-term health of your business.

A Look At The Numbers

Over the past few decades, there’s been a noticeable increase in individuals experiencing burnout from work. This trend shouldn’t be surprising given the mounting pressures and expectations of the modern workplace. The numbers are growing more concerning, prompting important introspection. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted this issue. As many grappled with the challenges of isolation during lockdowns, the topic of mental well-being came to the forefront. While numerous studies delve into this subject, let’s spotlight a few particularly compelling statistics:

American Psychological Association (2021):

• 3 in 5 workers felt negative mental and physical impacts from work stress.
• 26% experienced a lack of motivation; 32% felt emotional exhaustion; 44% faced high physical fatigue.

Indeed Survey:

• Overall, 52% of workers felt burned out.
• Breakdown: 31% of baby boomers, 59% of millennials, and 58% of Gen Z.

Deloitte Research:

• 77% of employees faced burnout in their current job.
• Main cause: lack of leadership support and recognition.

Mental Health UK (2021):

• 46% felt more stress than the previous year.
• 1 in 5 felt overwhelmed by workplace stress.

McKinsey Health (2022) Survey:

• 25% of 15,000 workers across 15 countries experienced burnout symptoms.

Mental Health America & FlexJobs Study:

• 76% said workplace stress affected their mental health; 75% had felt burnout.

Qualtrics Survey (2020):

• 79% of workers in 26 countries felt overloaded with work.

Gender Burnout Statistics:

• 43% of women leaders felt burned out compared to 31% of male counterparts.

source: https://www.runn.io/blog/burnout-statistics

Source: https://zipdo.co/statistics/entrepreneur-burnout/

Entrepreneurs have their own statistics:

• 31% of entrepreneurs face elevated stress levels.
• A third grapple with depression and burnout.
• 20% work more than 60 hours a week, raising burnout risk.
• 30% consistently face burnout issues.
• Only a third (33%) take adequate vacations to combat burnout.
• About 29% suffer long-term impacts of burnout.
• 95% struggle to find a healthy work-life balance.
• Entrepreneurs are 2.5 times more likely (the sentence seems cut off, so I’ve made an educated guess) to experience burnout compared to other professions.

Foundational Tools

There are numerous methods to protect oneself from burnout. I won’t claim that my tools are the only effective ones or even the best. It’s through personal experience that I’ve come across these tools, and I’ve chosen to integrate them diligently and passionately into my daily routine.

• Meditation: You might have seen influencers on Instagram, or even some of your friends, endorsing meditation. If you haven’t connected with it yet, that’s completely understandable. Many entrepreneurs are deeply rooted in the tangible world, focused on facts, goals, and realities. Yet, dedicating just 5–10 minutes daily to meditation can have profound long-term benefits. It equips you with skills to navigate our fast-paced world. If you’re open to exploring, here’s an introductory course that offers guidance.
• Connection: This goes hand-in-hand with the previous point. Connection revolves around establishing a bond with yourself and those around you. What’s this really about? Often, we find ourselves trapped in our own thoughts — analyzing, reacting, and contemplating. However, our true feelings and instincts reside in our body, distinct from our mind. As entrepreneurs, we can sometimes neglect this inner connection for years, preoccupied by external challenges. Think back to when you were a child, without over-analyzing every detail. That unburdened feeling was because you were in tune with your inner self, fully immersed in the present.
• Knowing what you truly desire: My evolution as an entrepreneur began in an unexpected place: while watching the TV show “Shark Tank.” I felt a pull to create something meaningful. Over time, one venture led to another, occasionally causing me to lose sight of my initial purpose. It’s essential to always remember and recognize what you truly want. This isn’t about hitting the 1 million subscribers mark on your platform. It’s about the passion to create something impactful and the joy of sharing it.
• Consistency: Often, I’ve struggled with maintaining consistency. Life is never a straightforward journey; there are peaks and troughs that might disrupt our routines. But here’s a crucial lesson I’ve learned: true consistency isn’t just about starting or maintaining a routine. It’s about picking it up again, each time you stumble.
• Balance & Avoiding Extremes: Entrepreneurs often think differently, standing out from the crowd with their unique ideas. While this distinction can be a strength, it can also lead them toward extreme tendencies. This can manifest in simple life habits like exercise, reading, sleep, and diet, which they might indulge in too much or too little. Over time, these habits can take a toll both physically and mentally. I’ve discovered that moderation in all things is vital.

After listing these methods, it’s essential to note that there are many tools out there, and chances are you’ve come across or heard of most of them. The real challenge isn’t in knowing these tools; it’s in recognizing the signs of burnout within yourself and having the willingness to address them. It’s one thing to be equipped with the knowledge, but it’s a wholly different task to accept the reality of your situation and take proactive steps towards better well-being.”

A Glimpse Into My Journey

If you’ve made it this far into the article, allow me to share a personal chapter from my life. While many boast about their successes and milestones, I find deeper pride in the resilience I’ve developed from overcoming challenges, like battling burnout, rather than in materialistic achievements.

To give you a brief overview: after launching my first business, the mounting pressure began taking a toll on my personal well-being. By 2017, five years in, I reached a breaking point where I felt utterly drained, both mentally and physically.

My journey back was filled with peaks and valleys, evolving through various phases. To this day, I continually nurture and refine the foundational aspects I’ve discussed, as I believe they are the cornerstones of a thriving entrepreneur.

Final Thoughts

For entrepreneurs, the shadow of burnout is often close by. Instead of fearing or dodging it, acknowledge its presence and face it with a balanced and objective mindset. Commit to long-term strategies that enhance your work-life harmony and safeguard against burnout. Remember, entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint.

Have you faced burnout, or noticed its telltale signs during your entrepreneurial endeavors?