Rise and grind. Get locked in. Fake it ‘til you make it. Don’t ride the wave — create it.

 

Depending on your algorithm, a quick scroll through Instagram or LinkedIn can either have you pumped up for the week ahead or feeling less than adequate to hack it in today’s hustle-heavy culture.

 

We get it. The work week of an entrepreneur isn’t always predictable. We embrace the early mornings, late nights, spontaneous meetings, and missed meals. A standard, Monday through Friday, routine doesn’t exist for most of us. We work long hours because we have to. Success doesn’t get served up on a silver platter.

 

But let’s also be honest with ourselves. We don’t always know when to dial it back, do we?

 

Collectively, a lot of entrepreneurs live with the sense that every decision is monumental and each new email or text could be the one that changes everything. We are The Adrenalized — hopped up on coffee, Red Bull, and Gary Vee quotes. 

 

Is this doable in the short-term? Probably so. But consecutive days, weeks, or months of this sort of life can have serious consequences. 

 

Burnout isn’t a light switch that gets flipped one day. Instead, it’s an easy-to-ignore process that gradually creeps into your daily life. Here are some warning signs.

Recognizing the Signs of Burnout

Concentration Fatigue

Finding focus might always be difficult for some of us, but if concentration typically comes easy for you, having a hard time making decisions or remembering things can be an early warning sign that your brain and body need a break. 

 

A Drop in Motivation

Losing interest in the things you normally enjoy — from going for a run to getting together with friends — or struggling to get started in the morning can both be signs that you’ve been going too hard for too long.

 

Body Boycott

Burnout frequently shows up through physical symptoms that you might associate with sickness, including chronic fatigue, headaches and stomach issues, and difficulty sleeping well. If your body is starting to boycott, it may be time to press pause.

 

Mood Swings

One final way burnout manifests itself is through increased irritability and frustration. If you’re usually laid back and easy-going, becoming short-tempered or allowing small inconveniences to ruin your day should sound alarm bells. Something is off. 

Small Steps to Prevent Big Problems

After all of that heaviness, there is some good news. You can take some small steps each day to keep yourself grounded while mitigating your risk for entrepreneurial burnout. Here are a few of our favorites.

 

• Take Breaks

Even short breaks can drastically alter the impact of your day. They help you return to your work with focus and motivation. Go ahead. Close your laptop for a few minutes. This will be here when you get back.

 

• Create Healthy Boundaries

Having some healthy separation between your work life and your personal life is a good thing for you and the people closest to you. That can look like no email after a certain time or a weekend day that doesn’t include anything work-related.

 

• Work Smarter

Are there any tasks you can delegate? Do it. Do chances to collaborate with colleagues exist? Take them. Working smarter instead of simply working harder will give you an extra boost and keep you from feeling quite so overwhelmed. 

 

• Prioritize Self-Care

If you want to succeed and still be able to enjoy that success, you’re going to have to prioritize taking care of yourself. Here’s some encouragement. Create space for the things that restore you — like music, a specific hobby, or cooking a delicious meal.

Next Steps

At The Main Stage, our platform is designed by busy entrepreneurs for busy entrepreneurs. We know firsthand how stressful it can be to start a company, tell your story, and juggle all the administrative tasks required to succeed. That’s why we did something about it.

 

If you want to attract investors, manage those relationships, and raise capital (without pulling your hair out), you need The Main Stage. We’ve streamlined the pitch process with a compelling Story Vault, an intuitive investor relationship management system (IRM), and a secure Data Vault that consolidates documents and keeps you compliant.

 

Burn out happens, but it isn’t inevitable. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the day to day realities of running your company, you can get started on The Main Stage for free. Are you ready?