Hello fellow biz owners. I’ve been an entrepreneur for the past 9 years, founding three separate companies during that time. When I first started (at age 28), I had an incredible amount of energy, creativity, focus and stamina to do so much. For a long time, I thought I was balancing it all (work/life) perfectly. But about two years ago, I started the process of what I now recognize as burn out. I didn’t really know what was happening at the time, but slowly I began to realize that I was losing my capacity to hold it all. I started to become sick, frustrated or weepy very easily. I also started to feel like no matter how much sleep I got, I would wake up tired. I became short tempered and defensive. My memory started to fail me, which felt super disorienting. Finally, a year ago, I hit a wall where I was unable to work for a few months, which meant I let a lot of important things slip through the cracks.
It’s been almost a year of pulling myself back together. I am finally feeling somewhat clear and energized again, but it has not been easy. As I emerge from this crisis, and begin talking about it with more and more fellow entrepreneurs, I realize that this experience is very common. Does anyone else have an experience of burnout to share? Have you been there? Do you feel like you’re on the brink? What systems or practices have you found to help?
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I’m completely burnt out and think about closing the doors about 3 times a week at this point. I’m not sure if people just have unrealistic expectations since covid, but something broke
I’m there right now. I wake up every single morning and have to convince myself to get up.
Going through this right now. I just want to shut it all down. I’m tired of it, been doing it too long, I’m bored and there’s gotta be something else out there.
There is a cubicle somewhere waiting for you to sit in from 8-5 accompanied by daily end of day check in meetings from your mid level manager :)
I’m fortunate to not be in that position where I have to take a cubicle job to make ends meet. I’m just tired of tech and IT in general and want to try something else.
I even thought about buying a parking lot sweeper and getting a few clients. I’m feeling like I need a big change.
I have my own opinion on this, having started 5 moderately successful enterprises over the last 40 years. No I’m not rich. Most new businesses have a nearly infinite amount of things you could and should be doing. It’s easy to just keep working more and more and yet there’s always still more to do. More important stuff. More valuable stuff. The trick is to do enough in a day for that day and then stop. Don’t try to get everything done. You cannot. You have to stop eventually so stop while there’s still time to go out, or watch a movie. I was blessed with a nervous breakdown at age 21 through overworking. It taught me to draw a line and set a limit. That has helped me so much later it truly was a blessing. I’ve grown bored with some enterprises, or lost enthusiasm. But I’ve not burnt out since that time.
Well, I was in ICU for three days due to stress related ailments in September this year. Burnt out completely. So, if you’re struggling to sleep, always feeling anxious, not eating properly (or hardly at all in my case) and never do anything but work your body will hit a brick wall.
You were in the ICU for three days? What kind of symptoms landed you there? I am so curious about actually how bad it can get. That is awful!! A brick wall indeed.
I’ve been doing this 21 years since I was 23. It’s funny how I have observed differences in my mood over the years. We get a big order and I’m over the moon and want to do this forever - then I get an argumentative customer or a problem with a staff member and then my mood dips really low. I took up exercise way too late - jogging after work and building up my fitness worked WONDERS for stabilising my mood.
Then……I tore a tendon in my foot, had a staff member go to jail and booked an overseas trip while the company is understaffed.
What’s the number for an employment agency??!?!
First, are you exercising, eating right and taking vitamins? I know that’s seems so basic to ask…but it’s important.
Next, do you have a team you can depend on to help with the businesses?
Besides work what else is going on in your life. ? Have you ever worked with a coach? They might be able to help you find some balance. It made a difference for me, life and business coaching.
I go through phases with my businesses.
Having my dependable team makes a big difference. I have parts of the businesses that I enjoy so I focus on that and they manage the rest.
I’m here too. I’m completely burned. Mostly because of incompetent employees and that I had to fire. I don’t have the energy to work anymore. Everyday I drag that bag of flesh and bones that I call my body out of bed and deal with the pain.
I’m just working with no goal, there is no more motivation, nothing. All I want to do now is sleep…just sleep.