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Burnout
Small business owners routinely work long hours for extended lengths of time. They may live, sleep and breathe their business. In addition, they carry a heavy load from the responsibility of managing people, finances, and all other aspects of the business. Is it surprising that burnout is a common problem?
Burnout, both in an owner or in employees, can be very destructive to a business. Burnout is characterized by feelings of apathy, tiredness, insomnia, lack of compassion, anger, and other symptoms including physical illness. It is important to learn to identify burnout and to deal with it in a positive manner.
There are some basic measures you can take: eat well, get adequate sleep, exercise each day, spend time with friends and family. A vacation might help. Delegating work or saying "no" can reduce stress. Reorganizing your workload or looking at new options may be necessary. Do not hesitate to get professional help if burnout has gone too far. Everyone has stress in their lives and there can come a time when outside support is needed.
Laughter is a well-known medicine for burnout. Find ways to laugh at your situation. Some businesses offer wellness programs which may include a variety of stress reduction prgrams: exercise, nutrition, meditation, smoking cessation, drug- and alcohol-free programs, etc.
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