The nation has had over a year of being at home. Then all of a sudden restrictions eased and small businesses have gone into overdrive.
Demand for products and services has for many businesses gone through the roof as the economy starts its comeback after Covid and Brexit.
In recent weeks I have been seeing this start to take it’s toll on several business owners. Working relentless, I am seeing signs of burnout setting in.
This weekend is World Mental Health Day. Overwork leads to stress leading potentially to burnout.
So what is burnout?
According to Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1996, burnout is characterised by “the triad of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and a decreased sense of accomplishment in one’s occupation”.
Burnout can lead to
sleep deprivation
change in eating habits
a weakened immune system
difficulty concentrating and poor memory
lack of productivity
poor performance
avoidance of responsibilities
loss of enjoyment
Ways of preventing burnout can include
Early recognition of burnout and related risks
Cultivate ability to self-reflect
attend to your own needs
realign goals and expectations
Evaluate a typical weekly schedule and reduce or eliminate unnecessary items
Exercise regularly
Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet
Get enough sleep
Include daily enjoyable “timeouts”
Family time
Remember work is important, but so is your health, both physically and mentally.
Remember to take time for yourself.
