I'm about to get personal, so stay with me.
So about a month and a half ago, I had a complete meltdown. Like, it was bad. I remember coming home from my full-time job and just laying in bed hysterically crying saying I couldn't take it anymore. I'm going to be honest. I pride myself on having my shit together. I am the one in my family who everyone comes to, the one my friends come to for advice, and in most crises, the who always has it under control.
And understand, right now I have a lot to keep track of. I have a full-time nursing job, a business that I work on at least 30 hours a week, a new budding crafting venture, and I take college classes to finish my bachelor's degree (I will be done in June 2016, thank God). So, I'm a busy girl.
Compounded with things going on in my personal life, I started to break apart. I was constantly anxious, lashing out at the people I love the most, distancing myself from my friends, and finding myself waking up angry for no reason. I just was losing it.... and fast.
And as for my business, I was letting it fall by the wayside. Not emailing people back. Not keeping up with appointments. Not answering the phone. Not being to write blog posts that I was passionate about.
Just being a general mess. And my clients were suffering because of it.
I also realized something during this time. I GOT MYSELF INTO THIS. I was going out of my way to make my customers happy, and in the process hurting myself. Giving free services, letting people go over their paid time CONSTANTLY, and other things that were slowing putting me in a bad position.
I have now crawled from out of my hole which was my funk and I can breathe once again. I also can reflect and tell you guys, how to not fall into a similar trap.
1. Be Firm- I have a bleeding heart when it comes to most people. I always want to help, that's why I became a nurse and that is why I'm a tarot card reader. As a business owner, you really do want to do that. I want clients to know I am here for them and I want to help in anyway I can. But be firm. You can't worry your whole life about making others happy when you making yourself crazy. When you say, "this is the rule", make sure it is. Don't constantly bend because you feel bad.
2. Do things you like. - Do things you like. Go to your favorite restaurant, color, take long walks, see good friends, have a Netflix marathon day. Take time for your self. Do what makes you really happy inside, something that has nothing to do with your business. My thing: I love flamenco dancing. When I dance, all I'm thinking about is my posture, the way my arms look, the singer's voice, the way my body feels... all this has nothing to with my business. And that's why I need it.
3. Get help. Seriously. If your business is becoming too big for you, it's ok to ask for help. Even simply automating certain systems can take a mountain of weight off your shoulders. And if need be, hire a living breathing person. That is a-ok and will help you be more organized!
4. Take care of your body. - Good ol' health advice. Exercise, eat right, exercise. It will help maintain your sanity. I promise.
5. Stick to the plan.- I'm a Gemini. I can't get through the day without having 17 different ideas for my business. It's great but it's also annoying. I want to do everything all the time. And that is exactly what I tried to do. After I got out of my funk, I also realized how far I had deviated from my business plan for 2015. But you might be saying, "But isn't being creative good?!" Of course it is! And you don't have to follow your business plan to a T all the time, but you should try and at least stay on the same general path. But you can't do everything. I wasn't able to keep the pace and bring in a new product, class or service I want to offer. Makes no sense. So trying your best to keep things close to your business plan, and if you want to introduce something new, plan it well.
6. Long term goals are great, but short term goals keep you in line.- As business owners, we all have goals. How many customers we have a month, how many email subscribers we want to gain, how much money we want to make and so on. That is great and you should always have something to work towards. But your lofty, large long term goals may seem like they are far away and impossible to reach, which might make you feel discouraged.
Business burnout can happen to anyone. But it don't let you defeat you! It is something that you can experience and move forward from! I have faith in you and you will get through this! Do you have any stories about business burnout? Any more recommendations? Let me know!
So about a month and a half ago, I had a complete meltdown. Like, it was bad. I remember coming home from my full-time job and just laying in bed hysterically crying saying I couldn't take it anymore. I'm going to be honest. I pride myself on having my shit together. I am the one in my family who everyone comes to, the one my friends come to for advice, and in most crises, the who always has it under control.
And understand, right now I have a lot to keep track of. I have a full-time nursing job, a business that I work on at least 30 hours a week, a new budding crafting venture, and I take college classes to finish my bachelor's degree (I will be done in June 2016, thank God). So, I'm a busy girl.
Compounded with things going on in my personal life, I started to break apart. I was constantly anxious, lashing out at the people I love the most, distancing myself from my friends, and finding myself waking up angry for no reason. I just was losing it.... and fast.
And as for my business, I was letting it fall by the wayside. Not emailing people back. Not keeping up with appointments. Not answering the phone. Not being to write blog posts that I was passionate about.
Just being a general mess. And my clients were suffering because of it.
I also realized something during this time. I GOT MYSELF INTO THIS. I was going out of my way to make my customers happy, and in the process hurting myself. Giving free services, letting people go over their paid time CONSTANTLY, and other things that were slowing putting me in a bad position.
I have now crawled from out of my hole which was my funk and I can breathe once again. I also can reflect and tell you guys, how to not fall into a similar trap.
1. Be Firm- I have a bleeding heart when it comes to most people. I always want to help, that's why I became a nurse and that is why I'm a tarot card reader. As a business owner, you really do want to do that. I want clients to know I am here for them and I want to help in anyway I can. But be firm. You can't worry your whole life about making others happy when you making yourself crazy. When you say, "this is the rule", make sure it is. Don't constantly bend because you feel bad.
2. Do things you like. - Do things you like. Go to your favorite restaurant, color, take long walks, see good friends, have a Netflix marathon day. Take time for your self. Do what makes you really happy inside, something that has nothing to do with your business. My thing: I love flamenco dancing. When I dance, all I'm thinking about is my posture, the way my arms look, the singer's voice, the way my body feels... all this has nothing to with my business. And that's why I need it.
3. Get help. Seriously. If your business is becoming too big for you, it's ok to ask for help. Even simply automating certain systems can take a mountain of weight off your shoulders. And if need be, hire a living breathing person. That is a-ok and will help you be more organized!
4. Take care of your body. - Good ol' health advice. Exercise, eat right, exercise. It will help maintain your sanity. I promise.
5. Stick to the plan.- I'm a Gemini. I can't get through the day without having 17 different ideas for my business. It's great but it's also annoying. I want to do everything all the time. And that is exactly what I tried to do. After I got out of my funk, I also realized how far I had deviated from my business plan for 2015. But you might be saying, "But isn't being creative good?!" Of course it is! And you don't have to follow your business plan to a T all the time, but you should try and at least stay on the same general path. But you can't do everything. I wasn't able to keep the pace and bring in a new product, class or service I want to offer. Makes no sense. So trying your best to keep things close to your business plan, and if you want to introduce something new, plan it well.
6. Long term goals are great, but short term goals keep you in line.- As business owners, we all have goals. How many customers we have a month, how many email subscribers we want to gain, how much money we want to make and so on. That is great and you should always have something to work towards. But your lofty, large long term goals may seem like they are far away and impossible to reach, which might make you feel discouraged.
Business burnout can happen to anyone. But it don't let you defeat you! It is something that you can experience and move forward from! I have faith in you and you will get through this! Do you have any stories about business burnout? Any more recommendations? Let me know!