You might think that one of the advantages of having an online business is the escape from career burnout. You finally have control over your life to set your own schedule, make decisions, and follow your passion. Do you really? Or, are you trading one form of burnout for another?
What It Means to Burnout
According to clinical psychologist, Dr. Sara Denning, “Burnout happens when you’ve been experiencing chronic stress for so long that your body and your emotional system have begun to shut down and are operating in survival mode,”
Traditionally, it occurs in demanding professions, among high achievers or part of working conditions with long hours and time-sensitive deadlines. While neither men or women are immune, women are more likely to burnout than men.
In addition, the economy has shifted. It’s now suggested “… 64 percent of [North American] employees report high levels of stress, extreme fatigue, and feeling out of control. Even college students report burnout while still in school.
Three Signs of Burnout
You qualify if you are experiencing these three characteristics.
- Extreme mental and physical exhaustion
- Cynicism and detachment
- Feeling ineffective and lack of accomplishment
You’ll find a more detailed breakdown in Sherrie Bourg Carter’s book High Octane Women: How Superachievers Can Avoid Burnout . Or, get a quick summary in her article The Tell-Tale Signs of Burnout … Do You Have Them?
What Burnout Does To Your Brain
There’s no question that chronic stress leads to burnout which “… is not just a state of mind, but a condition that leaves its mark on the brain as well as the body.”
Burnout leaves its mark on the brain as well as the body. Click To Tweet
Most noticeably is a significant loss in the brain’s ability to
- Concentrate and focus
- Retrieve memory
- Solve problems
- Make decisions
- Create or innovate
Less noticeable but far more dangerous is —
- Pre-aging thinning in the medial prefrontal cortex which affects the areas of memory and decision
- Damage to neuronal circuits due to chronic fight/flight responses
- Elevated and chronic cortisol release affecting immunity function and the onset of coronary heart disease
Where Does That Leave Your Business Brain?
As an online entrepreneur, you may think you’ve escaped the craziness of the workplace. Actually, your business brain is as likely to be on the burnout path.
It’s time to ask …
How many hours have you spent in front of your computer, when you should have been in bed?
How consumed are you in building your social media followers?
Do you feel the need to blog every day?
Do you respond to every comment posted?
Are you unwilling or unable to delegate and pride yourself on doing it all?
How many online forums or networking groups are you actively engaged in?
Is your day planner the fattest thing in your handbag?
Do you have to write into your schedule fun time and bathroom breaks?
Trying to get to a six-figure income as fast as you can?
Are you gung-ho on doing whatever it takes?
Can’t hit the send key unless it’s perfect?
Not satisfied your marketing copy is good enough and needs more tweaking?
Are you still in your pajamas at 3:00 PM.?
When’s the last time you got Vitamin D from sunlight rather than a gel capsule?
Are you starting to resent success is not happening fast enough?
Do you feel that no matter what you do it’s not working?
What’s The Cure?
It’s everything you alway say you should be doing – addressing stress and balancing your work/life relationships.
- Make more time for sleep
- Get more exercise
- Eat healthy
- Engage socially with others
- Allocate time for self-care
- Spend time disengaging from anything digital
- Do something fun that you’ve been putting off because you have no time.
Is this your wake-up call for stopping business brain burnout before it happens?
Resources:
http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/advice/a2521/burnout-essay/
http://www.propelwomen.org/content/burnout-the-struggle-is-real/gjeb28
https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/burnout-and-the-brain
Image: Pixabay 2276051
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Wow, you really hit the nail on the head with this one! Is it terrible if I have every single symptom! I knew I was tired of my day job, which is why I started blogging, it is a great outlet. However, I never thought about what being burnt out really does to me outside of my job and my health. Thank you for sharing this, I really have some things to ponder and work on.
Glad you found this useful Summer. The good news is that burnout can be reversed! Yay!
Burnout is so typical for women.. and then women who are business owners because we constantly work too hard and try doing it all. These are great tips and reminders to look for.
So true, Kristen. Women do tend to burnout more easily. We are so caring and wanting to do a good job that we are always going beyond the call of duty. We need to learn to chill out more, maybe with a margarita or two.
So many people reach ‘burnout’ and don’t even know it. I know the signs for me now and know how to deal with it.
Sonya, that’s wonderful that you know the signs and how to deal with it. The key here is being proactive.
No I don’t have business burnout, I get my vitamin D from the sun but there are a couple there i might need to pay attention to Great article Joyce
We all should be jealous that you have access to the beach and the sunshine. As to the other things you might need to pay attention to, that’s good news to know that this post is resonating.
Joyce, sometimes people don’t realize that they can get just as “burnt out” working at home or for themselves as they can in the office. The problem is co-workers cannot see it happening and warn us. So your blog is a perfect way for us to give ourselves a Brain-Burn-Out Check-up. Thanks!
Good point Kathleen about not having co-workers to point out the warning signs. When we are our business, we need to make a point of taking care of ourselves. If not, there’s no business. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, my goodness! Joyce, have you been peering into my life? My business brain is on constant input/output mode, and I recognize the signs, which you so thoroughly put into words through your questions. Sort of feel like a hypocrite sometimes because I encourage my clients to be present wherever they are and know that many times I’m doing something with my family, I’m thinking of the things in my Planner that I still need to do.
My VA could do a lot of what I do and it’s time to make the decision to use her services more effectively. Thanks for the reminders. Burnout is not an acceptable option.
Yes, give it to the VA! We need you for the more important things.
Getting a full 8 hours of sleep has been a non-negotiable practice to prevent burnout for me, Joyce. I’ve also noticed that taking a power nap of 15-20 minutes during the afternoon when I am at the lowest energy level helps to keep my clarity, sanity and humor while running my business.
Sleep is definitely an important factor and I agree about the power naps they do wonders to clear your brain.
Thanks for the information and validation Joyce. I remember when I stopped working weekends. At first I felt lost and now I love it! I haven’t heard the term Burn-Out for years. Many suffer from adrenal fatigue and chronic fatigue after pushing for too many years. Let’s all choose balance!
Absolutely, chronic and adrenal fatigue can really play havoc on the body when people continue in high drive mode. They think it’s necessary to get ahead when down the road they will have wiped out any gains they have made. Also, a good point about not working weekends. I usually take one full day off and then a half day during the week. It truly does make a difference.
Such an important post. Women, especially, need this reminder pretty much every day – lol. Great post. Time to get out and smell the roses!
Thanks for the compliment Reba. To smell the roses serves as a good excuse to get outside and plant a rose garden. Connecting back to the earth’s energy is vital to our wellbeing.
We need more vacation time. My son gets more than 6 weeks of vacation. He’s in Europe. I think the more time we take off, the more productive we can be. Great post!
Yes, Europeans have always had a more relaxed attitude towards work and the important of taking vacations. There was a piece in the news recently that over half of American workers don’t use their vacation time. Any wonder burnout is high here.
I’m so grateful for my ‘Goddess” days that keep me focused on them and away from devices and thoughts of work. They are like little weekly holidays. I can see how easy it would be to let work take over every corner of your life when you work from home and it’s scary to think of the damage to brain and body when you suffer burnout.
Tami, how wonderful to have ‘Goddess’ days. We all work hard at our online endeavors that we forget how long we stay glued to our chairs. The brain loves diversity and adventure. So happy that you have found that experience.
Joyce,
A good Article and I will take the week off in July, Yes burnout is a real factor and cause many different type of issues,,I agree with you so much. I do work a lot, but learned to slow down with my son. I still have to work a lot , but I do mediation and I have family time. Great article and cannot stress how inportant it is to take care of yourself. Thank You,
Lori English
Burnout is such an easy trap to fall into. It’s wonderful that you have different activities and family time to slow down. I think we become more effective when we walk away for a while.
Not long ago, I was on a hamster wheel jumping from one project to the next without rhyme or reason. It was an endless cycle of feast or famine – I was overloaded with work and I wasn’t charging enough. I was so tired of doing the same thing over and over. These days, I make my business more sustainable.
Good for you Rachel that you got off the hampster wheel before you got into serious burnout territory. I think we’re all dedicated to what we want to accomplish and impatient in wanting it to come faster. However, we’re no good to ourselves or the people we serve if we don’t stop and take care of ourselves first.
Interesting the actual effects on the brain, Joyce! I think it’s time I take a month off . . .
You have my permission, haha!