Going Big Without the Burnout
For many years in my early corporate and entrepreneurial days I bought into the good old story of “work hard, play hard”, or something like that. Basically meaning start early, finish late and see how many things you can cram in around a huge work day. It might work for a while, but falling into a regular cycle of work, work, work, crash is not very sustainable.
Over the years I have worked with many female founders and female executives who fall into this same trap. Not because they aren’t super intelligent, driven and successful - but because all too often, the downfall of going big is burning out, and sometimes this is like a badge of honour that we have accepted and come to own in our own ways.
These days, I am far more dedicated to a world where seasons of peak performance in business do not go hand in hand with burn out and exhaustion. But in order to actually achieve this you have to really make a decision and commit to doing the things that will get you through these times.
What dies it look like, and how can you pull together a high intensity self care strategy that will work for you?
Make a conscious choice and decision: the first and most important step in the process is simply choosing to do things a little differently. Set your swlf up for success instead of failure by getting your plan in place before the momentum builds and you’re in the thick of it.
Understand your triggers: what are the things that set you off? Not enough sleep, skipping meals, falling out of your exercise routine - when you are aware of your personal patterns when things start heating up, you can do something about it. Set reminders, prepare meals and snacks in advance. Let your family know that you need them to pick up some slack.
Understand your body and what works for you: Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you need times for replenishment and quiet or are you good with a lot of energy and noise? What do you need to thrive through these seasons in business-life? Set your schedule to accommodate the way you work best.
Set boundaries: These are the times when you really need to be crystal clear on your personal and business boundaries and stick to them. If you’re a people pleaser, then be on alert for that tendency to say ‘yes’ to helping others and over committing. This goes for home as well as for work. Ask for help if that’s what is needed to remove some of the pressure (many high achievers find it difficult to ask for help, but I promise you it is worth it).
Guard your energy: In high intensity periods, your energy really is your superpower and ensuring you will need to make sure you are refiling your cup and not wasting energy on activities and people that are not a priority. Do you REALLY need to go to that meeting? Do you REALLY need to be in those conversations? Try to get enough sleep to support your energy requirements, and if you need one - take a nanna nap!
Block out time: Be realistic about the time you need to replenish and regroup. There’s noting surer than having no time for yourself if your diary is back to back all day every day.
Give it a timeframe: If possible - give your high intensity period a clear timeframe. If it’s a strategic project can you allocate 6 weeks to get it complete? Having a set end date will help you to put your self care strategies in place, with the knowledge that you only have to rally for a certain amount of time. Anything is possible for a short period.
I hope that these suggestions might help you through times when going big in business is necessary. Remember to get your plan in place early, let others know that you may need certain support and space in this time, and ask for help! Also remember that going big is not sustainable for lengthy periods of time, so if this happens to become your norm - it’s time to reassess and make some serious changes.
Sarah x
