Solopreneur Burnout: Why it Happens, What to Look For, How to Prevent It
Being a solopreneur can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful.
One of the biggest challenges faced by solopreneurs is burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Solopreneurs are particularly vulnerable to burnout.
They often take on multiple roles in their business, including marketing, sales, customer service, accounting, and administration, making it a challenging and stressful undertaking. This is even more challenging when combining these roles with personal roles like friend, partner, parent, child, sibling, volunteer…and so on.
Burnout can lead to mental and physical ill-health, a strain on personal relationships, and lead to the collapse of the business.
Here are common symptoms, causes, and, more importantly, how to prevent solopreneur burnout in the first place.
Symptoms
Chronic fatigue - feeling exhausted even after a full night's sleep.
Lack of motivation - feeling unmotivated or uninterested in work that used to be enjoyable.
Decreased productivity - struggling to focus or complete tasks efficiently.
Irritability - feeling easily frustrated or short-tempered.
Physical symptoms - headaches, muscle tension, and other physical symptoms related to stress.
Causes
1. Overworking - Solopreneurs are often passionate about their work and may feel like they need to work around the clock to achieve their goals. Without a clear distinction between work and personal life, solopreneurs can find it difficult to switch off, leading to strained personal and professional relationships.
2. Lack of support - Solopreneurs often work alone and do not build or rely on support networks. Instead of outsourcing, they try to wear all the hats. And even if they were comfortable seeking support from friends and family, many do not understand what entrepreneurship is like, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
3. Financial pressure - As the sole provider of their business, solopreneurs often feel a constant pressure to perform, make sales and meet financial targets, leading to chronic stress levels. This can affect sales, because selling from fear is, as anyone in sales will tell you, not the way to close deals.
Prevention
1.Set time/schedule boundaries - Establish clear work hours and actually stick to them. Set a "drop everything and stop" time at the end of the day. It will be hard. You will want to check and respond to emails and posts. Be mindful of how that affects you and your personal relationships. Helping solopreneurs learn how to resist this urge and when it's OK to "give in" is part of my coaching practice.
There will of course be exceptions but they should be exceptions, not the rule. For example, work trips, family commitments, or personal vacations might demand you adjust your routine for a week or two. That's the beauty of entrepreneurship, you can. Just remember to get back into your routine as soon as possible.
2. Set relationship boundaries - Not everyone will understand the demands of entrepreneurship. They won't know what you need or why. Explain it to them and stand firm in what you need, whether it's space, support, or understanding. And then stick with it. Hold firm. How they react is not your problem. That is on them. Setting and enforcing boundaries is not about controlling others, it's about standing up for what you need.
3. Prioritize tasks - Prioritize important tasks and delegate when possible. This can help reduce overwhelm and prevent burnout. Leverage support groups for business owners. There are so many free resources available that you might not be aware of to help you reach your goals. You might also find other providers who are open to bartering with you.
4. Build a support system - Connect with other solopreneurs through networking groups. The camaraderie will help prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness. It will help with motivation, and accountability, and can serve as a sounding board for ideas. (NAWBO and your local chamber of commerce are excellent places to start.) You can also hire a coach that specializes in working with business owners. You know that business coaching is important to the success of your business. Business-owner-coaching is even more vital because without you at your best, there is no business.
5. Establish a system - Establish a success system and daily routine, and stick to it. Include in your routine when you will take breaks throughout the day, and time off to recharge. One popular approach is the Pomodoro Technique.