EP365: How to Recover From Burnout and Get Back Into the Swing of Things
“How do I know if it’s time to shut down my business?”
This is a scary question for small business owners, so when I saw it in my DMs, it gave me pause.
A lot of jewelry designers struggle with this. You started something that you’re so passionate about, and you’ve poured your heart into it for a long time, but for some reason the business is starting to burn you into the ground.
What used to be exciting has become exhausting. You’re stuck in the cycle of burnout, and you’re not sure how you got there or how to get out.
There’s a reason I wanted to talk about this today – to show you that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
This topic is very close to my heart, because I’m coming out of a 3-year cycle of burnout myself, and I’m finally starting to feel excited and invigorated by my business again.
I was scared to talk about it, because I didn’t want you to worry about what’s going to happen to Flourish & Thrive Academy.
But I created The Desired Brand Effect Methodology for a reason. It’s natural for creative visionaries to go in cycles with their business, but if you’re always in a state of overwhelm, if you’re frazzled, stressed, and trying to do all the things, then you won’t be able show up in your business in a way that helps it expand.
Instead, it’s going to contract.
The good news is, my cycle of burnout has evolved into some really awesome things and allowed me to take a hard look at my company and come up with new ways to grow and improve.
So, let’s talk about some of the things I’ve learned that will help you recover from burnout and step back into the role of the visionary leader your business needs.
Identify the Root Cause of Burnout
You can’t just treat the symptoms of burnout and hope it goes away; you have to address the root cause.
This is the hardest part. As the leader of your company, you take ownership for everything in your business – the good and the bad.
So take a good hard look at your biz:
- How are you showing up?
- Are you operating out of fear?
- What’s not working?
- Where do you need more support?
- What are the tough calls you have to make?
- What’s happening in your life that’s causing exhaustion?
For me, I realized I wasn’t operating in my zone of genius. I was constantly getting pulled into managerial tasks, and I never had time to lead.
When you identify the root cause of your burnout, it opens the door to implement the support and solutions you need to get back on track.
Don’t Isolate Yourself, Get Support
I’m an extreme extrovert, but even I have the tendency to isolate myself whenever I get stuck in burnout.
We internalize a lot of shame around business struggles, and it can be difficult to admit that you don’t have all the answers. But isolation is a huge detriment to your business.
First of all, you have to be transparent with yourself and your team in order to delegate tasks or hire the support you need in your business.
On top of that, when you isolate yourself, you lose touch with your network of like-minded entrepreneurs, and those connections are so vital to your well-being as a business owner.
That’s exactly why I founded Flourish & Thrive Academy. Owning an independent business can get lonely. Our coaching programs, accelerators, and live events are much more than just business education and personal development, they’re opportunities to form lasting relationships with like-minded designers who support and uplift one another.
So if you’re feeling burnt out, fight the urge to isolate, ask for help when you need it, and get connected with the people who will cheer you on.
Simplify, Streamline, & Systematize
Now, this might sound scary, but overcoming burnout often means making big changes in your business.
Simplifying your processes is key to protecting your time, creativity, and energy. This might look like:
- Retiring products that aren’t selling well (even if you love them)
- Changing products to make them easier/faster to produce
- Limiting the number of new collections you do
- Outsourcing elements of the production process to free up your time
- Hiring team members to handle time-consuming tasks
- Block scheduling to complete lots of similar tasks in one long stretch
- Automating parts of your business processes where possible
- Documenting and implementing systems in your business
We’re in the process of simplifying our offerings here at Flourish & Thrive Academy.
It can be hard to let go of things I’ve loved for a long time, but it allows us to narrow down our focus and deliver the best quality service to our community.
Be “Selfish”
You’ve sacrificed a lot to get to where you are today. But sometimes you gotta give yourself permission to take some “selfish” me-time.
Book that massage, go on that hike, turn off your phone and have a “staycation.” Whatever it looks like for you, taking time to recharge your batteries will give you a little breathing room to show up for your business feeling energized and ready to get sh** done!
I’m planning a little resort trip for myself in the next few months. As much as I love my business, I know how important it is to shut my brain off every once in a while and take care of myself.
Always Have Something To Look Forward To
Finally, let yourself get excited!
I find that the tough moments in my business are much easier to handle when I know there’s something new just over the horizon.
When you have something exciting to look forward to, it takes away a lot of the negative feelings of shame and fear that you may have about what's next.
Listen to the full episode above to hear more about my own journey with burnout and how I came out the other side a better creative visionary.
xo, Tracy
Links:
FREE Masterclass: How to Stand Out in a Saturated Jewelry Market with a Timeless Brand
More Resources for Jewelry Designers
