Burnout.
It’s something that most – if not all – of us running our own, one-person businesses suffer from once in a while.
You’re working days, nights, weekends – any moment you can fit a little work in. You wake up and your biz is the first thing on your mind – and the last thing as you fall asleep. You get twitchy if you’re away from your computer/studio for more than an hour at a time… but then, maybe suddenly, or maybe slowly, you realise that it’s all a bit much.
The pressure of doing it all, keeping on top of your e-mail, orders, blog, twitter, FB, forums, etc etc… it can wear thin. I know I feel this way once in a while – where my usual inexhaustible reserves of enthusiasm seem to vanish like fog in the face of a bright sun. In fact, I feel a little like this today.
If you asked my husband how much of my time I spend working, he’d likely reply with “all of it” – which is part of what brings these moments of burnout on.
Don’t get me wrong – you all know how much I absolutely LOVE my business, I love what I do – it’s a joy to me… but even when your business is you joy, there are times when you need to take a step back, clear a little bit of space in your mind, and breathe.
Today, I sat down with my stash of yarn, tucked up in bed, and crocheted a few new granny squares for the blanket I’m working on. Of course, my mind couldn’t help but think – and this post is the result! Sometimes I wish my brain had an ‘off’ switch… do you?
I plan to get back to some more crochet soon, and just let the gentle rhythm of doing something that I don’t HAVE to do soothe my mind.
Tomorrow, it will be all systems go again – but I always need to remind myself that time out is just as important to running my business as the time I spend working is.
What I’d love to know, dear readers, is what you do to combat burnout in your lives? How do you know when it’s approaching – how do you handle it? What strategies work to help you regain your energy and enthusiasm, and launch yourself back into your work with gusto?
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Great post. I have been feeling this way over the last few months. I put so much pressure on myself to do so much as I have so many ideas and interests. I am fine with the pressure for creativity as it is all I want to do, but when I start stressing about marketing and sales etc this is the stuff that keeps me up at night. I also have a fairly high pressure full time job! So I stopped about two months ago and watched some tv and had a think. What do I want…I want to create, I can’t help but create, I want to draw and paint and sew. So I stopped worrying so much about the selling. I am still checking craft cult all the time etc etc and making posts on my facebook, keeping my blog updated, but I am letting the process be a little more organic. Over the last few weeks I have been enthused and happy about where I am with everything and not being hung up on sales is a perfect position to be in. Thanks so much for sharing this Jess, I too love my business Savage Kitten and could never stop but we all need to take a step back every once in a while and remeber why we started. xx
Love this post (:
I also work a part-time job and have more local orders than online orders. Always chattering about this business of mine in the real world too.
I write. I have a tumblr that I post poems I write on-the-spot, and I do it because I love to. I’m also working on a novel, but I’m in no rush. (: That’s the beauty of it.
When breaktime is over, I remind myself that if I don’t work hard, I won’t be able to sustain myself in college, and I’ll have to go be a cashier somewhere, a vile thought lol.
I just love what I do, too. My brain always comes up with something, so after the tired, burnout feeling passes, I’m right back to the old routine.
Thanks for posting this! It rocks. I appreciate knowing many of us feel the same way.
So true!! To avoid burnout I mix it up. I won’t draw and instead read a book (all the while tinking of drawing of course!) or go for a walk. It’s actually impossible to do anything other than just “be” when the burn out starts!
Yep, yep, yep. Well its no wonder you are feeling burned out after all the work you are doing getting Bespoke off the ground on top of your usual business doings!
Cuddling up in bed with crochet sounds like an awesome idea. I cant get away with the being in bed thing, but I do intend to make something that isnt for sale today.
I think the best way to combat burnout is to work with it, just like you’re doing. Give your brain a chance to rest by doing something that you love that has nothing to do with your business.
Personally I like to get out in nature – drive way out into the bush and walk around for hours, maybe take some photos. I have a rule that I’m not allowed to talk about my business while I’m out there, which is hard – I have to bite my tongue a lot! But my partner holds me to it 🙂
I always come back feeling refreshed and with a bunch of interesting ideas that wouldn’t have come to me stuck inside in my studio or office.
Thank you all for your wonderful comments – I knew I wasn’t alone in this!
Jess – nature does wonders for me too – I think a nice bushwalk is in order this week!
Katie – you’re right, and good on you for working so hard to make your dreams come true…
Sam – it’s so hard to turn those thoughts off, isn’t it!
Kim – kudos to you for all the work you do on top of your full-time job, I see you around on FB quite a lot! And I hope your biz keeps going in the right direction.
Shar – thanks sweetie 🙂 And yep, creating just for myself is something I haven’t done for a while, and something I need to remember to do to keep the magic alive!
Jess, I think I am constantly at risk of burning out! I am quite bad and don’t usually notice it till I get really sick…oops. I have a few solutions for burnout. I sometimes step away from my store for a few days, I don’t create anything for it or bother much with promo work. Chatting and praying about it with my friends and family helps too, as does spending time creating for fun or as gifts for said family and friends.
And (((HUGS))) help too! 🙂
my husband tells me the same thing… although I dont own my own business. its my first year in a teaching position in a country thats not my own. so im thinking and stressing about it all the time. he told me just a few days ago that he thought the reason i was dealing with anxiety was because when i had free time, i didnt take advantage of it. and its true. we could be relaxing but in the back of my mind i am thinking… and how should i do that homework for tuesday….
so… our solution…. was to finish up every possible work related thing on friday afternoon… and saturday morning we woke up early to catch a bus to the beach. we ate breakfast at a cafe we dont usually spend time in… took pictures of ourselves and bought local crafts (tourism is big here). then we came back through town to go to the market to buy fresh fruits to make juice for breakfast this week… and some yarn so that i can make him a scarf. (its cold in peru right now)
were just being intentional about pushing the thoughts of work away. its hard, but its worth it. because we dont live to work… we work so we can live (or at least i think thats the way the quote goes) anyway… good luck relaxing. my advice is to do something out of the ordinary. and.. if you have any crochet ideas for mens scarves… im up for suggestions. i’ll admit im a little nervous about making a scarf for my husband whom is not so much the scarf wearing type.
good luck jess
Julie – I was a teacher, so I know EXACTLY how you feel!! So hard to switch off in that job 🙂 Sounds like you guys had a wonderful day – and a wonderful solution to the burnout problem. Thanks so much for your lovely comment.
I have to admit – I haven’t crocheted a scarf, I usually just knit them! So good luck with it, I’m sure it will be wonderful.
Deb – thanks for the hugs! And I don’t know how you do it, what with those two little ones to look after as well!
Burnout? Oh yes, I know that one ALL too well. I try to get out, be around other people for a while. Today was a good one, out with a crafting group at a cafe this morning (and doing a bit of business but fun crafting whilst chatting) and then out for a picnic and play in the park with my family. I’m all refreshed now 🙂
I read an interesting perpective on burnout recently by Danielle Laporte.
She believes that burnout is a natural part of the creative process, but that it’s been given a bad name because people stress about it and just want to keep going and going and going… But treating it like a natural thing changes that perspective, and maybe takes some of the stress away.
She says to expect it and plan in some rejuvination time like it’s just as important as the other stuff.
But yes, we definitely need time outs. I’m still figuring out what works best for me. (Want yoga to be one, but I’m waiting on a DVD so I can learn!)