Do You Need Space to Breathe? Managing Burnout for Female Entrepreneurs

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, where passion drives ambition, success can sometimes come at a high cost. For female entrepreneurs, the pressure to excel, coupled with long hours and an ever-growing to-do list, can lead to a silent but potent enemy: burnout. As someone who has experienced the harrowing effects of burnout firsthand, I want to share my journey and provide valuable tips to help fellow women in business find the space they need to breathe and thrive.

Understanding Burnout:

Burnout is not confined to any particular career or lifestyle. It can affect anyone, including driven career women, dedicated employees, and even stay-at-home mums. The signs of burnout can manifest in various ways, such as exhaustion, cravings, brain fog, more frequent illnesses, and insomnia. Additionally, there are numerous physical symptoms like headaches, flu-like symptoms, blurred vision, neck and shoulder tightness, and digestive issues that can indicate excess tension in the body.

The Danger of Ignoring the Signs:

My own experience in retail sales management and leading teams for multimillion-dollar companies taught me how easy it is to ignore burnout, especially when driven by passion and dedication. The constant need to succeed can lead us to sacrifice our time, health, and personal life. It is crucial to recognise that pushing ourselves to the limit has severe consequences, and in my case, it led to severe burnout that left me hospitalised and unable to work for four years.

Creating Space to Breathe:

To prevent burnout from consuming your life, it’s essential to create space for yourself. Here are my top three changes you can make to find that breathing room and manage burnout effectively:

1. Create Space in Your Calendar: As entrepreneurs, our to-do lists can seem endless, and the pressure to stay on top of everything can be overwhelming. By intentionally blocking out blank spaces in your calendar each week, you give yourself room to handle unexpected tasks or personal emergencies without feeling overwhelmed. Make these “space to breathe” appointments a priority, committing to at least five hours of blank space each week. Use this time to work on lingering tasks, or better yet, take it as an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate your mind and body.

2. Treat Yourself to a Lunch Date: How often do you take yourself on a lunch date? Eating a nourishing meal away from your workspace can do wonders for your energy levels, blood sugar balance, and nervous system. It’s a simple act of self-care that allows you to recharge and create that much-needed space to breathe. Make daily lunch dates a priority in your calendar and remember to eat something nourishing and enjoy it outside in the sun whenever possible. Disconnect from technology during these moments and bask in the joy of self-love.

3. Turn off Notifications: In our digital age, constant notifications can be a major source of stress and anxiety. Whether it’s emails, social media updates, or work-related messages, the constant pings can trigger our fight-or-flight response, leading to heightened tension and decreased productivity. Give your nervous system a break by silencing notifications during work hours and limiting specific platform checks to designated times. On weekends, remove access to work-related platforms on your phone, granting yourself the space to rest and reset properly.

Hire the Help You Need:

One crucial aspect of managing burnout is recognising that it’s okay to seek help and delegate tasks. As a female entrepreneur, you don’t have to carry the weight of every responsibility on your shoulders. Consider hiring the help you need, whether it’s in the form of a virtual assistant to handle administrative tasks or a cleaner to take care of household chores.

Virtual assistants can be invaluable in managing your schedule, handling emails, and organising your business affairs. They free up your time and mental space, allowing you to focus on strategic business decisions and growth.

Similarly, hiring a cleaner to take care of household chores can lift a significant burden off your shoulders. This will give you more time and energy to spend with your family, pursue hobbies, or simply relax and recharge.

Conclusion:

As female entrepreneurs, our passion and drive can lead us to push our boundaries in pursuit of success. However, we must remember that success is not sustainable without taking care of ourselves. My own journey through burnout taught me the importance of creating space to breathe, prioritising self-care, and seeking help when needed. By implementing these simple but powerful changes in your life, and being willing to hire the help you need, you can manage burnout effectively and nurture a thriving and balanced business and personal life.

Remember, it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help or take time for yourself. In fact, it shows that you value your health, well-being, and time, ultimately leading to more sustainable success and fulfilment in your entrepreneurial journey.

So, do you need space to breathe? The answer is a resounding “yes.” Embrace the power of creating that space and hiring the help you need and watch yourself flourish as both a successful entrepreneur and a happy, healthy individual.