Burnout is a sneaky little thing. One moment you’re hustling and bustling, getting stuff done left and right, and feeling great about life and business. Then boom! You can barely peel yourself out of bed.
You feel exhausted, the things you used to enjoy don’t appeal to you anymore, and although you love your business, you suddenly want nothing to do with it.
What happened? Why the sudden change?
Well, it sounds like you might be knee-deep in burnout, baby. 🔥
I’m no stranger to burnout. It still happens to me occasionally, but I’m much better at recognizing the signs and knowing when something needs to change.
10 WAYS TO PREVENT BURNOUT FROM HAPPENING
Ideally, we want to stop burnout before it happens.
Repeat after me…
It’s much easier to prevent burnout than it is to recover from it.Â
Let’s say that again because it’s very important – It’s much easier to prevent burnout than it is to recover from it.
Luckily, there are several things we can do to prevent burnout. Here are my top 10:
Tip #1. Take breaks – This includes taking several 15-minute breaks throughout the day away from your desk, taking weekends and holidays off, and yes, even vacations! Breaks are essential, especially for introverts, because we need to rest and recharge.
When you’re a new VA, it can be a challenge to take time off and I totally get that! You are in the “hustle” stage of your business. Just do your best to take breaks as needed throughout the day and plan for some time off regularly.
Tip #2. Practice self-care – If you don’t have a self-care ritual, now is the time to create one. Can you carve out some “me time” each day, even if it’s just for a few minutes? What about longer “me time”, perhaps on the weekend? Choose when to do your self-care and what you’ll do. Then stick with it. If you find your new ritual isn’t working out or isn’t as enjoyable as you thought it would be, try something else.
Some of my favorite self-care rituals are to:
- Sit outside in the morning and listen to the birds while I journal
- Move my body after work (dance, stretch, or go for a walk)
- Read before bed to unwind
- Take weekends off
- Take a week off every 3-4 months
A few more ideas: Take a hot bath, listen to soft music, play video games, watch a movie, or garden. Whatever brings you joy and fills your cup, that’s your self-care. Schedule time on your calendar for yourself because you are worth it!
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Tip #3. Get support – People who have support systems are far less likely to burn out. It could be your family, friends, biz bestie, a FB group, or some other group. Pssst, we have a super supportive group of introverts inside the Introvert VA Club forum!
You can even get professional support from a therapist. Let yourself be vulnerable and reach out to someone you trust when you feel yourself heading toward burnout.
Tip #4. Ask for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. We ALL need help from time to time! Just tell someone what you need, and I’m sure they will be happy to help. If not, ask someone else!
Tip #5. Listen to your body. Our bodies are always giving us feedback. Pay attention to your mental and physical health as part of your daily routine. You may need extra sleep, a healthy snack (or a chocolatey one), or a long weekend. Also, watch how your body reacts to certain things. I get burnt out if I watch the news or hang out on Facebook for more than 5 minutes. Listen to what your body is telling you!
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Tip #6. Be stingy with your yeses. If you’re a people pleaser or tend to say “yes” a lot, listen up! All those “yeses” can easily lead to burnout. Learn to say no and say it often, especially when your body tells you to.
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Tip #7. Know your boundaries. It’s essential to create boundaries with clients, family, and friends. And if someone breaks your boundaries, let them know.
Tip #8. Work with your energy levels. This is one of my favorites. We all have surges and drops in energy levels throughout the day. You might find that you have more energy in the morning and do your best creative work then. Or you might be a night owl and do your best tech work then. Each of us is different, so it’s important to listen to your body and work with it as much as possible.
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Tip #9. Create good habits. Get enough sleep, eat healthy, drink lots of water, move your body, and do things you enjoy. These habits are the foundation of good health and having balance in your life.
Tip #10. Know the signs. You don’t just wake up one day and feel burnt out. If you notice that you’re feeling more tired than usual, unable to focus, or craving a Netflix binge, check in with yourself. Are you on the road to burnout? If so, take more breaks, rest more, and take things off your list so that you can try to keep yourself from going up in flames. The earlier you can detect that you’re heading toward burnout, the better you are at avoiding it.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
Did you notice that a lot of the prevention tips above say to listen to your body? When we ignore the signals our bodies send us, it leads to trouble. You deserve to take time for yourself and do things you enjoy so make sure you do.
Learn more about burnout, like the signs and how to recover from it, inside How to Keep From Burning Out. This course is included inside the Introvert VA Club along with a library of tranings, resources, and our super supportive community. Learn more here.
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