Business burnout… it’s something you don’t talk about. As small business owners, we are always supposed to have it together, always be chipper, always be happy and upbeat and excited! But have you ever had one of those mornings where you didn’t sleep well, there are a million things on your to-do list, and everything has to be done right meow…. but all you want to do is go back to bed?

I’ll be honest – yesterday, that was me.

I was supposed to write a blog post for photographers, I had photos to edit, social media platforms to update, phone calls that needed to be made, and I still desperately need to get some new business materials ordered. But instead, I got the kids off to school and went back to bed.

(perks of being your own boss!)

Business Burnout – How to Combat It

Please don’t take this as me saying, “woe is me, my life is so terrible!”

Instead, please see this as me saying that business burnout is a real thing, and I think that we need to be able to talk about it!

I am so incredibly lucky to be able to have an awesome job that let’s me create amazing memories for our clients, spend time raising my kids and loving on my husband, and have a life to love.

But we are all susceptible to burnout, and I want to chat about ways to combat it!

Acknowledge It

It feels a little like AA, but if you can’t admit there’s a problem, then you can’t start to look for a solution.

Acknowledge your feelings, and that they are valid. It is totally normal to feel a little overwhelmed/burned out, and those feelings are important to listen to.

Take a Break

Sometimes you need to put your head in the sand and take a little break – that is okay!

In today’s digital age, it is hard not to feel the need to be constantly accessible/available to clients. I’ve recently started referring to my cell phone as “my leash”, and realized that it’s a problem.

So I’ve started leaving my phone when I don’t need it.

Let me be the first to say – it’s okay to step away from your social media/electronics!

Those notifications will still be there when you get back, and (usually) they aren’t anything life or death.

Prioritize what needs to happen based on goals you have set for yourself, and then go from there.

Get Out of Your Space

Sometimes we can refresh and recharge by simply getting out of our usual work space.

Spend the morning working at a coffee house instead of in your office.

Put yourself on an electronics break and unplug, even if it’s just for an hour.

Splurge on a massage (which I’m doing on Monday!).

So what do you do to prevent business burnout and stay on track?

Need Help Getting Out of Your Slump?

We offer one on one mentoring, put together free events for photographers, and you can always { Contact Us } for anything you need – even if it’s just a friendly face to say you’re on the right track!