A poll conducted by the Gallup Institute (American Institute of Public Opinion) showed that the average employee spends 47 hours every week in the office. For startup founders, this number often gets even larger, which can lead to additional physical and emotional stress.
Burnout
While starting a new business can be exciting and invigorating, the initial rush to launch a startup doesn't last forever. When the stress and everyday responsibilities associated with running your own business make themselves felt, you can feel depressed, especially with a long working day.
If you are not careful, all of these factors will contribute to what can destroy any entrepreneur: burnout. It can lead to fatigue, irritability and poor performance. Burnout can damage your problem solving and creative thinking abilities. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic report that it may even contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as increase the likelihood of substance abuse.
Despite the fact that the founders of a startup are under heavy pressure, finding a balance to avoid burnout is important for your health and long-term success. Fortunately, several science-based strategies will help avoid burnout and achieve the best results.
Take a break before you experience burnout symptoms.
Although many well-known entrepreneurs emphasize the value of working from 60 to 100 hours a week to make their business successful, research has shown that this level of overwork will usually have a negative result in the long run. This level of chronic overwork makes you much more prone to burnout, and it will not help your productivity.
In a study by a professor at a school at Boston University of Business, it was found that managers could not tell the difference between employees who actually worked 80 hours a week and those who simply pretended. He was unable to find any evidence that these employees had actually achieved lower results, or any signs that overworked employees were able to achieve more.
Overwork does not increase productivity. For many, this actually increases the risk of making costly mistakes as they become more and more tired. Allow yourself to take breaks to avoid burnout. Even a short walk can provide meaningful mental relaxation and clarity.
Find meaning in your work
Startup founders should never follow a potential business idea just because it seems like a good way to make money. To stay motivated in the long run, you must follow the meaningful ideas that you are truly passionate about.
This is not just an allegation, it is supported by scientific research. In particular, meaningful attitude and importance of a career are associated with a longer life expectancy. The real value and meaning of your work will help to avoid burnout in stressful situations.
Stimulate creativity through continuous learning
Education does not stop after graduation.The principle of neuroplasticity means that learning new things in adulthood forces your brain to make new connections. This allows him to find more creative solutions, drawing on the experience of training in one area to solve other problems.
While you can certainly learn new skills that are relevant to your work to improve your neuroplasticity, it’s not necessary to limit yourself to this. Improving creative thinking can be the result of learning to play a musical instrument, preparing a new recipe, or even memorizing a poem.
As you continue to study outside of work, your brain will be better prepared to solve problems that arise at work. Creative and innovative solutions will develop your thinking, helping to avoid the monotony that often precedes burnout.
Priority of your relationship
Although some suggest that you need to step back from certain relationships in order to successfully develop your startup, these very relationships can offer much-needed relief from work-related stress. In fact, the famous Harvard Adult Development Study, conducted over 80 years, found that “warm relationships” were the biggest predictor of happiness in later life.
The point is not only that spending time with family or friends avoids stress at work. In many cases, being able to talk about your situation with those close to you will help relieve stress and prevent burnout.
In other words, setting aside time for a warm, close relationship with friends and family will help you stay happy and avoid stress. Discussing the problems you face in your startup can even help stimulate new ideas that unbalance you. Neglecting these relationships due to the difficult time at work will only cause more problems.
Long hours of work and stressful conditions are a natural part of a startup’s life. But you must not allow them to burn out. By implementing these strategies, you can get around this problem state in order to achieve balance and be more productive.