Although this lesson is not actually direct training to teach you a marketing strategy, it is actually more important than any strategy.
I want to talk to you about burnout today. Burnout is when you work yourself silly and literally begin to loathe even a single moment worth of work.
Being self-employed and working at home for decades, I have experienced this type of situation many times. Over the years I have figured out some useful ways to avoid getting burnt out that I’m going to share with you in this article.
Avoiding Burnout
When you reach that point where you’re so exhausted and tired that you don’t want to continue, you can easily harm your business. There’s no point in working long hours, 7 days a week if it causes you to crash after a few weeks and do nothing for days. You’re much better off trying to pace yourself so you can continue at a consistent rate.
I am one of the most motivated people you will ever meet, so I have the natural tendency to push myself too hard if I’m not careful. I have worked from morning until late night, 7 days a week, for years in a row. Trust me when I tell you, that is not good for your body or your mind. It is good to be motivated and to get a lot of work done each day, but it’s even more important that you take a bit of time to relax after a long day of work.
I ALWAYS set aside at least an hour or two at the end of my day to do whatever I want to do. Play a video game, go to the park with the kids, or do anything else that gets you away from work for a bit. This is essential. You MUST have something to look forward to each day because it can help you push through your work. It also gives you the opportunity to relax and unwind on a regular basis. These regular breaks help you keep going when the going gets tough.
Work Boundaries
When you work a normal job, you are usually limited in the amount of time that you can work. If you’re paid hourly, they actually won’t allow you to work past a certain point. Salaried employees may be forced to work long hours, but you still end up with a day off or a couple of free hours at the end of your day.
Working at home for yourself, it’s very easy to get carried away with your work and literally work every waking moment. Sure, you can get a lot done and make a lot of money that way, but you simply can’t continue that way long-term. When you could be working all day long, it’s easy to guilt yourself into working more than you should and getting exhausted as a result.
If you work full-time at home, set a schedule for yourself and strictly abide to that schedule. Unless you have an emergency on your hands, stop working at your scheduled stop time and then the next day you can pick up where you left off. Sticking to this schedule gives you regular breaks and helps your mind avoid surprises.
Set Your Schedule
Once you can get yourself on a schedule, your body will fall into a rhythm that makes work much easier. You’ll be able to start each day fresh and mentally recharged. This results in better productivity, less mistakes/errors and more creative thinking.
I know what it is like to NEED to make money, especially on a deadline. It’s not a feeling that anybody wants to have and I know how it can push you to do things that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. No matter how desperate you get, you simply have to keep your head together or else failure will quickly follow.
I always ask myself this question when I have a problem: What can I do about it RIGHT NOW?
If I can’t do anything about it at this moment or if it is something out of my control, I won’t waste my time and mental stability worrying about it. If you let worry take you over, you won’t be able to handle the situations that you actually have the ability to tackle.
So remember: have confidence in yourself and your abilities, work hard, and be sure to take a bit of time each day to enjoy the fruits of your labors. You’ll be glad you did long-term and so will your friends and family members.