59: Get Fired Up, Not Burnt Out

[00:00:00] We all know the hustle and grind it takes to build and run a successful business.

[00:00:07] But sometimes, that very passion that fuels our drive can lead us down the path of burnout.

[00:00:15] So how do we keep that fire burning without getting scorched?

[00:00:20] Well, stick around because we're going to explore some actionable strategies to keep your energy high and your spirits even higher.

[00:00:31] Welcome back to another empowering episode of Work It, Live It, Own It.

[00:00:34] I am your hostess, SaCola Lehr, where you are going to learn as a business owner to take control of your life and your business.

[00:00:43] But more importantly, how to stay fired up, not burnt out.

[00:00:49] Let's dive in.

[00:00:51] The first thing I want us to think about is, and that is crucial for all of us, including myself, is you have to recognize the signs of burnout.

[00:01:02] For me, it comes in the form of chronic fatigue.

[00:01:06] I'm feeling tired all the time.

[00:01:08] I feel like I'm getting sleep at night.

[00:01:10] But even after a full night's sleep, I still feel tired.

[00:01:13] You've ever felt that way?

[00:01:15] And because sometimes burnout doesn't happen all at once.

[00:01:21] It doesn't happen overnight.

[00:01:23] It's a gradual process that can creep in on you if you're not careful.

[00:01:30] Another thing that can creep up, and what I mean by this, is decreased motivation.

[00:01:35] All of a sudden, you're finding it difficult to get excited about work or new projects or meeting a new client.

[00:01:45] Irritability?

[00:01:46] Ooh, that's a big one.

[00:01:48] That's a big, huge red flag for me.

[00:01:51] That I'm getting close to burnout.

[00:01:53] Because I can get easily frustrated or irritated by the smallest thing that I normally wouldn't get irritated over.

[00:02:01] Another one is health issues.

[00:02:05] Experiencing frequent headaches, stomach issues, or other physical ailments.

[00:02:11] This is also a good indicator of stress, too, because stress can manifest itself in other ways throughout our body.

[00:02:18] And if we don't pay attention to that, we're on a rapid road to burnout.

[00:02:24] So what can we do?

[00:02:26] Well, one thing I suggest that we all can do is start setting boundaries.

[00:02:33] One of the most effective ways to prevent burnout is by setting those boundaries.

[00:02:38] This means creating a clear distinction between your work life and your personal life.

[00:02:46] What I mean by this, and you've probably heard some of my guests come on here and say the same thing.

[00:02:51] And it's not like I'm prodding them and telling them, hey, you need to say this.

[00:02:56] You need to say this.

[00:02:57] Because we're in agreement and everybody else needs to know this.

[00:03:00] No, this is something that we all need to implement.

[00:03:03] So promise me one thing.

[00:03:05] You're going to try to start setting some boundaries in your life.

[00:03:08] One way to do this is by establishing a routine.

[00:03:12] Set specific work hours and stick to them.

[00:03:14] When the workday is over, turn off your computer.

[00:03:18] Put away your phone.

[00:03:20] No devices.

[00:03:21] I had a great conversation about this on It's a Hard No podcast with Heather Drago.

[00:03:29] And I love that conversation because setting boundaries is so key.

[00:03:34] And it also helps you prevent from taking on or working with clients that will help lead you to burnout and extra frustration.

[00:03:42] So set a specific work set and structure yourself with specific work hours.

[00:03:49] Stick to them.

[00:03:50] I even encourage you to an hour and a half to an hour before bedtime.

[00:03:57] Put that computer away.

[00:03:59] Put your phone away.

[00:03:59] And I started doing that.

[00:04:01] And guys, you know this.

[00:04:03] I know this stuff.

[00:04:05] But it's about implementing it.

[00:04:07] And there are just some people that hear this.

[00:04:09] They're going to hear these strategies, hear these tips.

[00:04:11] They're going to take it away and go with it.

[00:04:13] And they're just go-getters.

[00:04:15] They're on fire.

[00:04:16] They're ablaze.

[00:04:16] And then there's some of us be like, yeah, I know it.

[00:04:19] I know.

[00:04:19] I know, Sokola.

[00:04:20] I know I should be doing this.

[00:04:22] And you go off and you don't do it.

[00:04:24] I'm guilty.

[00:04:25] I'm guilty too.

[00:04:26] But guys, let me tell you, I've been doing this this week and it's been heavenly.

[00:04:32] And I go to sleep.

[00:04:34] And I love it.

[00:04:36] And I wake up fully recharged and refreshed.

[00:04:39] Another way to set boundaries is learn to say no.

[00:04:43] It's okay to decline additional projects or commitments if you're feeling overwhelmed.

[00:04:51] And if it doesn't set you a fire or a blaze, then don't do it.

[00:04:56] Or maybe you did think it was a good idea at the beginning.

[00:04:59] And I know this is hard because a lot of times I'm the type of person, if you're like me,

[00:05:04] you probably go, you got to let your yes mean yes and your no-no.

[00:05:08] If you said that you could, you should do it.

[00:05:12] So what I would advise you to do if you're like that and you have that type of personality,

[00:05:17] weigh the options, think about it and say, hey, thank you for the invitation.

[00:05:22] I really appreciate it.

[00:05:23] Let me get back to you.

[00:05:25] And then give yourself some time to think about it.

[00:05:27] And if you're not feeling it and you see and you look at your plate, you look at your calendar

[00:05:32] and it's not doable, then don't do it.

[00:05:34] Learn to say no.

[00:05:36] Third thing is delegate.

[00:05:39] Trust your team.

[00:05:41] If you have a team, even if it's just your video editor, even if it's just someone doing your newsletter,

[00:05:46] trust your team and delegate those tasks.

[00:05:50] Even if that means delegating chores around the house.

[00:05:53] If you are living with someone, if you have children, you're married, whatever your life is.

[00:06:02] If there are other people in that house with you, you should not be the only one lifting up and doing things around that house.

[00:06:08] They are your team as well.

[00:06:09] Your family is your team.

[00:06:11] So trust your team and delegate those tasks because you don't have to do everything yourself.

[00:06:18] Next is prioritizing self-care.

[00:06:23] Self-care.

[00:06:24] I'm not talking about spa days.

[00:06:26] I'm not talking about getting the mani and the pedi.

[00:06:29] I'm talking about self-care.

[00:06:33] Self-care is not a luxury.

[00:06:35] It is a necessity.

[00:06:36] Here are some ways that you can actually incorporate self-care into your daily routine.

[00:06:41] You don't have to wait till a huge event.

[00:06:44] You can implement this daily.

[00:06:46] Exercise.

[00:06:47] Beautiful, wonderful thing.

[00:06:49] A body that stays in motion remains in motion, right?

[00:06:53] A body that's in motion stays in motion.

[00:06:55] We hear that all the time.

[00:06:57] Think about not just the present you.

[00:07:00] Think about you 10 years from now and how you envision your life and things that you want to do.

[00:07:05] If you want to go to Europe, you want to travel, you want to be able to walk the walk out there,

[00:07:11] go climb those steps because let's just be honest, some countries, you're relying on your feet to get you where you need to go.

[00:07:20] So exercise regularly and it could be stretching.

[00:07:24] It could be walking.

[00:07:26] It could be playing golf.

[00:07:29] Whatever activity brings you joy.

[00:07:34] Participating in regular exercise helps boost your mood and your energy levels.

[00:07:40] So even that short walk can make a big difference.

[00:07:43] Even if you find yourself sitting at your desk too long, you can do what they call the Pomodoro effect.

[00:07:50] And this is where you set a timer.

[00:07:53] You're working.

[00:07:54] And then you may set a timer for 25 minutes to work on a particular task.

[00:07:58] You put your phone on do not disturb.

[00:08:00] You're working on that task.

[00:08:01] And you give yourself a five minute break.

[00:08:03] But during that five minute break, you could do some squats, some lunges, whatever.

[00:08:07] You can do it throughout the day.

[00:08:08] You don't just have to wait for this one time thing out of the day.

[00:08:12] You can exercise throughout the day to keep your mood up.

[00:08:15] Healthy eating is another thing.

[00:08:17] Guys, I am so guilty of this.

[00:08:19] I'm a healthy eater at heart.

[00:08:22] But there are some times, guys, those french fries, onion rings or potato chips call my name.

[00:08:31] And I've gotten to the point in my life that if I don't eat healthy, nutritious food that is going to fuel my body, my energy levels are all over the place.

[00:08:45] So if you want to keep your energy level stable, you've got to fuel your body with nutritious foods.

[00:08:50] Keep those snacks, healthy snacks with you on the go.

[00:08:53] Because some of us, some of us are so in tune to what we're doing throughout the day.

[00:08:58] We honestly forget to eat.

[00:09:01] We honestly forget to drink water.

[00:09:03] That's part of your self care.

[00:09:06] Sleep.

[00:09:06] Aim for at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

[00:09:11] Again, I'm at that stage in my life that sleep is paramount.

[00:09:15] It's very important.

[00:09:16] I cannot function where I can go off of five or six hours of sleep.

[00:09:22] Some people can.

[00:09:24] Some people can.

[00:09:25] And if the five or six hours of sleep is all you need, great.

[00:09:29] But if you're one of those people that like, look, I got to get my sleep.

[00:09:33] If I don't get good sleep, I'm a beast in the morning.

[00:09:36] Aim for that.

[00:09:37] Turn off those devices an hour, hour and a half before you go to bed.

[00:09:41] Mindfulness.

[00:09:42] Practice mindfulness.

[00:09:43] I love this app called Insight Timer.

[00:09:46] It's free.

[00:09:47] Now you can pay as an upcharge.

[00:09:49] You can pay to get access to more features.

[00:09:51] But I love it.

[00:09:52] I love the music.

[00:09:54] I love the guided practices.

[00:09:57] And it helps to reduce stress and stay grounded.

[00:10:00] So whatever you do for mindfulness, take time to do that each and every day.

[00:10:04] And your mindfulness could be, say, for example, what I like to do is I do my grateful for before I go to sleep.

[00:10:15] So no matter what stressful day I've had or what type of day I've been through, I like to list four things that I'm grateful for for that day.

[00:10:25] And that helps me to put everything into perspective.

[00:10:28] And it helps me to realize that, hey, this day wasn't as bad as I thought it was because I had so many beautiful things that I am grateful for throughout the day.

[00:10:40] Next is pursuing passions outside of work.

[00:10:45] So in order to stay fired up about your business, it's crucial to have interest and passions outside of work.

[00:10:52] This helps you to maintain a balanced life and prevents work from consuming your entire identity.

[00:11:00] I love this phrase.

[00:11:01] I thought I was the only one who came up with this phrase, but now other people are doing it.

[00:11:05] It just means that great minds think alike.

[00:11:08] But over 20 years ago, and I had just started out as a librarian in a school.

[00:11:13] And I remember the demands on my job.

[00:11:19] I couldn't even walk in without someone saying, I need, I need, I want, I want, I want.

[00:11:25] And I just something popped in my head and says, I'm working to live.

[00:11:29] I'm not living to work.

[00:11:32] So here are some ideas that I want you to keep in mind in order for you to work to live instead of living to work.

[00:11:39] Hobbies.

[00:11:39] Find a hobby you love.

[00:11:41] And if you have a hobby you love, make time for it regularly.

[00:11:46] I don't think my husband would mind me sharing this with you all, but my husband, he is loyal to, to no end.

[00:11:55] And, but he's also super dedicated.

[00:11:57] And if he's going to do something, he's going to bring his A gang to it.

[00:12:00] He's not going, he's not a slacker.

[00:12:02] But my husband did not have an outlet.

[00:12:06] His job was very demanding.

[00:12:08] On the go.

[00:12:10] It was like, he was finding himself like, I can't take off.

[00:12:13] Because if I take off, it's going to be more work.

[00:12:16] You ever feel that way?

[00:12:17] How can I walk away from my business?

[00:12:20] Who's going to run it?

[00:12:22] And even if they are on vacation, are they still going to call me?

[00:12:25] Those are real concerns.

[00:12:28] So, if this is you, find that hobby.

[00:12:33] Write down a list of things that you've always wanted to try.

[00:12:36] Unbeknownst to me, being married to my husband for 20 years, he, I never, never thought I would see the day where my husband would take an interest in golf.

[00:12:46] He would always say, you know, golf is an expensive hobby.

[00:12:49] It's an expensive sport.

[00:12:51] And then all of a sudden, I see him watching golf.

[00:12:54] I'm like, oh, you, what's going on?

[00:12:57] You watching golf?

[00:12:58] He was like, yeah.

[00:12:59] He says, what do you think about me getting a putter?

[00:13:03] I was like, go for it.

[00:13:05] Do it.

[00:13:06] And you know what?

[00:13:07] Now, I see him get dressed in the morning to go to work.

[00:13:11] And I see him putting on his golf clothes because I know during his lunch break, guess what he's going to do?

[00:13:16] He's going to go to the golf course.

[00:13:18] And he's going to de-stress and decompress.

[00:13:21] And I'm so glad for it because now when he comes home, that hectic day that he's had is not so bad.

[00:13:30] Social connections.

[00:13:31] This is great for my social butterflies.

[00:13:33] But even for my people who are recluse or introverts, relationships are still key.

[00:13:40] They're vital.

[00:13:41] So if you have those friends or those family members that you love getting together with once in a while, spending time with, do that.

[00:13:50] Spend time with your family and friends.

[00:13:52] Relationships are vital for emotional well-being and travel.

[00:13:56] They say travel broadens the mind.

[00:13:59] But oh my goodness.

[00:14:01] To be able to explore new places and experiences, travel can provide a fresh perspective and inspiration.

[00:14:08] And it can rejuvenate you in ways you didn't think was possible.

[00:14:13] Next is continual learning and growth.

[00:14:17] Staying passionate about your business also means continuously learning and growing.

[00:14:22] Staying abreast of your field.

[00:14:24] And here's some ways you can do that.

[00:14:26] You know about networking.

[00:14:28] I talked about this in the last episode.

[00:14:30] Networking, connecting with other business owners and professionals, sharing those ideas and learning from each other.

[00:14:37] Education, taking those courses or attending workshops to learn new skills.

[00:14:42] Reading books, articles and blogs related to your industry.

[00:14:47] Keep you excited.

[00:14:49] Keeps you refreshed and wanting to learn more about what it is that you do.

[00:14:53] So there you have it.

[00:14:56] Strategies to stay fired up, not burnt out.

[00:15:01] Remember, it's about the whole human approach to life.

[00:15:07] You are more than just your business.

[00:15:11] You are what makes your business.

[00:15:13] And if you don't take care of yourself and you don't thrive in life, how else can you thrive in other areas and aspects of your life?

[00:15:23] And so by recognizing the signs of burnout, setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, pursuing passions outside of work and continually learning, you can keep that fire burning bright without getting burnt out.

[00:16:09] Thank you so much for joining me today on work.

[00:16:10] Make it live it on it.

[00:16:11] I would love to hear from you and gain more insight because I learned from you guys as well.

[00:16:17] All right.

[00:16:17] Until next time, keep working it and living it, owning it.

[00:16:21] We've got this.

[00:16:22] Take care.

[00:16:23] Don't worry.