How do you prevent or already fight the burnout from work / business?
We know this situation exists, but not many people are openly talking about it.
Being in a highly competitive entrepreneurial environment is challenging on many levels... not only in terms of sales and business growth, but also legal responsibilities, administration, and often handling most things independently, all while managing family and personal stuff.
Even less attention is given to how this pressure is experienced by women, who are often expected to balance their careers with being present mothers, managing households, and meeting expectations that go far beyond professional life.
As a result, the emotional and mental load is becoming heavier.
How do you prevent or deal with burnout?
– Is it about seeking professional support, like a therapist or consultant? Or is it more about lifestyle changes, spending time with friends, stepping outside, and creating distance from work?
– What is the most effective way to actually solve this, in a sustainable way?
Replies
I don't know if this sounds crazy, but honestly, when I feel close to burnout, I just sleep for longer than usual and completely disconnect from work for a while. It doesn't solve the root cause, but it gives me enough energy and clarity to deal with things again.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@shikha_shandilya I should try the same, yesterday didn't sleep well and had a very difficult time (emotional breakdown) :D
@shikha_shandilya @busmark_w_nika My colleague keeps mentioning this. The nights she sleeps well, she is a whole different person. Her energy is high, the work she does, she is done by midday. The day she has not slept well, emotional breakdowns, sensitivity, low energy, and low will to work.
Unpopular opinion: most founder burnout isn't from overwork. It's from under-progress.
You can work 12 hours a day and feel energized if things are moving. But 4 hours of spinning your wheels with nothing to show? Destroys you.
What actually helped me: Small visible progress is the best burnout vaccine I've found.
What does your version of a "small win" look like?
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@deepu_jee I think that I have some results, but it is not satisfying anymore :D
The thing that helps me most is having a hard stop time, not a goal, just a time. When the clock hits it, work is done regardless of where I am. Removes the endless "just one more thing" loop.
The other one: separating "slow days" from failure. Not every day produces visible output. Treating a slow day as a problem to fix is how burnout compounds.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@mpanpalli Because of that, I am sometimes envious of 9–5 job people. They know when to stop :D
@busmark_w_nika Exactly. The irony is we left 9-5 for freedom, and then we work more hours than anyone. At least they have a natural off switch built in.
I have been open about feeling the same during my work , mostly what i understood is you need to understand the clues for eg : you can be present in meeting even trying to listen but nothing goes in or You feel tired going to work everyday or you are agitated all the time. My suggestion is in most cases to dial down a little or take a break entirely , workout , meditate . If this does not work take professional help !!!
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@pranay19 The thing is, if I had a physical work (in the meaning of going there physically, I would be totally down). I work best when I am at home, I just need to have good schedules and processes.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@pranay19 Unfortunatelly, my vacations are like adventurous trips, even more exhausting :D
@busmark_w_nika ha ha , but different kind of exhaustion :)
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@pranay19 full of experiences of course :D
I prevent burnout by seeking close connections with family and peers and my network. I try to balance validation with unbiased opinions from my network, which helps keep me motivated. Communicating with others is key to staying busy.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@austinbuhl This helps me too sometimes, but sometimes I need to be (and require to be) alone.
@busmark_w_nika Definitely see that side too. There's a lot of times I need to just be alone and have nothing but the sound of music playing.
The short version of what I've had to learn: tiredness isn't a discipline problem you can solve by working harder, and recovery practices (time outside, friends, etc.) help you sustain a load but don't change how much load you're carrying. Taking things off the list is the only lever that does. You need to set boundaries of when you admit defeat on something and stop as well. It is a tough discipline to put into practice, especially for founders/entrepreneurs who are extremely driven.
I wrote a blog about how I ended up coming through my own burnout. I won't link it because I think that is a bit crass, but it would be easy for you to find if you wanted to.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@matthew_moughtin I want that link! :D
On the burnout question itself, the thing that's held up for me isn't a single fix but a few small anchors I protect no matter what.
For me it's a weekly online group where we share written retrospectives, plus running, strength training, sauna, and just trying to sleep well. Not productivity, just fixed points that are mine and aren't about output. The other half is an attitude rather than an activity. Trying to stay open minded about both myself and the world, instead of bracing against everything. What I've learned is that the 'big' solutions like a vacation or a therapist booked for next month don't catch you in the day to day. The small repeatable things do. Therapy and friends matter too, but they work better on top of that daily floor than as a rescue after you've already crashed.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@mincheol_kim Can I register somewhere for that online group too? :D
For me, burnout usually starts when everything feels urgent and there is no clear finish line.
What helps most is reducing the number of active battles, not just taking a break. Sleep, walks, and time away help, but if the workload stays the same, the burnout comes back quickly.
I try to define one or two important priorities for the day and accept that everything else can wait. Small visible progress + a hard stop time makes work feel more sustainable.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@prashant_patil14 First sentence is hitting + I also feel it that despite my effort, I am still not there (because the process is obvious, but results show up in the long-term unfortunately). It is very demotivating.
For me, burnout usually starts when there are too many open loops in my head at the same time.
Writing things down and making a loose plan for later or the next day helps, because then it still feels like I did something instead of throwing the whole day away because my brain was running on only 3% battery.
And as funny as “touch grass” sounds, it actually helps me more than I expected. Going outside, walking between trees or standing barefoot in the grass does not remove the pressure, but it makes it feel a little lighter somehow.
And if it is more frustration than exhaustion, the gym helps more. After that, my head usually switches from “everything is too much” to “eat, sleep, repeat” 😅
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@etiennegarcia Lately, I went near by water, and it is more calming :) Should practice that one way more :)
@busmark_w_nika True, I should probably try that more often too :)
@busmark_w_nika hey, for me, burnout usually starts when there are too many open loops. Not even huge tasks — just too many small things waiting in the background. What helps most is reducing the number of things I’m actively carrying, then setting a real stop point for the day instead of trying to “finish everything.”
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@alpertayfurr I have the same situation rn... so many small tasks that compounded +my own projects.
@busmark_w_nika Yes me too :)