You’re running a passion-led business, getting paid to do something you love. You’re the envy of friends and family – free from the shackles of the corporate machine. You get to choose what to do, and when to do it. No boss to answer to, no office politics to negotiate. No suits, heels or hellish commutes.
But the truth is you don’t feel lucky. And you haven’t done so for several weeks. You’re stressed out. Tired. Work feels like wading through treacle, instead of an effortless glide. You’re procrastinating, hesitating, putting things off – sometimes for days on end.
Projects linger, left un-touched. Anything seems more appealing than designing or making – the things you’re supposed to love. Emails just sit in your inbox. Blog posts remain un-written. Cleaning and housework becomes enthralling – anything but work.
If this sounds like you – don’t stress. Chances are you’ve got a serious case of burn-out, and you will fall back in love with your work! Here’s what I did to beat burn-out when I started my recent maternity leave, and some ideas to help you too.
Take a rest. A proper one.
Close your shop. Put up an announcement to let customers know you’re taking a break, and tell them when you’ll be back. (Because you will want to come back, promise). Cancel appointments, switch off your phone. Then – do nothing. Do whatever it takes and find ways to be kind to yourself. Get some early nights and late mornings. Watch trashy TV. Take long baths. Read celebrity magazines. Whatever it takes for you to seriously unwind, and forget about work for a while.
After a couple of days, you might find a few ideas popping into your head. A slight urge to do something, make something, get back in front of a computer screen. To pick up your phone and start Tweeting. Resist! You’re not done yet. Before you get back to business, you need to fill your well of creativity right back up to the top. Which brings us to….
I’m not suggesting you do all of these, merely that you treat this list as a smorgasbord of self-love. Give yourself time, listen to your heart, and you’ll know when it’s time to get back to work. If you’re anything like me, greater levels of creativity, energy and enthusiasm will be waiting for you on the other side – which is good news for all concerned!
If you’ve suffered from burn-out in the past, I’d love to know what you did to fall back in love with your work. Leave a comment and let us know!
Claire Hughes — Make, Do & Sell
Claire Hughes is an online marketing consultant with over ten year’s experience running campaigns for some of Europe’s biggest brands. Proud to call herself an internet geek and home-working mum, she now focuses exclusively on working with creative entrepreneurs. You’ll find Claire sharing free tips and advice on the Make, Do & Sell blog, as well as co-leading the Handmade Horizons marketing e-course. That’s when she’s not changing nappies or feeding her Pinterest addiction, of course…..
There’s nothing Claire loves more than helping talented ladies overcome their marketing challenges and achieve their wildest dreams. Why not connect with her on Twitter and tell her all about yours?
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Building your creative business? Sign up for the Handmade Success mailing list and get even more juicy business advice delivered weekly.
i was working FT and trying to sew every night until 11 or 12. i was running my myself ragged. i burned out really bad early this year & got a terrible respiratory infection and was dealing with a back injury. i didn’t sew for about 3 months. after i started feeling better i made the decision to start working out regularly. this is my quiet time. i need it for both my physical & mental health. the key is balance
I love this list, especially 3, 6, and 15! I used the down time to figure out what lead up to my burnout. As a small business, I was use to doing everything myself. I stopped being an island and found great small business e-courses and consultants to help with things I didnt know or didn’t like doing.
I still do list items 3, 6, and 15 for sanity, but now work gets mixed into the equation.
TOTALLY ME RIGHT NOW!
This superwoman is running on “E”. I struggle with what projects or tasks others can help me with along with what is a reasonable pay for these tasks for my helpers.
You can only do so much. All those friends and realitives who offer to help for free….let your OCD go and take the help!
Thanks so much for this post Claire! I took a vacation earlier this summer that I decided to work on and just ended up feeling burned out during the trip. Then with the passing of my husband’s grandma I had to take another break that of course was not spend rejuventating myself. We have a weekend trip planned in a couple of weeks and I am going to defimitely make it a real break. I look forward to coming back from it feeling more creative and bursting with ideas!
@Lynn – Thanks for sharing your story! I am glad that you took a break and have discovered what helps you be your best self. Keep it up!
@Myesha – That was wise to spend your down time learning about what caused your burn-out. Brilliant! If you like, please share what e-courses and consultants that you found helpful!
@Judi – I know you have a lot going on and I hope you start to utilize the help that is being offered. Hopefully by paying someone you will be able to have more time create which will end up paying for the help.
Good luck ladies!
just what i needed! thank you
Thanks so much for this article! I tend to burn out really bad when I can’t figure a way out of a situation I used to love. I’m sure exercise would be a great help, and getting a professional massage (eventually) is on my list of things to do.
Also, a VERY big deal to not get burned out in the first place is to learn to say, No. If you know what you want and where you are headed, then anything contrary to that or any request that leads you away from what you want is a huge, flaming signal to say, NO!
I didn’t say No to several customers who would ask too much of me (in the past). I got mad at them, and then I got mad at myself, and I quit doing what I loved.
Get rid of whatever desperate feelings we have about money and whether or not a customer likes us (there will ALWAYS be more!) and JUST SAY NO.
Then, go exercise and get a massage!
One thing I have to remind myself in order to beat the fear of ‘not being good enough’ (which I struggle with all the time, and which leads me to over working and burning out or procrastinating terribly)… is to set my sights lower, aim for the “C” grade not the “A” grade. It sounds a bit scandalous, but I watched an empowering speech on the internet by someone a while ago, and this bit really spoke to me. Because actually, once you start doing something without the worry about it being your absolute best, you’ll probably produce something better anyway!
@lisa – LOVE hearing that!
@marquina – Yes to saying no! I used to not even realize that I was in a position to say no. I say yes to a lot of things that excite me but I have to get better at reevaluating after a couple of months just how fulfilling all of those obligations have become.
@charlie – So interesting! It does make sense though that once the pressure is off you might actually relax and tune into your best self and put that forward. I like this!
I see I’m arriving late at the party – but what works for me is to shut my studio and go into my kitchen and bake. All thse delicious smell soon make me feel virtuous and earn me lots of brownie (!) points with my family
Hi, thanks for those great ideas! I get really mentally exhausted if I’ve just written a couple of wedding poems, as I have to study the info and pictures given to me by family and really get to know the bride and groom, so that I can create a medieval ballad based on their story and habits/traits etc. I get really into their world doing it!
I find that some of your suggestions, like walks, watching films, soaking up a fun novel and getting out,
talking to friends over coffee, quickly help me to get back the desire to write when the next poems request arrives!
Really great article, thank you! Being a full time mum and starting a new business from home is certainly difficult. You feel you have to get everything done super quickly in those precious couple of hours when the little one is napping, then when he wakes its housework, cooking, school run for the older one. There’s so little time in your day to take a bit of space for yourself until about 9 at night, and by that time you’re only fit for bed! If the weather is nice, then sit out in the garden and let the wee one play while you have a coffee. If its wet open the windows so you can hear the birds sing – and switch off the tv!! It’s the little things that add together through the day that keep you sane, or cause you to become insane! This summer we’re planning a holiday in the outer Hebrides, you can’t get much more peace and quiet than that to rejuvenate your batteries!