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Lost

As a business coach I know a lot lot about the feeling of being lost. Especially business owners tend to do too much at the same time and at a certain moment they loose their insight, their goals for that moment, they don’t know what to do anymore and a feeling of loosing it starts to kick in.

And I must confess, I have it too. Talking about it with my coach helps me to get me back on track again. Unfortunately not everybody with a business is able to afford an coach. Although I think a coach should be able to create a way to make it affordable, but that’s a different story.

There are a few ways you can prevent that feeling.

First of all if you are doing too much at the same time your brain will stop working. If you are trying to focus on one thing, trying to forget about other (small, but also important) things, but also get constantly interrupted, your brain will end up in a crash. And nothing else will come out of it anymore.

That dreadful feeling will kick in, overwhelm will start and nothing happens anymore. And you give up. After a while you start again, and it is so hard to get back in the game again that you wonder why you are doing it and you are thinking to giving up. Again. A negative spiral will start getting into your head.

Before you reach that point you have to find ways to refuel.

Almost everybody who has a business will say “Sorry, but I simply don’t have time for that”. My answer would be: “If you are working yourself into a burnout, what will be left of your business then?” Think about it. Is 10 minutes of your day worth the time to prevent a burnout? Is 10 minutes spend now on refueling a better investment in your business then to give up completely on your business in 2 or 3 years? Because you have to give it up, because of a burnout, because you cant handle it anymore?

So what are these ways you can prevent this?

One of them is establishing a quitting time and sticking to it. This way of giving yourself time to refuel, is something I figured out not that long ago. Now I do it every morning and it became a habit to do it. Just decide what time you will stop that day working. Spend some ease and quietness with family or friends in the time after. And even if it is just for a couple of hours, you already created something positive.

Another one, which is scientifically proven it prevents a lot of physical and mental problems and gives you a lot of advantages is meditation. Nice thing about meditation is that it doesn’t need to take you hours. Only 10 minutes just before you dive behind your computer and start your busy day working on your business, or 5 to 10 minutes during your lunch hour, will help you a lot. Especially in reducing stress.

If you like to learn more, I have a free webinar where I discus 5 ways to decrease stress and create healthy habit. Just follow the link.

Sign Up for my FREE webinar.
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Are You on the Verge of Business Burnout?

A burnout is a very real problem, especially for solopreneurs. Even though partnerships can have their ups and downs, at least you have someone to handle some of the stress and responsibility. Solopreneurs are by themselves and feel the entire weight of their success on their lone shoulders. This large responsibility often leads these business owners to work 14+ hour days and lose track of what’s happening at home with their families. But is focusing so much attention on your business a wise decision?

No, not if you want to achieve a work/life balance that makes you and your family happy. Even if you’re single, making time for self-care and relaxation will improve your overall health and mental wellbeing. Let’s talk about the signs to look for that indicate you might be headed toward a burnout.

1. Insomnia. If your brain can’t shut down because you’re consumed with work, your sleep pattern will get disrupted, leaving you overtired, lacking energy, and possibly lacking the mental energy to make wise business decisions.

2. Procrastination. Do you cringe at the length of your daily to-do list? Did these tasks once excite you but now they make you want to crawl under a rock? Procrastination leads to missed deadlines and opportunities to promote your business.

3. Fatigue. The human body is only capable of handling so much stress on limited sleep. Certainly you’ve heard the phrase “burning the candle at both ends”? That’s what happens when you work yourself to the bone and don’t give your body and brain enough time to recover before starting another high-stress day. At some point your body will want to give up, causing severe fatigue and possibly other illnesses that will keep you out of the office.

4. Changes in appetite. For some people, stress causes them to overeat; for others, stress reduces their appetites. Neither extreme is good for your body. For optimal health and mental clarity, take lunch breaks away from the desk and choose natural, healthy food choices instead of fast food items.

5. Anxiety. High stress causes anxiety, which can cause crippling fear or other physical symptoms. Keep in mind: there’s a big difference between the anxiety you feel when stepping out of your comfort zone versus stress-induced anxiety that doesn’t seem to go away.

Think about this: as a solopreneur, if you are not physically able to run your business, what happens to it? Chances are, you’d have to close your doors and any streams of income you currently have will disappear. Let’s avoid this happening! Take care of your whole body, mind, and spirit. Take quiet time to relax. Get outdoors and breathe in some fresh air. Unplug for a whole weekend and live in the moment with your family. Reconnect with old friends. Start a hobby. The choices are limitless.

Follow these 5 Tips for Easy Self-care

In just a few days I’m hosting a webinar dedicated to this self-care topic. I discovered changes in my own business and my mindset once I started taking care of myself and living life outside of the office. My webinar is titled, “5 Ways to Practice Regular Self-Care, Even if You Think You Don’t Have Time” and I promise you don’t need to dedicate hours a day or make any pricey purchases. Implement these tips in the privacy of your home. Grab your seat today!

Sign Up for my FREE webinar