How Startup Founders Can Avoid Burnout

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Running a startup can be both exciting and stressful at the same time and if you are bootstrapping your startup then that adds another layer of complexity because budget is tight and time is running out on the amount of money you have left. This life style can cause a lot of founders to be overwhelmed and stressed.

Here are some steps to help you be more productive with your time and avoid burnout.

Plan and prioritize your work

Kevin Kruse in his book 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management points out that successful people work on their most important tasks earlier in the morning so they don’t get distracted and they schedule them on their calendar.Why? Kruse says as more time passes during the day unexpected things will happen that may interfere with you achieving these tasks. Treat these time blocks as appointments so they will get done.

Your calendar should also reflect your high priorities for the week or month by creating time blocks. These can be allocated to calling customers, meetings, family time, or thirty minutes of relaxing. Learning time management skills will help you achieve your goals on time which in return will help with stress.

Use technology to be more productive

With over 2 million apps in the app store there is no shortage of programs that can help you be more productive or automate tasks. Apps like ezClocker can help keep track of your employees hours using built in GPS so you don’t need to be at the job site to see if your employees were at the correct location.

Buffer is another great app where you can schedule your social posts. You also can look at analytics to see which ones performed the best, and then have the ability to re-post them which will save you a lot of time.

Slack is a communication tool that has gained in popularity over the past couple of years and is known for it’s ease of use. It allows you to organize your team in groups called channels or you can send a private message to an employee. It also lets you share files including pdfs and images.

Get a good night sleep

Sometimes, more often than any of us would like to admit, we stay up for hours on end – all night, even – to work to the bone in order to complete a task. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults aged 18-64 all need at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night to be at our best! While caffeine and sugary delicacies are beautiful things, you also need sleep. Get some sleep, treat your body and brain as it deserves. You have to carry yourself through so much in life, and treating your sleeping patterns as almighty is extremely important.

Exercise

Exercise is essential to maintaining overall health. Exercise helps blood flow, reduces stress, and assists in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression. According to ADAA “Exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers—and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.

Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. A brisk walk for up to thirty minutes each day can help you in more ways than you would believe. Exercise helps your body to find a state of release, and helps to keep you from burning out!