Running your own business can be exciting, rewarding and incredibly freeing. But it can also be exhausting.
When you’re a solopreneur, there isn’t always someone else to pick up the slack. You’re the salesperson, marketer, bookkeeper, content creator, customer service department and CEO. Some days, you’re also the IT department!
And because there’s always something else that could be done, it can be difficult to ever really feel finished.
That’s where burnout can creep in.
Avoiding burnout isn’t necessarily about working fewer hours. It’s also about changing how you work so you’re not using valuable time and mental energy on things that don’t deserve it.
Here are eight simple strategies you can try.
1. Try the 2-Minute Rule
This is one of my favourites because it’s so easy to put into practice. The idea is simple: If something takes less than two minutes, do it now.
Reply to the quick email. Send the invoice. Book the appointment. File the document. Confirm the meeting.
We often put off these tiny jobs because they don’t seem urgent. But eventually, 20 little jobs are sitting in the back of our minds. That’s mental clutter.
The next time a small task lands on your plate, ask yourself: Can I get this done in two minutes?
If you can, do it and move on.
Of course, you don’t want two-minute tasks interrupting you every five minutes when you’re trying to concentrate. Use this rule when you’re already working through email or administrative tasks, rather than letting every notification derail your day.
2. Use the Pomodoro Technique
Have you ever sat down to work and somehow ended up checking email, scrolling social media and doing three completely unrelated things? The Pomodoro Technique can help you focus.
Traditionally, you work for 25 minutes on one task, then take a five-minute break. That’s it.
During those 25 minutes, close the extra tabs. Put your phone down. Turn off notifications and focus on one thing. After several rounds, take a longer break.
You might be surprised by how much you can accomplish when you give one task your complete attention for a short period of time.
And those breaks matter too. Get up. Stretch. Grab some water. Walk around. You don’t have to sit at your desk for four straight hours to have a productive morning.
3. Try the 5-Second Rule
Sometimes the hardest part of a task is simply starting. You’ve been meaning to make that phone call. You need to start writing that proposal. You know you should record that video. But you keep putting it off.
Try counting:
5…4…3…2…1…GO.
Then take action.
Don’t wait until you feel motivated. Often, motivation comes after we start, not before. Your first action doesn’t need to be huge. Open the document. Pick up the phone. Turn on the camera. Get yourself moving.
4. Use the 1-3-5 Rule
Does your daily to-do list have 27 things on it? Mine can too!
The problem with a giant list is that you can work all day and still end the day feeling like you didn’t accomplish enough.
The 1-3-5 Rule gives your day some structure.
Choose:
1 major task
3 medium tasks
5 small tasks
That’s nine things.
It also forces you to decide what actually matters instead of treating every task like it has the same importance.
And remember, your list doesn’t have to be perfectly completed every day. The goal is direction, not another reason to put pressure on yourself.
5. Create a “Not To Do” List
We spend a lot of time creating to-do lists. But what about the things we’re going to stop doing? A “Not To Do” list can be surprisingly powerful. Here are some questions you can ask yourself.
- What are you doing because you’ve always done it?
- What isn’t producing results anymore?
- What could someone else do?
- What can you automate?
- What meetings don’t need to happen?
- What are you saying yes to when you really don’t have the time?
As your business grows, your role needs to change too. You don’t have to keep doing everything yourself simply because you can. Protecting your time also protects your energy.
6. Eat the Frog
This one has a funny name, but the idea is useful. Your “frog” is the task you’re most tempted to avoid. It’s often difficult, uncomfortable or requires more concentration than everything else on your list. Instead of spending all day thinking about it, tackle it early.
Once it’s finished, you’ve removed one of the biggest sources of mental pressure from your day. And let’s face it, there’s something very satisfying about looking at your list before lunch and thinking: I got THAT done!
7. Stop Multitasking
I know. This can be a hard one. As business owners, we’re used to having several things happening at once. But there’s a difference between having multiple responsibilities and trying to do multiple things at the exact same time. Writing an email while listening to a webinar while checking Instagram isn’t necessarily saving time.
Give yourself permission to do one thing at a time.
When you’re writing, write. When you’re creating content, create content. When you’re talking to a client, be with the client.
You may find that you finish things faster and feel less mentally scattered at the end of the day.
8. Break Big Tasks Into Smaller Steps
Sometimes we procrastinate because the task feels too big.
- “Create a new website.”
- “Launch a course.”
- “Start a YouTube channel.”
- “Do my bookkeeping.”
Those aren’t really tasks. They’re projects made up of many smaller tasks.
Instead of writing “Launch my course” on your list, break it down.
- Choose the course date.
- Write the description.
- Create the registration page.
- Design the graphic.
- Write the email.
- Schedule the social posts.
Suddenly, that giant project feels much more manageable. And you’ll find that every small step gives you momentum.
Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference
Burnout doesn’t usually happen because of one busy afternoon. It can build when we’re constantly rushing, switching between tasks, carrying unfinished work in our heads and feeling like we’re never quite caught up.
That’s why I like these strategies. None of them require you to completely overhaul your business.
Pick one and try it this week.
Maybe you’ll start using the 2-Minute Rule.
Maybe you’ll turn off your notifications and try one 25-minute Pomodoro session.
Or maybe you’ll finally put something on your Not To Do list.
You don’t need to do all eight strategies at once. In fact, that would probably defeat the purpose!
Start small. Because being productive isn’t about squeezing more and more work into your day.
It’s about being more intentional with your time, attention and energy so you can continue building your business without completely exhausting yourself in the process.
Which of these eight strategies are you going to try first?
