Written by: Kc Rossi, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Burnout isn’t new, however, increased stress and alternate working conditions as a result of COVID-19 have added to the burden. A recent study conducted by Indeed reveals 67% of all workers believe that burnout has worsened during the pandemic. Time efficiency and business fatigue are strongly correlated. Prioritizing an action plan before emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion become the accepted reality is a must.
After three decades of entrepreneurship, I can say that I’m very familiar with burnout. Struggling with adrenal fatigue and visual migraines was normal when running my 7-figure confections manufacturing company. I just found ways to cope like adding a small couch in the back office to close my eyes when I could no longer see. I continued to push, as many business owners do.
It’s easy to ignore the signs that you are overextending (especially since hustle culture praises extreme productivity). Sometimes it takes general exhaustion to turn into lifelessness, inability to cope, or even hopelessness before you start noticing imbalance. At some point, your nervous system won’t allow the hustle and grind to continue.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way and time management can help! As with many other issues, awareness is the first step to healing and change. It’s best to develop a plan before you reach your edge.
To prevent burnout, follow these 3 essential steps:
Commit — The very first step to your success strategy is to make a 100% commitment to yourself that your well-being is the priority. When you believe this with certainty, your actions will follow. It truly begins with deciding. Decide that you are worth navigating your life and business around your bandwidth, rhythm, and flow. You can’t expect to get exceptional results when you are only halfway in. Being connected to your deep why can help clarify and motivate you to put a stake in the ground. Adopt this pro exercise: Pause for a moment and tune within for your authentic answer before you say “Yes!” to anything. If it’s the right time for you to commit, you’ll feel it.
Plan — Like Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” That applies to your burnout prevention plan as well. The best way to set yourself up for success is to plan your day the night before. This allows your brain to get prepared for what lies ahead.
Time management experts agree that you can minimize wasted hours by spending a few minutes planning your schedule. Conserving energy, staying focused, and not squandering time on unnecessary things all contribute to your mental and physical health. This includes reducing or eliminating scrolling on social media mindlessly. And don’t stop there! Batch prepping your meals and planning your support team (childcare, virtual assistant, etc.) are excellent ways to maximize your valuable time.
Act — Information without implementation is a waste of time. To go from theory to practice to mastery, you need to take action. Setting boundaries for yourself is a good place to start to prevent or soothe burnout. I suggest beginning with your inbox. Opening your email tab only twice a day makes a significant difference. On average, I was checking my inboxes about 100 times per day. That may sound excessive, but I bet if you kept a tally, it wouldn’t be that far off! When I shifted to checking email at 10 am and 3 pm, the amount of time and energy regained was shocking. Heads up! This will take practice, however, you’ll be amazed at the results.
As with any change, remember to give yourself a little grace. Choose to try one of the above tips for a while, and then check back in with yourself. Do you have more energy? Are you less scattered? Do you approach your day with more zest in the morning? If the answers are “Yes” you are on the right track and can add in another strategy.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle
You can avoid being a part of the burnout pandemic. Taking a step back to analyze your mindset and habits will help you determine gaps. By focusing on time efficiency you will improve your boundaries, say “Yes” to what is truly in alignment with your goals, eliminate unnecessary energy drains, and feel more grounded at the end of the day.
If you are struggling with burnout and time management, I’m here for you! Feel free to join my complimentary Women Developing Brilliance® Facebook group for more strategies and support.
Kc Rossi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kc Rossi is a Mindset and Self-Leadership Coach who supports entrepreneurs scale a profitable and soul-aligned business. She’s been a full-time entrepreneur since 1991 and has built six and 7+ figure businesses. Kc is a Certified Aromatherapist, Mind-Body Eating Coach, and NLP Practitioner. This allows her to bring an integrated and intuitive approach to her coaching. Kc is the Founder of The Soulprint Method™, a system that combines energy, mindset, and spirituality. This holistic approach provides extreme clarity, dissolves limiting beliefs, improves performance, and opens the way to experience and share your full potential. She is the host of Women Developing Brilliance® — The Spirit of Business, a show dedicated to cultivating confidence, increasing visibility, elevating vibration, and leading with purpose without burning out. When she’s offline, you can find her whipping up plant-based eats or hiking the Finger Lakes Trail in Upstate, New York. Kc is an Executive Contributor of Brainz Magazine. Her work has been highlighted in ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Thrive Global, SmallBizDaily, International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapists, Female Entrepreneurial Association, and The Smart Girl Tribe.
