Avoiding burn out
You probably don’t have time to read this, because after all, you’re busy running a business, spinning many plates and thinking of the next job you need to do! But take a moment to read the blog inspired after having two to three very busy weeks, I found myself in a state of exhaustion with a constant headache and not knowing which way to turn. I know I’m not alone. After speaking to business contacts in similar situations, we sole traders and entrepreneurs do everything for our businesses. Answering emails at all hours of the day or night, solving problems, phone calls to make….. the list goes on. Don’t get me wrong – I love being busy but I needed to get a grip on my workload and develop an effective work/life balance to avoid it happening again. It’s not always that easy to take some time out and even less easy to down tools and have a holiday. So what are the signs of burn out? Exhaustion; could be mental or physical. Do you find it difficult to get moving in the morning? Are you making silly mistakes you wouldn’t normally make? Are you finding it difficult to concentrate or have a lower attention span than normal? Are you forgetting to do things or find your mind wandering? Are you struggling to get to sleep or sleep for a short time and find yourself staring at the clock in the early hours? Solving burn out For me, I sought help with a particular problem I was having that I just couldn’t solve on my own. It wasn’t for the want of trying, I’d spent days and days trying to sort out how to create a brochure good enough for print; a job I hadn’t done before. Being a perfectionist, my problem was that I was determined to solve it myself, no matter how long it was going to take. Alongside this, I had other tasks vying for my attention like little devils sat on my shoulder. In the end I had to admit defeat and enlist the help of a professional printer. With the best will in the world, sometimes we just need to get some expert help to take over and solve our particular problem. Once I’d handed over the project I knew that it was in capable hands and I could rest easy and concentrate on other things. Avoiding burn out – top tips Looking after ourselves has got to be first on our daily task list. Here are my top tips to avoid burn out. 1. Turn off technology an hour before bed and allow your body to wind down ready for sleep. Answering that email can wait until morning. 2. Eat a healthy diet to give your body energy and resilience to deal with everyday life. 3. Take some regular exercise to build up stamina and allow your brain to disengage for a short time. 4. Do something you enjoy. Factor a little time in your diary to do what you enjoy; whether it’s watching a film, reading a book, or participating in a hobby/sport. 5. Share the responsibility and get some help. If you’re stuck with a problem or have too much work, there will be somebody that can help you get through it. What are your tips? How do you avoid burn out?
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“The best way to begin or end your working day” - Paul James 2014
I never thought social networking is for me but since I joined the Tuesday pm club as the apprentice in mid June I haven't looked back and enjoy every session I attend. I left the NHS in May 2013 after 30 years of service as Registered Nurse, leaving at management level with a redundancy type package to follow my dreams and develop my passion for animals into a pet sitting and dog walking service. It was a huge leap of faith and security from having a regular income to becoming self employed but this is what I wanted to do and I didn't want to look back and have regrets. Developing the business has been a huge learning curve - professionally and personally - with lots of high and low points as they say you take the rough with the smooth. I find that marketing the business and getting your name out there in the Forest is hard work -I am not a natural business woman with the gift of the gab and find that this aspect very tiring and quite soul destroying at times.I also found that working from home is great but you can also become very isolated and drawn into your own business world -creating a negative impact and not been able to think outside the box. I had several supportive conversations with Jo from Forest Traders regarding promoting my business and social networking who encouraged me to try CAP Business club.I was going through a personal bereavement at the time and felt quite low about the business in general and not having enough clients to make it all worthwhile and was on the verge of giving up my dreams.I knew the first year was going to be tough but not this tough .But something inside me said not to give up and now was the time to try social networking - the e mail conversations I had with Jo were inspirational in how CAP club had developed and supported her business. Luckily for me - Paul had just advertised for an apprentice for the Tuesday club - applied, attended informal informative meeting,got the job and here I am here today writing my second ever blog!!! I now look forward to each meeting - the group is very friendly,informal and supportive with a wealth of knowledge and varied experiences from all different types of businesses. Even in a short space of time I feel I have grown professionally and personally,feel more confident,supported and now know that I able to ask for help in growing my business through the contacts I have made through the club. Thank you Paul and Tuesday club for accepting me….. Get yourself sorted from the start, admin wise!
Here I am, three years down the line from when I was getting serious about turning my making-some-pin-money silver jewellery hobby into a business. Things are getting quite busy now, and I am finding myself in a bit of a muddle with my admin. At last I have spreadsheets for customers, suppliers, stock, etc on my lap top, only wishing I'd done this right from the start. But being an 'arty' creative sort of person, these things all seemed so boring! To go back to the way things were three years ago, admin didn't appear to be necessary, there were not many invoices to print, lists of materials and stock to make, customers details to be recorded, and the way I thought was .... once I get busy I will get this all done - BIG mistake! Once you get busy there won't be any time for this. If you have not got yourself into a habit of entering your records every week, it is so much more tricky to do this when there are commissions to see to, materials to order, workshops to plan and advertise (in my case). So hear it from someone who has been there, done it wrongly and learn - I will have to spend a lot of my 'holiday' time entering details into my spreadsheets, because the next 5 months are going to be quite hectic, if last year's experience is anything to go by.
Dealing with the doubters
“Why don’t you just go and get a job?” Creating and running my own business has always been a dream and, discussing my business plans with friends and family, I fully expected them to be absolutely 100% behind me, emotionally supporting me every step of the way. Surprisingly for me, not true. Enter the doubters. You do know you have to earn a living? My parents thought that running my own business would be a phase, a fad that I would grow out of, like leg-warmers or novelty pencil sharpeners. Little did they realize that their daughter was serious, determined and committed, no matter how hard it was going to get. I was discussing with my parents a particularly busy week networking and meeting potential clients one day and they said to me “you do know you have to earn a living, don’t you? You can’t just drink coffee all day” Seriously? It took all my efforts to swallow the multitude of sarcastic comments that were trying to get out, wanting to scream, “oh really, I didn’t know that!” My friends seem to think that by running my own business I can get out of bed when I feel like it, have a leisurely breakfast and work in my pyjamas until lunchtime, oh and have plenty of time to watch Jeremy Kyle! And of course, I’m free to childmind on teacher training days too, because I’m just “messing about on the computer.” On a recent down day when I was doubting myself and wondering what to try next, a friend very kindly said to me “why are you putting yourself through this”. “Why don’t you just go and get a job?” Those very words made me shudder at the thought of being part of the corporate game again; office politics, commuting nightmares, KPI’s and endless policies and procedures. Learning the lesson My entrepreneurial days are in their early stages but already in this journey of self-discovery and personal growth I have learnt a valuable lesson. Now, I don’t discuss the nitty gritty of my business with potential doubters. I love my family and friends dearly but its like-minded individuals at my local networking club I turn to instead in my hour of need. Four Magic Words So when things are going awry (and they do quite often!); computer breaks down, business is quiet or I’m just having a lack of confidence day, I know that the people to turn to are not my friends and family but other networking club entrepreneurs who believe and understand what I’m doing and say “you CAN do it”. Four simple, but magical words that set me back on track and invisibly carry me forward. If creating and running your own business is your dream, join a networking group and get advice and support from like-minded individuals because the doubters will be there. In times of low confidence or when things go wrong, the doubters will be telling you to do the sensible thing and “just go and get a job!”
Follow your dreams
I have recently had to make the very difficult decision to close down Kit & Caboodle Boutique in Lydney, due to incurring debts to level that were becoming uncomfortable. During a discussion last week a friend said "Kit & Caboodle had been a failure". I was shocked by this statement as I didn't feel that way at all. On so many levels both professionally and personally Kit & Caboodle (K & C) had worked for me. I had learnt many, many valuable lessons, developed new skills, identified my strengths and weaknesses and have met so many new friends and acquaintances, who otherwise wouldn't have come into my life. I have regained my confidence and self esteem after what had been a very difficult period in my life. Most importantly opening K & C has made me realise that I want to run my own business and I have so much more knowledge now about what works and what doesn't work. So I have brushed myself off and am in the process of building another new enterprise 'Louisa's Funky Vintage & Craft Fairs'. I would say to anyone thinking of opening a new business go for it. After all what is there in life if you don't follow your dreams? |
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