As a small business owner, you’re probably juggling a hundred (at a minimum) different projects and tasks at any given time. Even though it feels like you have to be “on” 24/7 to keep everything afloat, the reality is that rest is an essential part of being successful at work. If you don’t take time for yourself, you’ll quickly learn how deeply burnout can affect your productivity.
As a business built on an EOS model, we at GreenCup understand how important it is to combat burnout. Taking the occasional clarity break to get a fresh perspective on your business is essential to maintaining to your mental health. To help you figure out how to deal with burnout, and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the GreenCup team is here to share how they take time away from work so they can come back to every task refreshed and ready for action!
Recover From Burnout By Putting Away Your Screens
Many members of the GreenCup team deal with their burnout by getting away from technology and spending time in nature. Even on the best days, all the pings and buzzes, from our phones and computers can be exhausting. Recharging your mind can often mean powering down your devices for a little while.
As a GreenCup web developer, Kevin spends a lot of time in the belly of the technological beast, but he does his best work after practicing his Henry David Thoreau impression:
“I burn out often, and what I have found is that I have to get away from all screens, large and small, otherwise, I can’t fully reset. This could be for a couple of hours or a couple of days, replacing the screens with music and nature sounds. Repeat as necessary!”
Deb, one of our brilliant project managers, also enjoys stepping out of the office and into the wild (or at least her backyard) when she starts to feel worn down:
“When I get burned out, I take much-needed breaks in nature, either walking my dog or just simply sitting outside in a lawn chair, feet in the grass. Anything to get away from Google Sheets!”
Ditch the Burnout and Dive into a Project You Love
Navigating burnout doesn’t mean you have to stop being productive. You can always spend time being productive on something you’re passionate about! Especially for those creative types, working on a passion project is a great way to recharge.
Kiki, GreenCup’s branding solutionist, finds all sorts of creative outlets to keep a sharp mind while also taking a break from work-related tasks:
“I try to work on a fully creative project. Not client-based. That could be a cool sticker, a brand design for a homemade hot sauce, or a t-shirt design. Something fun that I want to do for me.”
Joanna, GreenCup’s owner (though you may refer to her as “Fearless Leader”), isn’t content just to put together the pieces of a digital marketing strategy – she has another puzzling way of staying on top of burnout:
“My method is simple: Take a break. Whether that’s an hour, a day, or a whole week, timeline permitting. My favorite way to do that is to do a jigsaw puzzle. I always have one going in my office and I use it to step away from the desk for a little while. Sometimes it helps me think through things in my head while I am working on the puzzle, and sometimes it just helps me totally zone out.”
Veg Out with a Good Book or Movie
Of course, you don’t have to be productive to recover from burnout. An afternoon (or a whole day) with your favorite book or TV show can provide just the mental break you need to come back refreshed and ready to roll the next day.
Project Manager Kori enjoys taking a break by getting engrossed in a good story:
“I like watching TV shows with subtitles so that I stay off my phone (doom scrolling…). K Dramas on Netflix became a favorite during burnout, and I highly recommend Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Her Private Life.”
(Editor’s note: When viewing a K Drama, we do recommend keeping an emotional support animal and a box of tissues on hand.)
Cass, our resident email marketing specialist, isn’t picky about her preferred form of media. Whether it’s relaxing or energizing, any escape from work is a welcome reset:
“I deal with burnout by escaping in a good book or movie or blasting The National really loud and dancing it out.”
Rock on, Cass.
Get Organized
You don’t always have to get away from your work to deal with burnout. Sometimes, taking a moment to organize your work can keep you refreshed and focused by making tasks easier to tackle in the future.
According to Erika, one of GreenCup’s top-notch project managers, burnout is no match for a good checklist:
“I usually have to sit and make a hand-written list and put checkboxes next to each one. It is one of the only ways I can feel like I’m moving forward even, if it’s a slow go. Also, I find having a long-term goal of some sort on the horizon helps me to stay focused when things get rough. Eyes on the prize to get me through the daily grind!”
Mika, our senior marketing strategist, also enjoys some good, old-fashioned organizational therapy:
“I go and buy a new notebook, planner, or agenda (whatever grabs my attention) and then I go through the old one line by line and copy over the important stuff — by hand. Let go of the old, welcome the new. It’s tedious work, but it makes me slow down and it reinvigorates me at the same time.”
(Did we mention how great it is having these two managing our projects?)
The most important thing to remember when combatting burnout is to find a method that works for you. Don’t like puzzles? Don’t do one! You’d rather go to the gym than lounge around the house? Pump that iron! The best way to deal with burnout is whatever helps you recharge.
You can also keep burnout at bay by delegating work to someone else, like GreenCup! After all, you didn’t get into business to mess with the internet, but we did. We’re more than happy to keep a couple of your plates spinning, whether it’s website development, content marketing, or social media. We’ll do the heavy lifting so you can focus on keeping your mind and your business healthy! Connect with us today to get started.
