Avoid Solopreneur Burnout: Staying Sane, Happy, and Successful

Mar 16, 2018

I'm a solopreneur and proud of it. My business is mine. I own my time, can work wherever I want, whether it's on an island or on my bed (in my pajamas). Fun and rewarding, isn't it?

But while running a business all by yourself is empowering, over time it gets exhausting. Sometimes you're not sure how you can get everything done in a day. As your solopreneur business starts to grow, at some point you'll deal with overwhelming stress. Call this burnout.

There are areas in your solopreneur business that will take up more time and require more expertise. Oftentimes these aspects are those you're not well-versed at, but you can't do away with.

For your business to stay successful, you need to stay well and healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Don't allow the madness of overwork interfere with your sanity - because, at the end of the day, it's you who matters.

Below are some tips that tremendously help.

Outsource and automate.

Trust issues, I get it. You've heard how outsourcing increases productivity but at the same time, you're faced with the possibility of handing over tasks to virtual assistants who care less about your business. As a result, you get sloppy work.

Though you can't avoid the downsides of outsourcing, realize that such experiences shouldn't keep you from moving forward. Increase your chances of finding the right person or agency to outsource your work to by getting recommendations from fellow solopreneurs. Reading online reviews also helps.

When it comes to matters such as emails, social media posting, and streamlining workflows, you can save time by using tools. One tool I like is IFTT (If This, Then That) - it maximizes productivity by getting your apps to work together through specific "triggers."

Consider passive income products.

Solopreneur businesses that are service-oriented compel you to work every day to make ends meet. Your parents could get sick. Emergencies happen. During these times, you won't be able to focus on getting things done.

What if there was a way to relax more while not having to worry about generating good money? Enter passive income.

Passive income products usually require most of your time and effort only at the beginning. For example, you could write an ebook or create a course. But after that, your product lives on. Or, you could hire an expert to build a website or app and you'd sell it at a profitable price.

Suggested reading: 9 Best Ways To Earn Passive Income Online

Unplug and de-stress.

Those long hours of working can take a toll on your health if you don't relax. Many entrepreneurs feel that if they don't work long enough, they're not being productive. The opposite is actually true. Remember that you are a human being, not a machine.

As you reach a certain point, your performance starts to decline. Give yourself a break from your gadgets, emails, and anything related to work. Taking care of yourself is not an option - it's a must for your sanity and the success of your business.

Mark a date or a few days on your calendar and designate these days as your "ME" time. Take a vacation and experience something you've always wanted. Get out of your regular solopreneur routine just to give your mind a rest. Your brain is like a muscle in that it needs ample breaks in order to develop.

Stop overextending yourself.

Are you a people pleaser? Do you find it hard to say no because you don't want opportunities to slip? As a result, you jump from project to project and barely able to give your very best to a single thing.

Whatever your reason for overextending or committing too much, know that saying yes to all requests can put you under extreme stress. It can also destroy your business connections if you cannot honor the commitments you make.

So, at the end of the day, you'll realize that being choosy about your priorities benefits your solopreneur business. Before committing to anything, no matter how enticing the opportunity looks like, take a pause. Learn to be firm when you make decisions.

Final Thoughts

These strategies worked for me, and I hope it will for you. Solopreneurship is a worthwhile journey and definitely a rewarding one - as long as you don't allow yourself to burnout.