How to recognize & avoid burnout
Owning a landscaping business comes with its fair share of stress. That it’s seasonal and weather-dependent only adds to the stress of business ownership, making the ability to be nimble, flexible and resilient critical for success. But when we do not manage the stress we end up in burnout which, if not dealt with can quickly cause business failure.
The TGC Academy posted an article a couple years ago talking about burnout and how we can avoid it. The author, Monica Allene, shared the truth about burnout (and I think many of us can relate): “I think on some level I avoided it in the early years with the power of youth (I’ve been doing this since my late teens). Then, as I got older, I avoided it by sheer force of will. Then, as I “matured” (chuckling a little here), I began to struggle with keeping burnout at bay, and I realized that something in my mind had to change. As I tackled my own mental state and began to focus on my body and spirit, I woke up one day and realized that my business needed some serious work or I was going to burn out no matter how well I ate and slept.”
The key to avoiding burnout, Monique shares, is to focus on fitness and systems. What we mean by fitness is not simply going to the gym. Fitness refers to your physical, mental and spiritual health. Let’s break that down a little.
Mental: Know where you are headed and why. What are your goals and how are you going to achieve them? Identify what causes you stress and anxiety and learn how to recognize it in yourself, then be intentional in taking a pause instead of letting it build up to a point of burnout. Equally as important to recognizing what causes you stress is recognizing whatever it is that will help you relax. Create a list of things you know are helpful in reducing and relieving that stress.
Physical: Pay attention to your body and what it needs. Is it food that is more nutritionally dense? Is it more movement? Is it more water? More sleep? Your energy levels are directly related to all of these things and your lack of them will quickly show through in your productivity and your stress levels.
Spirit: Are you taking time to just be? Whether or not you are religious, we all know there is a spiritual aspect to our life. Figuring out what you need to restore your spirit is key. For some that is religion, for some meditation or music, spending time in nature, etc. There is a long-held Jewish practice of Sabbath. It is the practice of setting aside one day a week that is reserved for rest and recreation. I once heard someone say, if you work with your hands, Sabbath with your mind. If you work with your mind, Sabbath with your hands. This is a tip that I’ve found extremely helpful.
Remember, there is only so much you can give and pour out before you need to be filled back up again. Learning to recognize where you are in each of these areas and having systems in place to maintain a healthy balance will serve you extremely well as a business owner.
Source: https://www.thegardencontinuum.com/tgc-academy-blog/landscape-business-burn-out-how-to-recognize-it-and-avoid-it
