How do you beat burnout in business? I’m all for the hussle needed to make my business work. But when I feel the twinge of burnout, I know I need to reset. We as humans are resilient. In years past, if you survived the winter, it was a win. Not starving to death and finding food was a win. Today we live in more comfort than we’ve ever had. We have more luxuries yet most think they need a break right now. That is not the right answer. We must get to the cause of those symptoms of burnout and not just treat the symptoms.
Think about a car with its wheels falling off. If this happens to you, you spend an enormous amount of time treating the symptom of the wheels falling off. But the real issue is, the nuts are loose on the wheels. You simply need to tighten the nuts and bolts. Once this is done and the wheels are aligned properly, you can drive for miles.
The same is true with burnout. If I take the necessary steps to “tighten the bolts” in my life I will avoid burnout. In this episode, I talk about the Five in One – five core elements my body needs and one primary thing I need to be aligned with. If I feel like the car’s falling apart and I’m dealing with burnout, it’s time to get realigned. It’s time to get the nuts and bolts tightened to keep my wheels on.
How to beat burnout in business
Burnout in business functions in a similar fashion to watching dominoes fall. You see the effect of something but fail to see the cause before it. If you treat the symptom rather than the cause of it, you find yourself circling back to the same spot. You must stop and evaluate. Come back to the five core elements.
These essential elements will help you function properly and avoid burnout. Without these, you will not have the necessary fuel to move forward in life or in business. When you are feeling the effects of burnout, you need to go back to these things:
- Air
- Water
- Sleep
- Movement
- Food
You will be amazed how quickly you can reset when you focus on these. When these things are out of alignment that’s when you feel your wheels are falling off. If you consistently return to the Five and One, you can go much further than you realize.
Take a breath – transform your life
The most crucial thing you need is air. Without it, you would die in two to three minutes. It may sound ludicrous to have to focus on breathing but I encourage you to go outside to get fresh air instead of always sitting in recycled air. Inhale deeply, hold it, then exhale out. This process oxygenates the blood. Check out the Wim Hof method of breathing to show you how oxygenating the blood makes a huge difference. When you start to get oxygen deep into your body, it transforms things internally. There is a lot of science that proves that air is the most vital thing you need. Even though breathing may be the last thing you think about, your body will shut down without it.
How to revitalize with H2O and sleep
Water is an absolute necessity. You should drink at least 50% of your body weight in ounces. Alex Shefrin, a friend of mine gave a great illustration of a dog drinking water. Dogs don’t just sip water. They take in as much as they can and drink it passionately. They drink as if it will be taken away. Then we sip on one cup of water and say we are good. The majority of us are chronically dehydrated. Statistics show that approximately 75% of Americans are dehydrated.
Something that has been transformative for me in the last several years is that I wake up daily and drink two to three glasses of water. Get in the habit of drinking a lot of water. I challenge you to get in the same routine. Wake up and drink several ounces of water and stay hydrated throughout the day. Keep a water bottle with you at all times.
Another crucial element is sleep. Many people walk around sleep deprived. You need to be mindful of getting enough sleep and remember your body has a rhythm. It’s called the Circadian Rhythm. It is essentially a 24-hour internal clock that runs in the background of your brain. It is also known as your sleep/wake cycle. Don’t use the excuse that your life is too busy to get the sleep you need. You must make the priority to create rhythm in your day to ensure you get the right amount of sleep. Remember, it is like tightening the nuts on the wheels to make your body run right.
How to get the fuel your body needs
Food is critical in providing the right kind of fuel our body needs. Many people are malnourished because they do not eat fresh foods. Throw processed foods away. If it comes in a bag don’t eat it. Every once in a while it can be a treat. But realistically you should be at the grocery store every two to three days to ensure you get enough fresh fruits and vegetables.
On the topic of grocery shopping, I encourage you to consider grocery delivery. The cost is almost nothing. Your time is the most valuable asset. When you have groceries delivered you are buying time back. Why waste two to three hours a week, twelve hours a month minimum at the store – to do nothing but walk around and waste time? You may think you like grocery shopping but you can save time instead. Most entrepreneurs in my circle have their groceries delivered. Check out Instacart or Amazon Prime groceries. Try it. It’s a game changer.
Another important thing for our body is movement. This is what your body can go the longest without but it is what you think of first when it comes to getting fit. You don’t need as much movement as you think. Crazy workouts are not necessary. If you enjoy working out, absolutely do it. At the very least, start your day with a walk. Daily I take a three-mile walk with my dog. We get out before sunrise, get some sunshine in our eyes. Get inspired. Then when I come back from my walk I’m ready to start a new day – a new day to go after it.
How to make an impact that lasts
These five elements are what your body needs, but you still need one important thing to get aligned with. The five elements give you energy, however, you need something extra to push you, something to give clear direction. Even if your business is simply a vehicle to get you somewhere else, use it as a stepping stone to the next thing. You need something to fire you up inside because of the impact you can make with it; something you know that will make a difference. If you combine the five elements that fuel your body with this one mission-driven purpose, I believe you can be like that car that has the nuts tightened properly. You can go hundreds of miles an hour and thousands of miles ahead without feeling any symptoms of burnout.
Outline of This Episode
- [0:53] Burnout blues
- [3:00] How to figure out the cause
- [6:00] Five core crucial elements
- [12:76] Bottom line – how to get clear direction
Resources & People Mentioned
Connect With Bryan Bowman
- Bryan’s website: https://www.ecomunderground.com/
- On Facebook