More Filipinos than ever before find that starting their own business is not only the best way they feel that they can earn a living but also the only way they can truly be self-actualized or happy. The country’s rapid growth in the past generation and the opportunities created by better internet connectivity have bred a new class of Filipino entrepreneurs that are younger and more knowledgeable than previous generations.
Unfortunately for most of these budding entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship is a very different experience from the usual 9-to-5 job. It’s not unusual for startup founders to have to work upwards of 80 to 100 hours a week during especially critical junctures. Employees involved in the early phases of a startup will also feel compelled to work similar hours due to the shared experience and the personal connection they may feel to the enterprise.
While a bit of overtime is often necessary, extensive research has suggested that you may become less productive after the 50-hour mark due to fatigue. However, the work that needs to be done does not magically go away, but there are more than just a couple of ways to make it all more manageable. Here are some proven techniques to prevent founder burnout and allow a more sustainable rate of growth for a startup.
1.) Optimize your work environment
This can mean a number of things. This can mean automating some processes, moving to a town or city that is less stressful to work in, keeping your workspace organized so you can reduce the amount of mental energy it takes to perform a task, using more straight-forward apps, or perhaps paying close attention to the ergonomics of your desk and chair. Do whatever it takes to make daily indispensable tasks much less of a chore.
2.) Get enough quality sleep
While the occasional all-nighter is necessary, not being able to get your recommended 7-9 hours of sleep daily can wreak havoc on your concentration and creative processes, causing you to make more bad decisions over time.
This isn’t just common sense either, it’s been confirmed by a series of studies conducted by researchers at Harvard and corroborated by other leading institutions. The lack of sleep can also make you more dependent on caffeine, which has its own accompanying health risks when taken to excess.
Get the best possible orthopedic mattresses and pillows you can afford to make the most out of any sleep time you do get. Consider it an investment in your business.
3.) Learn to let go
It’s inevitable that a founder will want to be involved in every single step of their businesses ‘day-to-day activities. However, at a certain point, it simply is not a good use of time writing ad copy, doing payroll, optimizing SEO, or developing websites when a founder should be concentrating on the big picture.
A better, faster, cheaper way to handle these important but labor-intensive technical tasks would be to outsource them. Online portals such as Smalljobs.ph put founders and managers in contact with experienced freelancers who can sweat out the small stuff while the business’s internal teams handle critical core functions of the business.
4.) Get your recommended daily levels of physical activity
A sedentary lifestyle where you’re glued to a desk and stuck in a car for hours on end can be quite harmful to your body. These lifestyles can often lead to obesity and put one at serious risk of heart disease – which is the last thing you want to think about in a high-stress startup environment.
Keeping yourself fit makes it easier to deal with stressful situations and can also improve mental health and wellbeing. Try walking or biking to work, if possible and find out if there is a gym membership or a home exercise program suited to your needs.
5.) Try meditation and mindfulness exercises
Active mediation for at least 10 minutes a day can help founders and managers be more focused on the most important tasks at hand while helping them set aside minor concerns that may be taking up too much headspace. These exercises can be easily integrated within a working day, or when you’re doing physical activities. If you’re feeling stressed and you feel that your business has plateaued, meditation is a tried and tested method advocated by the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Salesforce’s Marc Benioff.
It’s unlikely that any single solution will be the one key to your continued growth as a person and as a leader. However, when done consistently, these methods can help reduce the everyday burdens that come with being a founder.
