We’re advised to avoid burnout, but how do we do this when we often don’t recognise it until it’s too late? For social entrepreneurs, there is a heightened risk of susceptibility to it, as passion and drive are commonly inextricably linked to work. While this is positive, the shadow side often results in individuals placing a consistently high priority on their enterprises and self-care falling by the wayside. Cue burnout.
What is burnout?
Burnout can rear its exhausting, confronting and unpleasant head in many forms. The Black Dog Institute identifies burnout symptoms as when one has an increased sense of fatigue at work, a continual feeling of emotional exhaustion, a sense of apathy towards work tasks and clients, and a lowered feeling of personal accomplishment and satisfaction. For social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, burnout inhibits their personal and impact potential.
How do to avoid it?
Recognise
We know that eating well, exercising, drinking water, and sleeping are good for us, yet they can be the first things to slip when one slides down the slippery burnout slope. Identifying and recognising personal ‘signs’ that suggest you’re falling out of your regular pattern are good to look out for. If your health routine slips, your environment becomes messy; you regularly miss personal leisure activities or your sleeping pattern is routinely disrupted, you could be on the way to burnout. It’s much easier to catch the early warning signs and assess what needs to be altered for you to thrive than it is to succumb to your new behaviour.
Delegate
For social entrepreneurs, you and your team, friends, and family are critical to success. For your venture to thrive, you need to thrive and can not do it all alone. Get good at asking those around you to help you when you need it, both inside and outside of work.
Demarcate
When you schedule your holidays (we look forward to an update on you doing this after reading this article), decide how you’ll switch off. Simply putting a vacation response on your emails, putting your phone on flight mode, and asking staff and clients not to contact you are some examples of how you can get the communication break you deserve. Sometimes asking for space can be hard, yet not getting it can have a greater impact in the long run. Decide what feels right to you, clearly communicate it to the people in your life who need to know and stick to it.
Reflect
Whether it’s once a day or once a week, check in with yourself to observe your physical, mental and emotional energy levels. Stopping to embed a practice of personal reflection will help you become more self-aware and can help to identify (and subsequently remove) destabilising patterns in your life.
Burnout is quite personal and manifests in different ways at different stages of your social entrepreneurship journey and life. In some cases, burnout can severely impact mental health. If you are experiencing burnout or mental health challenges, have a look at Beyond Blue for help resources or reach out to a health professional. It is something to be taken seriously.
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Natalie Klenner is driven by social impact and human connection, placing storytelling at the core of her work. As a communicator, problem solver, and strategist, she thrives in roles with non-profits, social enterprises, and start-ups. Based in Melbourne, she brings a global perspective from experiences in Canada, France, and Morocco.
