Small business owners commonly take control of everything in their business. They burn the candle at both ends, which can quickly lead to business burnout. 

Even though your business is ‘your baby’ and you want it to be its very best, you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you burn out, it could be detrimental to your business. Here are the top ways to make sure you stay on your ‘A’ game and don’t run out of gas earlier than expected.

Delegate Tasks

It’s easy to take on every role as the business owner, but that’s the worst thing you can do. Instead, focus on your specialties – the reason you opened the business and outsource the rest. You don’t have to take on employees right away. Instead, hire freelancers on an as-needed basis to help you with bookkeeping, administrative tasks, web design, or any other tasks that distract you from operating and growing your business.

Create Set Hours

Operating your business can feel like a 24/7 job, but you need a personal life too. Just like when you worked a 9 to 5 job, you had set hours. Do the same for yourself now. Create a schedule and try to stick to it. 

The hours don’t have to be traditional business hours – set the hours that work for your business and your personal life, but make sure there’s plenty of time to just be you and not your business.

Make Lists and Prioritize Tasks

Everything will feel like a priority when you own a business, but some tasks are more pressing than others. Rather than trying to do it all, create a list, ordering your tasks from highest priority to lowest.

Focus on the tasks that must be done to keep running your business and fit in the lower priority tasks when you have time. If your day is over and you didn’t get to the lower priority tasks, make them higher priority the next day, but don’t push yourself or you’ll burn out.

Know When to Say ‘No’

You don’t have to say yes to every client or every request. You are your own boss now. You’re in charge of not only your business but your own well-being too. 

If something doesn’t feel right or you don’t want to take on a certain client, you have the right to say ‘no.’ Even if it feels like you’re throwing money out the window, your mental health is more important than anything else. Give yourself the downtime you need so you can say ‘yes’ to the right clients when they come along.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let burnout ruin your business. Instead, work out a plan that helps you effectively run your business without running yourself into the ground. It’s okay to ask for help, to say ‘no’, and to give yourself the downtime you need. You’ll be a better business owner, boss, spouse, parent, and human by prioritizing yourself just as much as you prioritize your business.