Burnout in Business: The Dirty Little Secret Nobody’s Talking About
On the surface, it looks like you’ve got it all together…
You’re a kick-ass business owner with an amazing career. You set your own schedule, and you make all the decisions.
But on the inside, you feel like you’re on the verge of a total meltdown at any second.
You fantasize about dropping everything and running away to a remote island, despite all the hard work you’ve put into your company.
If this sounds like you, then you’re dealing with the elephant in the room that entrepreneurs aren’t talking about: Burnout in Business.
As a business therapist in Portland, I’ve seen this scenario play out time and time again. And you know I’m here to help you!
Read on for the uncomfortable truth about burnout in business, including why it plagues entrepreneurs and how to avoid it.
The Burnout Trifecta: Perfectionism, People-Pleasing, and Imposter Syndrome
When you think of burnout, you probably picture someone completely haggard, hair electrified, rocking dark circles under their eyes and a stained, wrinkly T-shirt. They’re stumbling through life obviously exhausted and depleted.
The reality is that burnout in business doesn’t always show on the outside…
Most of my clients have high-functioning burnout, or when you move through life seeming completely fine to others, but really you’re about to fucking collapse.
Entrepreneurs in particular tend to suffer from this type of burnout – you can still show up on time, dressed to impress, but really you’re like that meme of the cartoon dog with a cup of coffee surrounded by raging flames saying, “This is fine.”
So, let’s start with the root causes of business burnout.
It’s usually the perfect shitstorm of these three things: perfectionism, people-pleasing, and imposter syndrome. All of these are common in high achievers, like entrepreneurs.
Traits like perfectionism and people-pleasing are particularly insidious and hard to shake because they are encouraged by others.
But you’ve got to stop agonizing over tiny details, saying yes to every request, and fearing you’re a fraud – it will ultimately destroy your business and your mental health.
The Hidden Costs of Burnout in Business
You may think you’re doing your business a favor by running yourself into the ground, but as an expert, I know you’re not!
Burnout negatively impacts your decision-making, risk assessment, and client relationships.
When you’re exhausted and run down, your thinking is impaired, affecting your performance ability.
Not only does your business suffer in the short-term, but burnout also affects your personal life and your business’ long-term sustainability.
You can’t keep going through the motions and pushing yourself past your limits; you’ve got to stop yourself, otherwise, your burnout will stop you, and it won’t be pretty or pleasant.
Why Traditional “Self-Care” Advice is Bullshit for Business Owners
There’s plenty of self-care advice out there, but I’ll let you in on a little secret: most of it’s bullshit.
I mean, if “taking a bubble bath” could solve burnout in business, we’d all be miraculously cured, run thriving companies, and have perfect mental health.
Also, another dirty little therapy secret is that a lot of generic self-care advice tends to backfire for perfectionists.
You get caught up in doing self-care perfectly, just adding another burden to your already overwhelming routine.
What you need is personalized advice and unique approaches from someone who gets it — and that’s where I come in, friends!
The Counterintuitive Trick to Avoid Burnout and Overwhelm in Your Business
What I’m about to tell you will sound wild… but, trust me, you know I always got you! So, hear me out…
The key to avoiding burnout and overwhelm in your business is called “strategic neglect.”
I know you are thinking, “Jennifer, What?!”.
Those are just two fancy words for doing things badly – or, at least, not to your usual high standards – on purpose.
Doing badly… On purpose?! I told you it was wild!
Intentional underachievement is fucking empowering though.
It will give you back SO much free time.
And, surprisingly, setting lower standards can actually lead to improved performance. By giving yourself room to do things imperfectly, you put more focused energy into valuable projects, leaving you feeling calmer, less scattered, and actually productive.
Actionable Steps That Don’t Suck
Now that you know some of the root causes of your burnout and the concept of strategic neglect, it’s time to reveal some actionable experiments for avoiding burnout in business.
Try these to reduce your stress and stop burnout in its tracks.
And don’t worry – there will be no mention of bubble baths here.
The “To-DON’T” List: Write down all the tasks, commitments, and “shoulds” that are draining your energy. Then, get ruthless and cross off anything that doesn’t directly contribute to your core goals or well-being. It’s liberating as hell and helps you refocus on what truly matters. BONUS: You can also use this list to help you hire freelance and professional support.
Scheduled Procrastination: Yeah, you read that correctly. Block out time in your calendar for intentional procrastination, a.k.a. “YOU-time.” Use this time to do absolutely nothing work-related. Binge Netflix, take a nap, whatever. It’s not lazy; it’s strategic recovery time that prevents long-term burnout.
The “Just Say No” Challenge: When you’re already feeling overwhelmed, you’ve got to stop adding to your plate. For one week, say “no” to every new request or opportunity that comes your way (no explanations or excuses needed). NoPERIOD. It’s tougher than it sounds, especially for recovering people-pleasers. This exercise builds your “no” muscle and shows you how much unnecessary crap you’ve been taking on (and how most people aren’t going to take your boundary personally at all).
The “Suck at Something” Project: Pick up a new hobby or skill that you’ve always wanted to try but know you’ll be terrible at, like watercolor painting or rock-climbing. The goal isn’t to master it but to embrace being bad at something without the pressure to excel. Let yourself be awful and revel in it. It’s a powerful antidote to perfectionism and reminds you that your worth is NOT tied to your performance.
Productivity Purge: Set a timer for 1 hour. Use this time to delete every app, tool, or system that’s supposed to make you more productive but actually just adds to your mental load. You can also throw away physical items like planners you ignore or workout equipment you never use. You’ll be amazed at how much mental and physical space you reclaim.
Rage Room Therapy: You know what works better to reduce stress than yoga or a bubble bath (okay fine, I did mention it once)? Find a local rage room or set up a safe space to break stuff. Seriously. Channel that pent-up frustration into smashing old electronics or furniture. It’s cathartic as hell and a great emotional reset. Warning: it’s kind of addictive and you’ll definitely want to schedule another session.
Overcoming burnout in business isn’t just about managing time or stress – it’s about rediscovering why you got into your field in the first place and having the courage to prioritize what really matters to you. These experiments might seem bizarre, but they work because they address the root causes of burnout: loss of control, disconnection from purpose, and the pressure to be perfect all the damn time.
They are designed to shock your system out of the burnout rut.
Now go forth and fuck up your comfort zone – in a good way.
And remember: sometimes the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing.
The Burnout Reframe: The Key To Success
Burnout in business is nothing to be ashamed of – but it is a wake-up call.
It’s your business and your brain screaming, “Evolve or die!”
Embrace your exhaustion as a catalyst for change.
It’s not failure; it’s your cue to level up both your company and your life.
It’s your call: get un-fucking-comfortable and grow, or keep spinning your wheels until you burn out for good.
And if you need a little help, that’s what I’m here for.
I offer virtual therapy in Portland, Oregon.
I’ve helped countless entrepreneurs overcome burnout and unleash The Bad-Bitch just bursting to show themselves.
Are you ready to make your burnout ice cold?