Exhaustion doesn't have to be a way of life for female founders. Here are ways you can start breaking that pattern and ditch burnout for good.

7 Magical Ways to Ditch Burnout

As a female founder you have decided you are here to make a difference – and you want to do things differently in your life, in your business, and in your industry. This makes you a leader, though not necessarily in the traditional sense.

Whether you realise it or not, you are already acting as a beacon for others. For women, like you, who are looking for a guiding light. Someone who can show them what success looks like when they’re struggling to find a version that makes sense to them.

Perhaps you didn’t have that yourself? Now you’re determined to be the role model you didn’t have 10 years ago when you were just starting out in your career. Which feels even more important now that you have a family and are craving more flexibility, freedom and balance.

You are also wanting more equity and justice for your kids, and future generations. You don’t want them to become disillusioned following a conventional path, like you were. You can still remember times when you felt like you should have been happier than you actually were.

Even though you were highly driven, capable and looked like you had everything together, beneath the surface you could get overwhelmed, exhausted, burnt out. A situation you often find yourself in again now, while running your own business.

So, why does it keep happening? When you’re ambitious, passionate, care deeply about what you do, it’s easy to let things like self-care, fun and relationships slip. You want to be a present mother, a loving partner, and make a positive contribution with the work you’re here to do. Understandably, you want to succeed. So you give it your best shot.

You’re always doing that one more thing. One more social media post, following up with that email, catching up over coffee, putting in those extra little details that make it a first-class experience for your clients, and planning special meals and outings for your family. This is on top of the already heavy load of everyday life and work admin.

By Thursday, you’re wired and tired. Not sleeping well. You haven’t made it out for as many walks in Nature as you would have liked, you’ve skipped your meditation practice, and forgot to get to go to that yoga class that you love. You meant to go for a swim, but still haven’t got around to buying a new swimming costume, and you cancelled that meet-up with a friend (again) because things got too busy.

On weekends, you need to spend those precious moments when you're not with family or socialising, resting and recovering before starting all over again on Monday morning. That ideal week seems illusive, a pipe dream. Some days you may even wonder whether it would be easier to go back to your well-paid job, even though you felt squeezed and caged-in. Though deep-down you know that’s not what you want.

If this sounds familiar, here are 7 things that can help you stop the cycle of burnout – and start enjoying your life and business again

7 Magical Ways to Ditch Burnout

Reconnect with your WHY Think back to why you started your business. Not only why it’s important to you. But also why it’s important to others that you do the work you do. What is the change you want to see in the world – and how can you be a better role model for that change? Is that version of you prioritising self-care, fun and relationships? What kinds of decisions is she making day to day? What impact is that having on her life?

Better boundaries You aren’t just running your business, you’re leading your business. Leadership starts with self-leadership first. The keystone of this is knowing what you need and want, setting clear boundaries that are both strong and flexible, and making choices that protect your energy, time and attention, so you can put them to the best use. Everyone may want a piece of you – and not everyone will be happy with your decisions! But giving too much of yourself, too much of the time, ultimately doesn’t serve you or anyone else.

Simplify and delegate If you are constantly feeling like you’ve got too much on your plate, it’s likely you do have too much on your plate. Resilience isn’t being able to endure a situation that’s making you miserable. It’s knowing you have a choice to change it, and taking the action needed to make those changes. Look for where you can start to simplify as many aspects of your life and business as possible, including your strategy, systems and processes. Once you’ve stripped back to the essentials, then delegate as much as you can to others. Including your kids and partner.

Unplug and disconnect Be honest with yourself; how much of the time that you spend online, on devices, is really necessary? And when you’re connecting with people online, is it the type of connection that actually fills your cup? Or are there better ways for you to do that? Try unplugging and disconnecting for at least 2 to 3 hrs each day, and make your evenings sacred. Get outdoors, get creative with arts and crafts materials, play board games, invite a neighbour over for a cuppa. See how that changes your energy and outlook.

Prioritise pleasure There will be times when you naturally want to work harder than others, but work doesn’t have to feel like hard work all the time. Look for ways to make your days more pleasurable, from lighting a candle while you're creating content or putting together a proposal, to going out for a walk or booking a massage before you start your working day. Make pleasure a part of life rather than a reward for hard work, and your creativity, productivity and enjoyment of your business will change for the better. Pleasure is also essential for women’s hormonal health. So if you’re experiencing problem periods or peri/menopause symptoms, this could be another sign for you to prioritise pleasure!

Embrace the seasons You want to enjoy a profitable, sustainable business and, at the same time, you’re not just in it for the money. You’re in it to feel fulfilled and to know you’ve made a positive contribution. With this in mind, try thinking about your business as an expression of your creativity and life purpose with its own unique rhythm – rather than a machine that constantly needs feeding! Trust your body and mind’s inner seasons and cycles, embrace the periods of rest and renewal needed to keep your business moving in the right direction over the long haul, and trust there’s a perfect timing for everything.

Get help and support You’re so inside your own life and business, it can be hard to see the wood for the trees! Talk to a friend, surround yourself with women who are on the same journey. Seek out in person communities that can uplift you and where you can offer collaborative, non-competitive support and encouragement for one another. Hire a coach who can help you see what you can’t see, move beyond your blind spots, play to your strengths, and identify where you can make everything much easier and more enjoyable for yourself.

Burnout doesn’t have to be a way of life as a female founder. You can achieve your vision, make an impact, and create a profitable, sustainable purpose-led business without sacrificing your health or relationships. Your wellbeing and leadership are the foundations for your success; get these right and you will thrive.

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