Avoiding burnout

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November 14th, 2008 0 comments

Finishing a degree is hard enough, but for different reasons, we choose to take up even more load by running a business on the side. We sacrifice sleep to get everything done on time, and probably work much harder than most of our peers. I, for one, can be a stubborn workaholic when I’m really motivated, even forgetting to eat on occasion. Once, this frenetic pace caused me to pass out due to extreme exhaustion. Thankfully, I was at home when it happened, but I almost never heard the end of it from my mom.

While it’s definitely possible to study and do business at the same time, I’ve learned that it’s best to keep everything at a manageable, steady pace. If take on too much and burn out, you’ll be forced to stop everything for quite a bit, and you could even lose what you’ve worked so hard for. Some of the things to keep this from happening:

Set limits. If you don’t set an absolute STOP time everyday, you’re bound to work until very late at night, or even early in the morning, just to get things done. This leads to a domino effect where your supposed daytime activities, like going to class, will tend to suffer. Try to institute a “No work after _____” rule. Around 10pm seems like a reasonable start, then see if you can work at making it earlier so you can get more sleep. Knowing you need to get everything done by a certain time will force you to focus and work more efficiently.

Get a hobby. Do something you positively enjoy and makes you happy. It can range from something as simple as collecting stamps or photography, to wall climbing and other sports. Try to find someone who shares the same interest and get them to join you in this activity on a weekly basis. Having company makes it more interesting and tends to strengthen your commitment to a schedule.

Save time for yourself. Get some quality time with people you love and relax for a while. But more importantly, set aside a few hours every week for some “alone time”. Contrary to popular belief, being alone doesn’t equate to loneliness, and vice versa. A little peace and quiet can help a lot in relieving stress, and we all need that.