I’ve been in the entrepreneurship space for the past few years, and I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to succeed. However, there are still aspects of the job that we don’t talk about enough: long hours, burnout, and stress. There’s nothing wrong with working hard or putting in extra time on something you care about; however, if you’re constantly working late nights or weekends and neglecting other parts of your life because you’re too focused on your startup then something has gone wrong. The following are some of the things that I wish someone had told me when I started out as an entrepreneur:
If you’re reading this, you are probably working long hours. You might even be burning out. This can take many forms: staying up late to get an update done, skipping lunch to focus on a task, or only taking a break to drive down to the cafe for an overpriced cup of coffee. While there is no magic number when it comes to how many hours you should work each day (longer hours do not always mean higher productivity), some signs are good indicators that you may need time off from work:
As an entrepreneur, you have to be prepared to do a lot of work. This means long hours and hard work. There will be sacrifices: you’ll miss your kids’ soccer games, sleep in the office on occasion, eat takeout in your office space instead of cooking dinner (or never even leaving the room), and maybe even have to sit on a Client meeting with only your thoughts for work all weekend because there is so much to do that day.
It’s important to keep this in mind when considering starting a business or joining one as a subcontractor.
In the end, it’s important to remember that your health is more important than anything else. You can’t be productive if you’re not taking care of yourself. If you’re working so much that you start feeling sick or exhausted all the time, then it’s time for a break. Take time off from work when you need it and don’t be afraid to ask for help.