Tips for Avoiding Burnout with Slow Productivity

Your vacation this summer won't fix burn out. I would know, so here's a 58-second Masterclass on how to fix it... I used to think pushing harder was the answer. That was wrong. What I learned is that we need to rethink how we invest our energy. When I changed my mentality from "rest is a reward" to "rest is necessity", my life changed. People who are burnt out think there's no way for everything to get done and their personal value is wrapped in "things getting done" whether we admit that or not. We have psychologically and professionally cornered ourselves into thinking it has to be this way or there will be monumental consequences we will have to face (that are mostly fictional and manufactured by our fears). But here's the other big truths about burnout... - Creativity drops - Critical thinking plunges - You are 40-65% LESS efficient - Errors tend to increase at a fast rate If you took time to rest properly and reframe how you work, you would do MORE WITH LESS. So here’s what I did to tackle my burnout. First, you have to identify it. Do you feel... Exhaustion: Feeling drained and lacking energy, even after a night's sleep. Detachment: Feeling disconnected from your work and personal life. Inefficiency: Struggling to complete tasks you once found easy. Irritability: Becoming easily frustrated or angry over small issues. Loss of Motivation: Finding it hard to get excited about goals you used to care about. Then, you have to overcome it by... Setting Boundaries: Learn to say no to additional responsibilities that don't align with your priorities. Protect your personal time. Prioritizing Self-Care: Schedule regular downtime and make sleep, nutrition, and exercise non-negotiable parts of your routine. Delegate and Automate: Focus on tasks that require your unique skills. Delegate or automate repetitive tasks to free up your time and mental space. Reconnect with Purpose: Reflect on why you started your career or business. Align your daily tasks with your larger goals and values. Practice Mindfulness: Engage in activities that promote mindfulness such as meditation, yoga, or even short walks. Unplug Regularly: Disconnect from work-related emails and social media during your personal time to recharge. Seek Support: Talk to a coach, therapist, or trusted mentor. Sometimes an outside perspective can help you see solutions you might miss. Work Smarter, Not Harder: Focus on high-impact tasks that drive results, rather than being busy with low-value activities. Engage in Hobbies: Pursue interests outside of work to give your mind a break and rejuvenate your creativity. Foster Relationships: Spend quality time with family and friends. Strong social connections are crucial for emotional well-being. Remember, overcoming burnout isn’t about taking a vacation. It's about making sustainable changes to how you live and work and leading a more fulfilling and productive life 😎🤘

Burnout is a real thing. But often people confuse what CAUSES it. Burnout doesn’t come from working too hard or too long. Burnout comes when you stop making progress. When you stop moving forward. When you are working hard and long but nothings is coming from it. THATS what causing burnout. When things are poppin off. When every day you make a little progress. You’re unstoppable! You don’t burn out there. It’s when you feel like you’re pushing against a wall that it shows up. One of the best definitions of burnout came from a book called “the art of the impossible” And I’m paraphrasing but it was something like this. “Burnout occurs when there are long bouts of high efforts, with delayed reward/progress, lack of control and high levels of uncertainty” So here is the key. 1. Prioritize sleep. Go to bed earlier. Take supplements (my favorite is the sleep pack by momentus) 2. Restablish what you are trying to achieve and why. 3. CHOP - get rid of things and tasks (and sometimes people/friends) that are not aligned with that. 4. Take control of your day. Plan it. Check the boxes. 5. Measure progress in the micro not just macro. Maybe you haven’t save up 100j yet. But did you deposit $5 in today? 6. Kaizen - start small. Get back on track with laughably small steps. Walk around the block. Or leave 3 bites in the plate. Make 2 extra calls today and let it build. 7. Last but not least (and especially talking to the men here) Lean on others. Ask for help. Be vulnerable. You don’t have to go through it alone. Hopefully this helps. I’ve been there. I walk a very thin line at all times between burnout and sustained high effort. Follow the steps above if you’re feeling it right now. You can get out of it. Let’s go.

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how to balance ambition and productivity while avoiding burnout. If you’ve ever started a company, built a product, or even spun up a side project, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Success as an entrepreneur requires you to stay in the game as long as possible. And, that longevity is the result of a constant battle with burnout. In my several years of doing this, I’ve developed a system for myself that helps me complete more work in less time without going completely insane. The foundation of this system: Maximize efficiency by minimizing inefficiency 📉 No matter who you are, you can only work so many uninterrupted hours in a row before your productivity drops off. In response, there are two options: Attempt to push through, or take a break and return to your work later. The problem is that most people: 1. Don’t know when they’re burning out 2. Try to push through anyway In my experience, a good indication that you’re losing focus is when you start doing insignificant tasks just for the sake of completing tasks. As soon as you deviate from those high-ROI deliverables, you’re beginning to burn out. - You start browsing or checking teams/metrics that don’t need to be checked - You begin scrolling social media - You re-read email responses that have already been sent Attempting to push through is only going to make things worse. You spend more time completing fewer tasks. Instead, I try to find opportunities to take breaks. There are a few different ways that I’ve built these “hard resets” into my day. 🍅 Pomodoro Timer — This forces me to take a small break every 20 minutes and a bigger break every two hours. 🌲 Stepping Out — Nature really is the best healer. If I can’t get anything done, I’ll usually get outside and take a 15-20 minute walk. Counterintuitively, this system allows me to work more hours with greater efficiency for longer. Remember: The longer you can stay in the game, the greater your likelihood of success.

As a business owner, it's easy to get caught up in the never-ending demands of your business. And that leads right down the road to burnout, stress, and low concentration. When I notice myself beginning to feel stressed or low on focus, I'll give myself a well-deserved "time out" which means I get up and walk away from my desk. Sometimes it's for 10 minutes to stretch and grab a cup of tea; other times, it will be for a longer time where I visit the beach or practice yoga to recharge. Recognizing what I need, when I need it, and acting upon it is something I started only a couple years ago but one I cherish because I know when I get back to work it is with a clear mind and a positive attitude -- two ingredients I need to be productive and fully present. Running a business doesn't have to be overwhelming or stressful if you remember to implement these 3 tips: Tip 1: Set boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Define set working hours and stick to them. Avoid checking work emails or taking work calls outside of those hours. Tip 2: Schedule downtime: Make time for activities that bring you joy and help you relax. Whether it's spending time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, or simply taking a walk in nature, prioritizing downtime will recharge your batteries and reduce stress levels. Tip 3: Practice self-care: Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, exercise regularly, and practice stress-reducing activities like meditation or yoga. When you're at your best, your business will thrive too. 👉 What can you add to this list? #businessconsulting #businesstips #focusmatters #entrepreneurs

99% of burnout advice is the same: Take a vacation. Order out. Watch Netflix. Here's how you actually avoid it. If you're chronically stressed, this is for you: Burnout isn't just about work-life balance. It's about your mindset and how you approach your day. Most people think within the limits they set for themselves. They believe burnout is inevitable if they work hard. I used to think the same way. Then everything changed... I discovered the power of mental models. These are frameworks that help you see the world differently and make better decisions. Here are 3 of my favorites: 1/ Circle of control This one's about focusing only on what you can directly influence. Most people waste energy worrying about things outside their control—the economy, other people's opinions, the weather. But when you zero in on what you CAN control—your thoughts, actions, and reactions—you tap into a wealth of power. 2/ Growth mindset This is the belief that your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Your growth is not set in stone. When you adopt a growth mindset, challenges become opportunities to learn and improve. Setbacks become stepping stones, not roadblocks 3/ The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. I ruthlessly prioritize the 20% of activities that drive the biggest impact. The rest? I delegate, automate, or eliminate. Burnout dissolved. 4/ Positive routine Here's the thing: mindset shifts alone aren't enough. You need to back them up with practical habits and routines. One of my non-negotiables is my morning ritual. I wake up at 5am, exercise, sauna, cold plunge, and finish a 3hr morning routine before the world wakes up. 5/ Strategic "monotasking" In a world obsessed with multitasking, I've found magic in doing one thing at a time with full focus. I block off chunks of time for different activities - deep work, meetings, emails. No context switching allowed. 6/ Boundaries Set fierce, non-negotiable boundaries. I can't stress this enough. I'm ruthless about guarding my time and energy. I say no to anything that doesn't align with my priorities, no matter who's asking. Burnout isn't a badge of honor. It's a warning sign that something needs to change. Want to achieve more by working less? • Shift your mindset • Optimize your habits • Set ruthless boundaries Protect your energy like the precious resource it is. If you enjoyed this and want more in-depth content like this: Join my newsletter to learn my business principles, systems, mental models, and scaling to $20M annual revenue 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewHNVx4N

40 hours is more than enough. This is actually a quote from Jason Fried. For years I worked 60+ hrs which included weekend demos, etc. Guess what - it burnt me really hard and I have still not fully recovered. The impact on relationships last a very long time and the impact on physical and mental wellness. So how do I get my SH^& done in less than 40 hours while I run a bootstrapped, multi 7 figure and profitable CPG company. I am going to be public about what I have learnt, so maybe it will save the next early stage founder from burnout. 1) Focus: I am so miserably ADD. Focus/deep work is really hard for me. But once i made it happen, results were just amazing. Tip: Read Cal Newport or Alex Hormozi's work. 2) 90 minute blocks: Thats what works for me. One area for 90 minutes. Nothing else just one area and get stuff done. 3) 30 minute blocks to blow steam: Phone calls, Youtube, Reels, nap, making coffee, going for a run, whatever makes you happy - but just 30 minutes 4) Rinse and repeat the 90/30 blocks: I do 3 of these blocks most days - on days when the weather sucks or family is away I will do 4 or 5 blocks of these. 5) Work around family: I work after I drop off my kids and till I need to pick them up. 8am to 2pm is enough work time - I think Mark A. Samuel also does something similar. 6) Focus on Profitability: I stopped chasing topline a while back and started looking at margin and efficiency. More of those allows for more topline. Partner with people who believe in profit over topline. 7) Take time off when the weather is perfect: This comes from reading the Patagonia book. I love cycling and hiking . On rainy days, I will work my ass off so I can take the days of when the sun is out. 8) Stop working with people or partners that don't align with you. About 6 years ago , I stopped with the 2 largest national distributors because every interaction with them killed my soul. I lost a lot of business. But Fu^& them and now I have a multi 7 figure business without any reliance on national distribution. It's a super rainy day in NY. So back to some deep work.

It took a lot of tough days to see: Beating burnout isn't just about doing less; it's about nurturing more. Burnout blindsided me, but I learned valuable lessons along the way. Here's what helped me prevent and recover, and how you can too: Drowning in tasks? ↳ 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩. Always tired? ↳ 𝙎𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨. Finding it hard to stay motivated? ↳ 𝙎𝙚𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙨. Struggling to see progress? ↳ 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙙 Feeling alone in this? ↳ 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙨. Burnout isn't a dead end. It's a reminder to look after yourself as much as you do your job. A fulfilled leader isn't the one who burns out from giving too much. A fulfilled leader is the one who thrives by balancing giving with receiving. #leadership #burnout #mentalhealth #wellbeing #enterpreneurship #selfcare #innershift #theleaderscoach #princessotigbu PS: What are your top tips for preventing burnout? Share them in the comments! 

The secret to avoiding burnout: Pick a pace you can keep all day. I learned this lesson from Yvon Chouinard’s book Climbing Ice. Chouinard founded Patagonia in 1973, and the company still operates on many of his founding principles. One of his core principles “pick a pace you can keep all day” comes from Chouinard’s love of climbing mountains. Climbing isn’t a sprint, it’s a methodical process. You can’t afford to burn out on the side of a mountain — you have to pick a pace and sustain it all day if you want to summit unscathed. It might sound cliché, but the same principle applies in business, or any kind of work. It’s especially relevant in tech, where for the last 10 years, most tech businesses have pushed their people to their limits for the sake of “growth at all costs”. As a climber myself, I took this to heart and it has become one of the guiding principles we use at Codingscape to ensure that we are making progress — but not at the detriment of our well-being. Here’s how: 1/ Overtime: Our people are paid for overtime and we don’t expect them to work OT if they don’t want to. 2/ Goals: We set reasonable goals that make activities in a day attainable. 3/ Delegation: Good delegation helps our people set their own pace while still achieving their goals. The same principles apply to my personal life, where I’m juggling building a home, being a dad to two girls, and being a husband. Humans aren’t designed to push push push. We aren’t immune to the law of diminishing returns. Ultimately, no matter what your personal or professional goals are, you need to pick a pace that will actually allow you to achieve them.

You don’t need a vacation. You need to break one of these 7 habits. Some habits look productive on the surface. They get praise. They feel responsible. But they’re quietly draining your energy and joy. You tell yourself you’re doing the right thing. But your body and mind are waving red flags. Burnout doesn’t always come from overworking. Sometimes, it comes from doing too much of the wrong things. Let’s uncover the 7 habits that seem helpful, but are secretly hurting you. And what to do instead. 1️⃣ Overbooking your week → You color-code every hour. → You pack your calendar with back-to-back tasks. → It feels like control, but it kills flexibility. ✅ Solution: Build in 1–2 hour blocks of “white space” every day. 2️⃣ Trying to be “low maintenance” → You say “I’m easy” even when you’re not. → You don’t ask for help, time, or space. → You shrink yourself to make others comfortable. ✅ Solution: Ask for what you need—even if your voice shakes. 3️⃣ Constant “self-improvement” → More courses. More books. More hacks. → You never feel “ready” enough. → You confuse growth with grinding. ✅ Solution: Focus on implementing 1 thing at a time. 4️⃣ Treating rest like a reward → You only rest when everything is done. → (Spoiler: It’s never all done.) → You feel guilty when you slow down. ✅ Solution: Schedule rest like a meeting—and protect it. 5️⃣ Micromanaging your own work → You over-edit your emails. → You redo tasks that were already “good enough.” → You spend more time tweaking than finishing. ✅ Solution: Set time limits. Ship at 90%, not 100%. 6️⃣ Multitasking all day → You jump between tasks, tabs, and texts. → Your brain is always half-present. → It feels productive, but it drains your focus faster. ✅ Solution: Try 90-minute deep work blocks—no notifications. 7️⃣ Staying mentally “on” 24/7 → You think about work even when you’re not working. → You replay conversations. You rehearse tomorrow’s tasks. → Your brain never powers down. ✅ Solution: Create a shut-down ritual. Give your mind a signal: we’re done for today. You don’t need more discipline. You need better energy management. Drop the habits that are stealing your peace. Even if they look productive. ❓ Which of these hit harder than you expected? ❓ Which one is missing? ♻️ Repost to help someone else catch the burnout before it catches them. 🤩 Follow me for introvert-friendly tips on energy, work, and focus.