38: Rest, Don’t Quit: My Journey With Burnout And What I’m Doing About It

I want to have an honest conversation about what it’s like being an entrepreneur in real time. And the truth is this: Right now, I’m experiencing a little bit of a burnout with my activewear company, Cove.

In the last 18 months, I’ve gone from being married to divorced to moving to Atlanta to losing my business partner to moving in with my boyfriend in Virginia. And on top of that, we are also planning to move to Charleston, South Carolina, by the end of the year. Knowing that’s coming not too far down the road makes things a bit more complex when it comes to growing Cove.

So many of these things are GREAT – but it’s overwhelming to have all of that on top of growing my business. I’ve really been pausing after this last move to evaluate my next steps.

I’ve felt lately like I’m pushing, pushing, pushing – and I desperately want things to flow. I am not going to live in a grind the rest of my life.

So for now, I need to rest and see what inspiration comes to me. Today, I want to share some of the things I’m doing to flow through this burnout.

Remember That Progress is Progress

I want to share a quote with you:

It may be a slow process, but quitting won’t speed it up.

This brought me so much comfort. I can get frustrated with how slow things are progressing, but things are progressing. Progress is progress, even if it’s slow.

Say What You Really Want

If you strip all the limiting beliefs when it comes to your life and what you’re capable of, what would you actually ask for?

When I asked myself that,  I immediately thought of two people I would hire full time. Instead of telling myself I can’t afford them, I’m now saying they are what I need and I’m trusting the universe is going to bring it to me. I’ve contacted those people and made work to manifest these incredible hires into my life.

Get Outside

Since moving to Virginia, my dog and I spent some time in a nearby park every morning. It’s during this time that I prime, and I find the time outside brings so much peace to my soul.

List Your Gratitude

What happens when you start a business is you get really excited in the beginning and everything’s possible – but then you get burned. It’s easy to have your light dimmed through those experiences, but I’m trying to make my light for Cove brighter again. Every day, I make a list of 10 things I’m grateful for when it comes to Cove and why. The “why” always gets to the bigger reasons fueling our actions. Doing this exercise daily reminds me of the exciting reason I do what I do.

When we’re expressing gratitude for anything in our life, the universe can’t help but bring more into your life that you’ll be grateful for.

Dance used to be my whole world. I danced full-time for two years after college, and this period was a time when my life was in such an amazing flow. When I look back at that time, the reason why everything moved so beautifully was because of gratitude. I was landing incredible modeling opportunities, traveling the world to dance, booking amazing dancing jobs, and it blessings were flowing constantly. Why was it so easy? I was in a constant state of gratitude. As I try to get back into that state, I know gratitude is KEY to making it happen.

We Can’t Have Something We Don’t Believe In

If we get stuck on the “how,” we are mucking up the ways God can bless us. There are no limits on God – so why are we limiting our blessings? Remove the limiting beliefs that are holding you back from what you really need and ask for what you need – and trust it (or something better!) will be delivered.

I’m allowing myself to believe in what I need. I’m stripping the limiting beliefs and welcoming blessings into my life.

I’m Rewriting My Story

In my journal, I’ve written five mini-stories about Cove. One of my stressors is the factory not being in flow, so I’ve written that I’ve met amazing, new factories that will give me a supportive production system that flows on time. I’m also written that word of Cove is spreading like wildfire and business is booming. I’ve done this before and writing stories as if they’ve happened helps our brains actually manifest those dreams. I’ve tested this approach and it WORKS.

I’m Giving Myself Time to Dream & Come Up With New Strategies

Part of this is writing down my new stories, or walking with my dog and pausing to dream and to really feel what it will be like when my dreams come true.  For me, these exercises are sparking so much joy.

Ask For Help

I sat down with my boyfriend a few nights ago and after shedding some tears, he helped me strategize and talk through some of the roadblocks I’m having. Another time, when I was telling the universe I needed help, a friend reached out wanting to assist. To accept that help has been such a relief.

Sign Up For An Online Class

I’ve signed up for an online course recently for business owners and it is breathing new life into me. Sign up for a class to learn a new needed skill or find an online coach. There are SO many resources out there! Investing in yourself is the greatest thing you can do.

If you’re burned out, please remember: You did not come this far to just come this far. I’m going to keep showing up, so please keep showing up yourself. These are our what the eff moments – but I know I have someone who loves me so much more than I can imagine and I need to keep placing my order with him and he’ll follow through.

Priming Challenge

A little reminder that I’m doing a five-day priming challenge beginning Monday, April 29th! You can sign up right here to join. I’ll be going live with you and teaching you my 15-minute priming routine. If you don’t know about priming, it’s an amazing way to remove negative chatter from your mind and can help you manifest what you want in life. I’d also love to hear your own “What the Eff” moments! Email me at hello@whattheeffpodcast.com with the subject line “What the Eff moments.” I’d love to share your moments on the show, so email away!

Links

• Part 1 & Part 2 on Priming
• “E-Motion” on Amazon Prime