Beware of the Barrenness: How to Live Happy as a Small Business Owner
- Ashley Chivalette
- Sep 11, 2019
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 24
How many of us go through life garnered by routine and endless to-do lists? Everyone knows being a business owner typically means living your life centered around your business’s needs, and not necessarily your own.
It means being consistently packed down with things to get done, errands to run, and meetings to attend. And while I used to LOVE (and even think I excelled at) times with a heavy load or chock-full schedule, it can definitely wear you down over time, ultimately leading to unhappiness in your career, your home, and your life.
"Beware of the barrenness of a busy life." - Socrates
So, what can we do to lessen the fullness of our workloads and get back the fullness of our lives? You aren't alone in feeling this way, by the way. One recent survey found that nearly half of small business owners have felt burnout in the past year. So let's take a look at things you can start doing to live with more joy as a small business owner!
Unboxed Wisdom: Filling Your Life Back Up
The short version, for my fellow busy bees who skimmed straight here (no judgment, I do it too):
Live more simply. Marie Kondo the parts of your day that don't spark joy or growth. Delegate the menial stuff and buy your time back.
Treat yo' self. A little pampering isn't frivolous, it's fuel. Coffee on the porch, a face mask, the thing you've been eyeing. Go on.
Mix up your routine. Routine is comfy, but it can quietly flatten your life. Try the pottery class. Be bad at something new. Grow.
Stay connected. Don't do this alone. People, fresh air, and a coach in your corner all keep the barrenness at bay.
1. Live More Simply
Work smarter, not harder. We've all heard that saying, but how many of us have put it into practice? There are so many books revolving around this topic, but the one I hear most about is Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Work Week.
While our philosophies differ slightly from Ferriss', the idea of streamlining your life is still our goal. Take a gander at our website or social media, a common theme we push for our clients is to take a moment for you.
In terms of simplifying your life, make sure that the things you're investing time and energy in are producing a positive impact on not just the business, but yourself.
Sure, you need to input payroll and other menial things, but take time to find ways to improve. As a basic example, perhaps you hire a payroll company to take over the task entirely. Freeing up your valuable time for more productive items such as growing your business.
Another way to simplify your life and your daily schedule is to simply get rid of things that don’t really matter. I’m talking full-on Marie Kondo your life, "does it bring you joy?" No, well stop doing it or find another way.
Simplifying your routine or business day can be revolutionary in terms of success!
2. Treat Yo’ Self
Our second tip is brought to us from our favorite Parks and Recreation duo, Tom and Donna, and that's to treat yo’ self!
Do things that make you happy and add a little pampering into your routine. Take time to relax in the bath tub, get a massage, or go to the hair appointment you’ve been putting off for ages (trust us, your roots will thank you)!
Every morning, I get up a little earlier to drink my coffee while SITTING on the porch (not driving or running around). I'll typically read or watch the people as they drive off to begin their days. In the evening, I try to light a candle and throw on a face mask, while I sit and listen to something relaxing for just an easy ten minutes.
While they were being a bit silly on the show, they also weren't wrong. Taking some time to celebrate you, your accomplishments, or just taking some time to breathe.
You're working hard at being the best business owner; nurturing a small business can be excruciating at times. You must be enduring that stress and burden for a reason, right?
Treat yourself to some occasional fruits of your labor. Purchase that items you've had your eye on or splurge on that family vacation. The costs of it could be scary, but I assure you that you'll recoup that investment on the other end.
It’s adding little self-care routines like this that make your days so much more enjoyable. Fully embrace the ridiculousness of it! Go on, try it!
3. Mix Up Your Routine
So far, we have focused on un-cluttering your life so that you can fill it with vibrancy and passion, instead of dull routines that leave you feeling, well, bare and a more-than-a-little empty inside.
Routine often helps us with efficiency, but it can also be a road block to happiness as small business owners. If you allow your routine to run your life, you run the potential of becoming resentful of your business. It becomes a source of pain instead of the dream come true.
What better way to jump out of your routine than to get out of your comfort zone?
Earlier this year, I started taking pottery classes every Saturday morning. Not only did I do something different, but I learned a new skill. This fall, I'm even considering taking violin lessons!
The key is to do something that puts a smile on your face and shakes things up a bit. If you can discover something that also takes you outside your comfort zone, even better. Sometimes learning that we aren't the best at everything we do can benefit us as entrepreneurs. Revel in the learning and smile as you grow! Your business will follow suit!
Make sure you change up how you do things once in a while to jumpstart your happiness and creativity!
4. Don't Go It Alone
Here's the one that sneaks up on people. When you're heads-down in your business, it's easy to slowly wall yourself off, from friends, from fresh air, from anyone who isn't a customer or a vendor. And it turns out that isolation is one of the quietest drivers of burnout for business owners. All the pottery classes in the world won't fully do the trick if you're facing everything solo.
So build connection back in on purpose. Call the friend you keep meaning to call. Get outside and let nature do its thing (we're big believers in taking your office outdoors and in the underrated power of just stopping to breathe). Practice a little gratitude while you're at it. And when the weight of running the whole show gets heavy, remember you don't have to carry it by yourself. Sometimes the healthiest move is simply having someone in your corner who gets it.
According to the American Psychological Association, chronic work stress is a real health issue, not just a bad mood, so treating your own wellbeing as essential (not optional) is one of the smartest business decisions you can make.
Overall, it's easy to get sucked into a routine, it makes everything a little easier, but it can eventually lead to a pretty dull life. So, SNAP OUT OF IT and let's know what you're doing to fill your life back up!!
We at Out of the Box Advisors, focus on writing these types of blogs to help clear your head as a business owner and hopefully enrich your life just a little bit more!
P.S. Don't forget that one of the best ways to clean up your busy schedule is to bring in a business coach. Our biggest product is "Reduced Stress." If that sounds like something you need more of, come grab a free consultation and let's lighten the load together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do small business owners avoid burnout?
Start by protecting a little time for yourself the same way you protect a client meeting. Simplify and delegate the tasks that drain you, build in small daily rituals that recharge you (coffee on the porch counts), shake up your routine now and then, and stay connected to people outside the business. Burnout thrives on relentless routine and isolation, so the antidotes are variety, rest, and connection.
Why is work-life balance so hard for entrepreneurs?
Because entrepreneurs never really clock out. When it's your business, the mental load follows you everywhere, and the line between work and life gets blurry fast. Add in high stakes, uncertainty, and often a lot of passion, and it's easy to let the business quietly take over everything. The fix isn't working less because you stopped caring. It's intentionally building your life back around things that refill you.
What are some quick self-care ideas for busy business owners?
Keep them small and repeatable. Drink your morning coffee sitting down instead of on the run. Light a candle and take ten quiet minutes in the evening. Take a real lunch break away from your desk. Get outside for a short walk. Book the appointment you keep putting off. The goal isn't a week at a spa, it's little pockets of joy sprinkled through an ordinary day.
Can taking time off actually help my business?
Yes, more than most owners expect. Rest and variety restore the creativity, patience, and energy that good decisions require. A burned-out owner makes worse calls, snaps at their team, and slowly starts resenting the business they built. Stepping back, even briefly, often makes you sharper and more effective when you step back in. Taking care of yourself is taking care of the business.
How does a business coach help with work-life balance?
A good coach helps you build systems and priorities so the business depends on you a little less over time, which is exactly what frees up your life. They also give you a sounding board so you're not carrying every decision alone. As we like to say, our biggest product is reduced stress. Sometimes the most valuable thing a coach does is give you permission (and a plan) to breathe.
