As a business owner, first and foremost, you need to stay fresh and avoid burnout. Burnout isn’t just an unpleasant experience, it’s detrimental to your success. You need innovative ideas to solve today’s problems, and to discover ways to grow going forward. Therefore, you have to stay fresh. Here’s how.

Establish office hours.

When it’s your business, working long hours may seem normal. But if you have no down-time, you’ll eventually run out of steam—and the next step is burnout. One of the best ways to not have your business dominate your day is to set specific work hours—and then stick to them! You’ll be surprised to discover you’ll actually wind up doing more. Human beings work best on a run-rest cycle. So, give it everything you’ve got during designated work hours, then take time off with family, friends, hobbies, and other interests.

Set up weekly meetings.

When things get busy, holding a weekly meeting may seem like you’re wasting everyone’s time. But when you’re swamped is precisely when you should keep having your weekly meeting—to assess the situation, adjust priorities, and keep everyone on track.

Prioritize.

Where is the bulk of your revenue coming from? What are the types of customers and the types of jobs? These are the people and the projects you should be looking for and concentrating on once you get them. Give low priority to work that takes up time with little financial return.

Delegate.

If your to-do list is so long you never get through it, reassess what’s on it. Get a handle on the tasks you need to do, and delete the rest, or reassign them to someone else.  Learning to delegate is a critical strategy to not being overwhelmed by your daily workload. The fact is, you can’t do everything, and as you grow, you’ll be able to do even less. Bring in people to lighten the load. If you can’t afford a new full-time employee, get part-time help, or outsource the work.

Take 5.

When you power through a workday nonstop, it may seem like you’re getting a lot done, but it’s actually an inefficient approach. Research reveals that after focusing for 60 to 90 minutes, your productivity peaks and you spend more time getting less done. Take a quick break every hour to hour and a half and do something that relaxes you.

Take care of yourself.

Maintain a good diet, get enough sleep, and stay active. Those three things are key to being able to function at your peak. That’s why investing in them is in fact investing in your business. Taking time to rest and rejuvenate, whether it’s an afternoon off, a long weekend, or a vacation. Put that time off on your calendar and treat it like you would any other business appointment. When you come back, you’ll be positively re-energized.

Learn to say “no.”

It’s hard to turn down business, but before you take on new work, consider the time it will take and the revenue it will generate. Don’t overload yourself with work that isn’t that profitable.

Build your network.

Joining local business groups connects you with other business owners. This isn’t just good for referrals; it also shows you how others are running and growing their businesses. As a business owner, you’re responsible for its success. Don’t bear that burden alone. Find someone, such as an AdviCoach business coach, who can draw on experience you may not have, and provide an objective perspective that can make all the difference in a challenging situation.