Sooner or later, most home-based business owners face burnout. The business you worked so hard to create suddenly loses its luster and you may wonder if you wouldn’t be better off back in an office.

First Hand Experience

I’ve owned several businesses and know this experience firsthand. I’ve learned that even if you have a business that you love, an occasional day of angst is to be expected. However, if you dread climbing out of bed every morning to face another day of work, it’s time to evaluate exactly what the problem is and find a solution.

Burnout of a Friend

I have a friend who loves to cook and host parties. She decided to segue that interest into a successful catering business. After a few years, though, she realized that cooking for picky clients was not as enjoyable as cooking for the people she loved. The proverbial straw came in the form of 40 pounds of salmon mousse for an art gallery opening. My friend was newly pregnant and feeling a bit queasy, but the art gallery director insisted on the salmon.

The sight and smell of that raw fish was almost too much for my friend. She plowed through the project, but vowed to hang up her apron permanently. After some soul searching, she found other career avenues that were more fulfilling, and spent her time in the kitchen making foods she truly enjoyed.

Tips to Avoid Burnout

My friend was suffering from a severe case of burnout, which eventually led to a complete career change. Most of the time, you’ll find a cure for burnout that doesn’t require you to completely reinvent your career. However, burnout is almost always a sign that something needs to be tweaked. Here are some common reasons for burnout and some simple solutions:

• Lack of challenge. If the job has become mundane or boring, maybe it’s time to take on some new challenges or add a new skill.
• Stress. If, on the other hand, your home-based business feels constantly overwhelming or stressful, evaluate why. Do you need more help and can you afford to get it? Consider outsourcing, rather than hiring a permanent employee. Maybe you’ve expanded too quickly or you’re attempting to do too many things.
• Isolation. Working at home means no office politics or drama. It can also be a bit lonely. If your burnout is a result of loneliness, mix it up. Try working in a cafe one day a week, join professional organizations or go out to lunch with a friend. Beware of online forums, though. They’re a good way to meet other people in the business, but they can also be a tremendous time waster.
• Workload. Starting and maintaining a home-based business demands a huge amount of time and energy. You may be feeling burnout because your life is out of balance. Make the time — it won’t happen on its own — to do something everyday that you enjoy. Go for a walk, meet with friends, take up a hobby, such as gardening. One friend made a storage bench to put in the garden. Sometimes, just taking a cat nap in the afternoon is enough to refuel.
• Life changes. Sometimes, burnout is a sign that you’re ready for a change. A friend of mine ran a successful home-based preschool for many years while her children were young. To her surprise, though, she found her interest waning once her children were in school full-time. She realized it was time to explore other career paths and eventually started a thriving writing business. If you’ve addressed the other issues, but still feel burnout, it may be time to move on.

About the Author

Stan Horst has years of firsthand experience running a home-based business. A former cabinet and furniture maker, he now owns a vacation cabin rental business and also maintains a website about outdoor furniture, such as furniture from Kingsley Bates. Horst enjoys hiking, camping and fishing in his spare time.