Success in business often comes at a cost to the people who achieve it. Long hours, high stakes, and relentless pressure can take their toll on even the most driven entrepreneurs and executives.
Because burnout and stress can significantly affect decision-making, team dynamics, and the future of your business, it’s important to proactively address these feelings and manage them effectively. To help you do just that, members of the Rolling Stone Cultural Council share their tried-and-true tips for successfully coping with the stress that can come with success.
Recalibrate your normal
Recalibrating your normal is essential to avoid burnout. For me, it was reconfiguring my priorities outside of work and making sure I made enough time for them—coaching my son’s baseball team, going to the gym every morning, and so on. You’ll lose some old habits (for me it was staying up late to watch sports) but stay more balanced. – Anthony Moniello, Spirits of the Next Century
Remember that productivity alone does not determine your success
Know your priorities and set boundaries. Take time to rest and do activities that bring you joy. I like to walk and go out in nature. Remind yourself that success isn’t defined by productivity alone, and it’s essential to maintain a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout. – Karina Michel Feld, Tallulah Films
Make a trusted person to remind you to rest
Early on in my entrepreneurial journey, I sacrificed hobbies, my social life, and family time, which led to burnout. Now I empower someone I trust to pull me aside and tell me when to take a break or a break, or when to put the phone down. Prioritizing self-care is essential to long-term success, as it allows you to recharge and return with renewed focus and energy. Balance is the key to lasting success. – Rhett Power, Accountability Inc.
Fill your cup first
Take time for yourself. You cannot refill your team’s cup if your cup is empty. It may feel selfish, but taking time to do the things you need to feel recharged actually helps everyone! – Sam Saideman, Innovo Management
Exercise and Travel
The best ingredient to combat burnout or stress is exercise. I walk almost 20,000 steps most days, and it really helps my mindset on every level. I think better and it calms me down, and I feel more organized and energetic. Also, travel helps. Pack your laptop and work from a new place – seeing new places and things does wonders for the mind and soul. – Paul Fitzgerald, Salt & Pepper Media Inc.
Set work and life boundaries
Prioritize self-care by setting strong boundaries between your work and personal life. Taking vacations, enjoying hobbies, and maintaining a support network can help replenish emotional energy. Sustained success requires high levels of commitment, and neglecting personal well-being can lead to decreased productivity. Foster a balanced lifestyle to support your passion and effectiveness. – Mark Paulda, Mark Paulda & Co
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Focus on your North Star
It’s easy to lose track of your priorities when you’re overwhelmed with responsibilities. Always have a North Star to help you stay grounded and see the big picture. Success doesn’t have to come at the cost of your health and well-being. It’s important to refresh periodically to make sure you’re meeting your goals. – Dustin Eide, CanPay
Engage your brain and body through hobbies
I’m a fan of a hobby that forces you to use another part of your brain and body and physically takes you somewhere else. For me it was martial arts, but it could be any other sport or activity. It helps relieve stress, gives you new friends, and allows you to experience a sense of normalcy, which is very different from the high-powered executive lifestyle. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Jaffer Foundation
Focus on impacting the bottom line
Measure success by the impact of your mission, not the bottom line. When vision and strategy align, you fight burnout. Lean on the ideals that brought you here. Take time to reflect. Visualize your goals as already achieved with your goal affirmations. For leaders navigating black-and-white decisions, reconnecting with purpose and passion fuels resilience to the toughest challenges. – Andy Hale, Hale & Monico
Practice self-care
The most important thing is to prioritize self-care. I personally start each day so that I can surf and leave time for exercise, keeping in mind the importance of my mental and physical health. Self-care can look different for everyone, so it’s important to find what works for you in your moments of need. Work is important, but health and happiness should always be top of mind. – Jason Peterson, GoDigital Media Group
Delegate to your team
Delegate tasks and trust your team to share the workload, even when success feels all-encompassing. Empowering others not only relieves your stress, but also fosters growth and innovation within your team. Micromanaging can lead to burnout, so focus on strategic leadership. By building a reliable team, you create balance and ensure lasting success without sacrificing your well-being. – Matthew Miller, Orlando Informer
Schedule time to recharge
Success often tempts leaders to overwork, but rest drives long-term performance. Schedule time for exercise, hobbies, and loved ones to recharge. Delegate tasks to focus on what really matters. Self-care ensures clarity, resilience and lasting success – because you can’t lead effectively if you’re running on empty. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors
Stay grounded by practicing gratitude
Churchill said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” For me, actively practicing gratitude empowers me to keep both my wins and losses in perspective and stay connected to the mission—the reason—that drives my decisions. Gratitude supports us in a way that is transformative. – Jed Brewer, Good Loud Media
Build flexibility into your day
When you’re a business owner, things are constantly changing, especially in the world of PR and branding. Instead of sticking strictly to a schedule, I’ve learned to fit my day around the flow of tasks, leaving myself room to recharge when needed. This flexibility helps me stay productive and adapt quickly to new challenges without feeling overwhelmed. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
