What I Do When I’m Feeling Overwhelmed with Business
Oct 9
As entrepreneurs, especially women life coaches and creatives, feeling overwhelmed with business can creep up on you. And when it does, it can feel like you’re constantly putting out fires instead of doing what you love. Hi! I’m Moriah Riona, your luxury brand coach and host of Superbloom Coach, where I empower female entrepreneurs to 10x their business. In this episode, we’re tackling something I know many of us have struggled with—feeling overwhelmed with business.
Let’s break it down and discuss actionable ways to overcome that feeling of overwhelm, prevent burnout, and thrive in your business!
What Causes Overwhelm in Business?
We all know that feeling: you’ve got a growing list of tasks, projects piling up, and you just can’t seem to find the time to manage it all. Being overwhelmed with business is something no one enjoys, and if we don’t catch it early, it can quickly lead to burnout.
But why does this happen? The main reason is often that we’ve simply got too much going on, or we’re not clear about our priorities. Our brains can only hold so much information, and if we’re trying to manage everything in our head without clear systems, we miss things. That’s when overwhelm sets in.
If this resonates with you, don’t worry! I’ve been there, and I’m going to share what has helped me and many other entrepreneurs take control, clear the chaos, and get back to running the business of our dreams.
Setting Clear Boundaries: A Game Changer for Overwhelm
The number one reason entrepreneurs get overwhelmed with business is a lack of clear boundaries. We tend to give too much of ourselves, especially in the early stages of our careers, when we are eager to say yes to every opportunity. I totally understand the excitement of a new business, but if you don’t set clear boundaries from the start, you will end up working 24/7—leading to burnout.
Boundaries with Time
When I first started my business, I had a terrible habit of working late into the night and even on weekends. I used to check emails during dinner, respond to clients at odd hours, and pretty much never gave myself time to rest. Sound familiar? Eventually, I realized that this was not sustainable or professional. I was letting my business run me, instead of me running my business.
The first step to overcoming overwhelm is setting non-negotiable time boundaries. For example, after transitioning away from my wedding photography business (which often required weekend work), I decided that weekends were off-limits for business activities. In the past 10 years, I’ve only worked on a weekend maybe three times. Having a designated time for rest is so important for recharging your entrepreneurial energy.
The Importance of Business Hours
Another huge shift for me was setting strict business hours. Currently, my team and I work Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM to 3 PM. Outside of these hours, I don’t communicate with clients. Yes, there are times when I catch up on work outside of these hours, but my clients will never know that because I use an email scheduler to make sure everything goes out during business hours. This maintains professionalism and sets the expectation that I am not available 24/7.
If you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to establish firm business hours and stick to them. It creates structure for both you and your clients, reducing the sense of chaos and urgency that can contribute to feeling overwhelmed with business.
Setting Boundaries with Clients
We’ve talked about setting time boundaries, but what about client boundaries? Trust me, this is equally as important. Over the years, I’ve developed increasingly stricter boundaries with my clients, and you know what? They love me for it! Setting clear expectations helps everyone feel more secure, and the process runs smoothly from start to finish.
Boundaries might feel restrictive at first, but they actually allow you to create a more luxurious and elevated experience for your clients. When they know what to expect, there’s less room for misunderstanding or frustration. And as you step into your role as a luxury brand leader, this becomes even more critical.
Prioritize Your Tasks to Avoid Overwhelm
Once you have your boundaries in place, the next step is to get really clear on your priorities. Feeling overwhelmed often comes from juggling too many tasks without knowing which ones to focus on first.
One of the best books I’ve ever read on this topic is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. It’s a personal development book, but its principles are incredibly relevant for business, especially when it comes to task prioritization. Covey introduces the concept of dividing tasks into four categories: urgent/important, not urgent/important, urgent/not important, and not urgent/not important.
We tend to get caught up in the urgent tasks, which may or may not be important. But to move the needle in your business, you want to focus on tasks that are important but not urgent. These are the long-term projects, the big dreams, the ideas that can propel your business forward.
Time Blocking for Success
One of my favorite strategies for staying organized and avoiding overwhelm is time blocking. Every week, I block out time for those important but not urgent tasks. That way, I know I’ll get them done before I get sucked into the daily whirlwind of client requests and urgent matters.
If you haven’t tried time blocking yet, give it a shot. Not only will it help you stay on top of your to-do list, but it will also ensure you’re dedicating time to tasks that really matter for your business growth.
Delegate and Automate to Scale Your Business
Now that you’ve set boundaries and prioritized your tasks, let’s talk about delegation and automation—two of the most powerful tools in combating business overwhelm.
When I first started out, I had a hard time letting go. I thought I needed to do everything myself. But the truth is, if you want to scale your business, you can’t be the one doing all the tasks. It’s simply not sustainable.
Delegate What You Can
Take a good look at what you’re doing in your business on a daily basis. Are there tasks that someone else could be handling for you? Start with the areas that aren’t in your zone of genius. For example, I’m a brand strategist and designer, not an accountant, so I’ve outsourced all financial tasks. Delegating not only frees up your time but also allows you to focus on what you’re best at—growing your business.
Automate the Repetitive Stuff
Another way to reduce overwhelm with business is to automate wherever possible. If you find yourself doing the same tasks over and over, such as sending the same email to multiple clients, it’s time to automate. We’ve templatized many of our recurring emails, which saves my assistant hours of work each week.
Automation tools like CRMs can also streamline processes such as client onboarding, scheduling, and invoicing. By automating these tasks, you’ll free up time to focus on more important aspects of your business.
Rest and Reflection: The Secret to Entrepreneurial Longevity
Here’s a tough truth: as entrepreneurs, we often neglect rest. We’re always chasing the next goal, and it can feel like if we stop, everything will fall apart. But let me tell you, friend—rest is essential to avoiding overwhelm and burnout.
Why Rest is Non-Negotiable
Without rest, you won’t have the energy or creativity to keep growing your business. And this isn’t just about physical rest; it’s also about mental rest. You need time to step away from the daily grind and give yourself space to dream, vision, and plan for the future.
I’ll admit, this has been a struggle for me. I used to feel guilty for taking time off, but I’ve realized that rest is what allows me to come back stronger, more creative, and more focused. It’s during those quiet moments, away from the hustle, that my best ideas come to me.
Build Rest and Reflection into Your Schedule
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with business, make a promise to yourself to schedule regular rest and reflection time. This doesn’t mean you have to take entire weeks off (although that’s great if you can). It can be as simple as giving yourself one day a week to slow down, reflect, and recharge. I do this every week now, and it has made a world of difference.
Conclusion: Take Control of Your Business and Beat Overwhelm
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with business, I want you to know that you’re not alone. It’s something that so many entrepreneurs struggle with, but by setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, delegating, automating, and incorporating rest into your routine, you can overcome it. And when you do, your business will thrive like never before.
Remember, your time is your most valuable asset. Use it wisely, and don’t be afraid to step back, take a breath, and realign your priorities. Your dream business is waiting for you—don’t let overwhelm stand in the way.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow along for more tips on how to 10x your business and life!
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