Nov 27, 2023
With host retail coach Wendy Batten
https://wendybatten.com/185/
Show Notes:
Retailers take note.
If you’ve ever experienced burnout in your home tasks
or business, you know it’s something that’s best to manage in its
early stages. In Episode 185 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, Dr.
Ashley Margeson joins me for a dynamic discussion about burnout,
including what it is, and methods for prevention and recovery. If
you are like many of my retailers and have said things like “I love
what I do, but…” “I just need to hustle through this one
event/season/month…” This conversation is for you.
What is burnout?
Burnout has been studied since the 1970s. It is an
interesting phenomenon that the WHO set as a true diagnosis only a
few years ago, identifiable by three key symptoms: depressive-like
feelings, apathy towards your work (whether it be at home,
entrepreneurship, etc), and a loss of productivity/performance.
Burnout is tough to recognize at its earliest stages because we
keep justifying it with logic.
Dr. Ashley explains that burnout occurs when we
overuse adrenaline as our main energy source. The longer we use
adrenaline as energy, cortisol production is suppressed. Cortisol
is your energy & stress response hormone that should rise in the
morning and stay steady throughout the day. As entrepreneurs, our
first instinct is often to just “do more,” which leads to living on
adrenaline. Living on adrenaline leads to burnout.
Managing Burnout Like A Bank Account
An easy way to think about managing burnout is to
think of a bank account. Like a bank account withdrawal, our energy
is depleted for things we spend it on. Similarly, an energy
“deposit” can be made into our bank through things like eating
healthy meals and adequate sleep.
4 Modes/Stages of Burnout:
1. Savings/Investing Mode: Early Stage Burnout: We
have lots of deposits coming in so we are able to “spend” our
energy/adrenaline.
2. Paycheck to Paycheck: In this mode, there is just
enough energy coming in to deal with what’s going out.
3. Overdraft: There is no longer enough energy coming
in to cover what is going out. At this stage, you aren’t quite
apathetic, moreso irritated. You start putting things off.
4. The creditors are calling: In this stage, you are
no longer getting out of bed. Once you get to this stage, you may
need medical intervention and recovery can take months and
months.
One of the things that Dr. Ashley points out early on
in our conversation is that burnout can’t necessarily be avoided.
Rather, severe burnout should be managed/prevented so that recovery
can be a walk outside vs. 18 months of rest. From a retail
perspective, this could mean identifying what you can do in Q1 – Q3
that will limit the energy withdrawals you are making in Q4 that
can lead to burnout.
Dr. Ashley explains that energy deposits can take the
form of 30 second “glimmers” throughout your day, deposits that
take 5-15 minutes, and deposits that take over 20 minutes.
Oftentimes, we are so focused on the energy deposits that take more
than 20 minutes (having dinner with a friend, for example) that we
miss the smallest deposits (“glimmers” like a glass of water, a
post-it note on the computer, etc). These are the sources that give
us small, sustainable bumps in energy.
The “cornerstone” deposits are the ones we should be
spending our energy on: sleep, fueling, self-awareness, and
movement.
“No one ever gets to burnout because they failed. We
burn out because we care about showing up and doing the right
things.” – Dr. Ashley
Dr. Ashley’s advice:
1. Determine what stage of burnout you are
in.
2. Make a list of deposits that give you energy in
each of the three timeframes listed above.
3. Of the cornerstone deposits, which matters most to
you? Focus on that one.
About Dr. Ashley:
Dr. Ashley Margeson is a Naturopathic Doctor who
believes that your health should work for you, not against you.As
the COO of Cornerstone Naturopathic, a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based
clinic, she focuses on Burnout Recovery and Prevention, guiding
individuals towards revitalization and well-being.
At the helm of her mission, Dr. Ashley is also the
host of “The Superwoman Code,” a dynamic podcast supporting busy
women in optimizing their health, homes, and hormones to infuse
life back into their lifestyles. Her impactful contributions have
garnered recognition from platforms such as Business Insider, The
Globe and Mail, Shondaland, The Strategist, Cosmopolitan Magazine
and more. Additionally, she is a regular contributor to health
matters on Global and CTV Morning Live.
Dr. Ashley extends her influence to the digital realm
through The Superwoman
Code Course Suite, a comprehensive online hub offering online
support meticulously crafted to foster healthy habits without the
stress.
Beyond her professional commitments, Dr. Ashley is a
devoted dog mom to Loki and full-time stepmom to Caleb and Elise.
Her expertise doesn’t stop at her clinic; she is also a
sought-after freelance consultant, partnering with companies and
organizations to integrate Burnout Prevention Strategies into their
work environments, nurturing resilience and well-being among
employees.
For a deeper connection with Dr. Ashley Margeson ND,
explore her insights and offerings at www.ashleymargeson.com or
engage with her through her vibrant social channels on Instagram, Facebook, and
LinkedIn.
Through her holistic approach, she empowers individuals to reshape
their health journeys and foster lasting vitality.
Related podcasts we think you’ll like:
Episode
86: Avoid Biz Burnout – Take Control and See the Full Potential
of Your Business
Episode
92: Morning Routines & Why They Work – Even For People Who Hate
Morning Routines
Episode
100: Why It’s Important to Celebrate Your Business
Milestones
About your host, Wendy Batten
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small
business coach and founder of the
Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop
owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more
profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail
business.
Through online classes, business coaching programs,
speaking, and a top-ranked podcast,
I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their
dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My
signature private coaching community, The
Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world
build their retail business skill sets and confidence.
I am proud to have been featured in several major
publications, including my own business column in What Women Create
magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked
podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for
several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate
about the success of independent retailers.
When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing
and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in
the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about
our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up
to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one
of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/
For more support from Wendy
Retailer’s
Inner Circle – Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s
community
Wendy’s resources for
shop owners
Hang out and connect
with Wendy on IG
All
of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found
HERE.
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