Written by Robyn Soulier-Ritchot, Eagle Medicine Coaching & Consulting
The Hidden Reality of Burnout
I have personally battled burnout too many times in my professional life, first in academia, and then again while trying to scale my career. Burnout that didn’t just stay at my desk or within professional environments, but spilled over into my personal life, into my parenting, my relationships, and my sense of self.
Survival mode in business will trick you into believing you’re lazy or unmotivated. If you’re not careful, it’ll have you questioning why you even became a solopreneur in the first place, especially in those early stages when you’ve gone all in.
When your business is your only source of income, and your revenue depends entirely on the services you provide and retain through to completion, the pressure is nonstop. And let’s be honest — you’re not just the CEO. You’re also the admin, the social media manager, the bookkeeper, the content creator, the service provider, and more. All while trying to stay sane, keep your house in order, raise your kids, maintain friendships, pour into your hobbies, and maybe, just maybe, take a moment to breathe.
In other words, it’s A LOT!
Almost inhuman at times and yet, somehow, some way, we manage.
We manage because we’re driven. Because we’re purpose-led and passionate. Because something inside of us still believes in the vision, even when we’re crumbling under the weight of making it real.
Burnout: More Than Just Stress
But here’s what we don’t talk about enough. The harsh reality of “success.” The backend of business that isn’t glamorous. The part of entrepreneurship that comes with sacrifice, exhaustion, and moments of doubt so loud they echo in your ability to take care of yourself.
In 2022, when I started my work as a Business Strategist with Business Link, where I’ve helped hundreds of entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses, I noticed a pattern. A common thread in the stories of those who were seen as “successful.”
Burnout or, in the worst-case scenarios, becoming so physically ill that these clients would end up being hospitalized.
It’s a lived reality for many of us and I wish it weren’t such a buzzword.
I wish we didn’t romanticize hard work, overwhelm, and burnout as shiny badges of what it means to be a “successful” business owner. Because it’s costing us more than we realize.
A survey conducted by market research firm Maru/Blue on behalf of CBC found that two-thirds of business owners reported working longer hours since starting their businesses. Sixty-one percent said their stress levels are much higher than when they were conventionally employed (CBC News, 2024). That’s not just stress; that’s a warning sign.
Kael Campbell, President of Red Seal Recruiting Solutions, put it simply: “Mental health is a huge issue for entrepreneurs.”
And it’s true. The entrepreneurial path, while rewarding, is often lonely. You can feel like no one gets it unless they’re in it too.
Burnout sneaks in when we’re too focused on producing, performing, and just pushing through. It stems from the business environment itself: the complexity of relationships with clients and collaborators, and the ever-present uncertainty about the future (Entrepreneurial Burnout: Causes, Consequences, and Way Out, 2022).
The Consequences Are Deeply Personal
They’re not just professional. They’re deeply personal. Burnout impacts our ability to concentrate, make decisions, and create from an authentic place.
It clouds our clarity and disconnects us from our creativity. Left unchecked, it can lead to anxiety, depression, cynicism, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and emotional disconnection from our families and personal relationships.
All of which ultimately impact the success and longevity of our businesses.
Leading From Wholeness
Here’s the truth: if we want to lead a good life; we must lead from a place of wholeness.
Innovative and sustainable businesses are not built on burnout. They’re built by entrepreneurs who create from a place of balance, alignment, and intention. Not just business success, but holistic success.
Indigenous Wisdom: Taking Care of Your Home Fire
When sitting with Elders and Knowledge Holders back home in Manitoba, a teaching that continues to stand out to me is this: “Take care of your home fire.”
This teaching can be understood in many ways, but one interpretation that resonates deeply with me is this: Take care of yourself and take care of those you love.
We often forget this. We get so wrapped up in survival chasing success, careers, and business ventures—that we lose sight of the fact that to truly thrive in any of those realms, we must first take care of ourselves.
A Call to Shift Our Approach
It’s time to stop glorifying hustle culture. It’s time to start honoring our health and wellbeing.
We need:
- Community and connection to remind us we’re not alone.
- Validation to remind us that what we’re feeling is real and shared.
- Work-life balance as a non-negotiable, not a bonus.
- Mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing as core business strategies, not afterthoughts.
It’s time for a shift. A shift toward getting to the root causes of burnout. Toward a more holistic approach to entrepreneurship — one that doesn’t sacrifice your wellbeing in the name of success.
Real Self-Care
I used to think self-care meant simple acts like getting a manicure, taking bubble baths, or booking the occasional massage, but I’ve come to understand it on a much deeper level.
Real self-care is about consistently making time for the practices that nourish you on a psychological, mental, emotional, and spiritual level.
It wasn’t until I went on maternity leave that I truly began taking wellness practice seriously. That chapter of my life became the change and wake-up call I needed, and it’s when I created Eagle Medicine Coaching.
I began therapy. I started attending cultural events more often. I prioritized walking in balance (or at least trying to). Most importantly, I worked on being a present parent for my children. Also, I built a support system rooted in loving, safe, and reciprocal relationships within my community.
In doing so, I learned something essential: The importance and validity of taking care of oneself, and of creating from a place of wellness and wholeness.
Your Wellbeing is Your Foundation
So, if you’re reading this right now, I hope you take a moment. A moment to reflect on the areas of your life and business that are calling for your attention.
The spaces that need more balance, more intention, and more care.
Because the truth is: You matter.
Your wellbeing and the overall state of your health is not a luxury. It’s the foundation that will define your success.
