Understanding CEO overwhelm: How CEOs and executives can avoid burnout
Does it feel like nothing is going right at work?
Feels like you don’t have time to finish your tasks because you’re juggling too many things, yet it also feels like nothing is getting done?
Or maybe you gotta increase your work but also feel overwhelmed by deadlines.
And every question from your team and clients feels annoying.
You start to wonder if you hired the right people for the job.
Maybe you need to redo everything and start from scratch?
You need to calm down. It may sound silly, but these rambling and irritable thoughts are signs of CEO overwhelm.
You’re in charge, so why should you feel overwhelmed?
You can just delegate the work to others, right?
But executive overwhelm is a real issue that starts with a mindset problem.
If you don’t address it, the problem will eventually grow and affect your emotional, mental, and physical health.
Yes, physically too!
It can show up as headaches, back pain, lack of sleep, and even digestive issues.
As the CEO of an on-demand design service, I’ve experienced firsthand the pressures and challenges of the job.
Most days, I can handle it all, but there are still bad days when I start to feel overwhelmed too.
Do you mind if I explain why CEO overwhelm happens and share practical tips on how to cope?
Keep reading…
Why is burnout so common among CEOs and executives?
Being a CEO is a ridiculously demanding job. And most people don’t realize it.
You are responsible not only for keeping your clients happy but also for maintaining the livelihood of your team: to protect them and their families.
Not everyone is cut out for this job and most, if not all, CEOs understand this responsibility the moment they take on this challenge.
While the external demands of the job are real, the root cause of overwhelm is often the internal conversation happening in our minds.
The same mindset that gives us the confidence to take on this challenge is also the main enemy that causes us to burn ourselves out.
Here are some aspects of the CEO mindset that lead to burnout:
Perfectionism
Every CEO stepped up to be a solution to a problem that most people can’t see or don’t know how to solve.
In a way, we’re all problem solvers and perfectionists who build the world upon our ideals and that is a good thing.
However, striving for perfection in every aspect of business can be overwhelming and counterproductive.
For example, if you’re spending excessive time tweaking minor design details on a Facebook post, you’re wasting your time, which could’ve been spent on more important tasks like dealing with client needs and expanding your company.
But at the same time, you can’t just tell yourself to leave it when you see that the design detail can still be improved!
It can be difficult for CEOs to figure out which parts of the job can be “just fine” instead of “perfect,” and this leads to frustration because not everything can be perfect all the time.
Negative self-talk
Related to the perfectionism from earlier, we CEOs often set unrealistic expectations for ourselves and engage in negative self-talk when we fall short.
You might find yourself thinking*, “I should have finished that project by now,”* or “I’m not doing enough.”
This can lead to feelings of inadequacy even when you’re doing fairly well.
Your company performance might be great on paper, but it does not meet your unrealistic personal standard, making you think you are failing at your job.
Fear of failure
Do you find yourself paralyzed when you’re faced with multiple options and decisions to make?
This is not because you’re inadequate and can’t make a decision for yourself.
This is because of the real phenomenon called “decision paralysis.”
When you’re choosing among options, you know that there is a “wrong” option.
Nobody wants to accidentally choose that option. That will be a “failure.”
You end up overthinking the decision and the overwhelming fear of failure prevents you from finalizing your choice.
This hesitation can delay the rest of your workflow and increase stress.
Feeling lonely and isolated
Feeling lonely and isolated as a CEO might seem contradictory.
After all, everyone in the company essentially knows you.
They interact with you daily to submit deliverables and reports, and they consult with you to make company decisions.
However, this interaction can be unfulfilling.
You are the go-to person who is responsible for everything but people might shy away from interacting with you casually.
You’re not just a colleague. You’re the boss.
People only interact with you for work and leadership.
Even if they were more casual with you, not everyone understands the feeling of holding this much responsibility.
You might be rambling about some problem and it comes across as something foreign and unrelatable to everyone else in the company.
Nobody can actually console you or offer solutions.
This is one of those situations where you can feel “it’s lonely at the top.”
Recognizing the signs of CEO overwhelm in the workplace
The first step to solving the problem is to recognize that it exists in the first place.
Recognize these signs of overwhelm early to take proactive steps to manage it:
Emotional volatility
The constant pressure can lead to mood swings and emotional outbursts.
One moment you’re on top of the world, and the next, you’re feeling down.
You might find yourself snapping at team members over minor issues or feeling inexplicably sad or anxious even after you were just celebrating a successful client pitch.
Difficulty concentrating
With so many tasks and decisions to juggle, it’s easy to lose focus and find it hard to concentrate on one thing at a time.
You might start working on a design brief, but an urgent email distracts you, leading to a scattered and unproductive workday.
Physical symptoms
Overwhelm can manifest physically, causing headaches, back pain, digestive issues, fatigue, or insomnia.
Long hours at the desk without breaks can lead to back pain and persistent headaches, affecting your overall well-being.
Ways you can manage CEO overwhelm and prevent burnout
It can be difficult but there are ways for you to manage and prevent burnout.
Here are some strategies I’ve found helpful:
Manage your time properly
Effective time management can help you stay organized and reduce stress.
Plan your day and week ahead, prioritizing tasks based on importance and urgency.
You can use a planner or digital tool like Trello to map out your tasks and deadlines, ensuring you stay on track.
Avoid multitasking
You might think you are getting so much work done, but you really aren’t!
Focus on one task at a time to improve concentration and productivity.
Set aside specific time blocks for different tasks, such as responding to emails, working on design projects, and attending meetings, instead of trying to do everything all at once.
Set realistic goals
Avoid setting unrealistic expectations for yourself and your team.
It’s not helping anybody.
You’re not actually reaching more goals by setting unrealistic ones.
You’re just burning yourself and your team out while delivering poor-quality work.
You can divide large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks with realistic and achievable deadlines.
Instead of aiming to complete an entire website redesign in a week, set milestones for each stage of the project.
Delegate and outsource
You don’t have to do everything yourself.
Delegate tasks to your team and trust them to keep up with the responsibilities you hired them for.
Empower your team members to take on responsibilities and make decisions.
If the workload is too much for you and your team, consider hiring more people or outsourcing non-core tasks to external experts to lighten your workload.
You can hire a virtual assistant to handle administrative tasks, allowing you to focus on high-impact activities.
Celebrate progress
Acknowledge and celebrate small wins to help keep you and your team motivated.
If you really think about it, work is just a never-ending cycle of finishing projects one after the other.
It can get really dry and monotonous without celebrations.
Think of every accomplishment as a little step toward your company’s bigger goals.
Celebrate the completion of each project milestone with your team to maintain morale and momentum.
Prioritize self-care
Yes, it can sound pretentious but it really works!
Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for managing stress.
Make sure you are getting regular physical activity, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep.
Self-care not only helps reduce stress but also improves your mood.
All of a sudden, your daily schedule feels more manageable because you’re more relaxed and ready to take on the world.
Seek support
Just because you’re the CEO doesn’t mean you don’t need help.
Don’t hesitate to seek support from peers, mentors, or professionals.
Connect with other CEOs or business owners to share experiences and advice.
You can join a local business networking group or an online forum to discuss challenges and gain insights from fellow CEOs.
Consider working with a coach or therapist to develop coping strategies for stress.
A business coach can help you improve your leadership skills and find ways to manage your workload more effectively.
The mindset of many leaders that leads to burnout
As a CEO, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the demands of your role.
However, by understanding the root causes of overwhelm and implementing practical strategies to manage it, you can maintain your well-being and productivity.
Remember, it’s important to recognize the signs of overwhelm early and take proactive steps to address it.
By doing so, you can lead your business with clarity, focus, and confidence, ultimately driving success and growth.
With these insights and tips, I hope to help fellow CEOs navigate the challenges of executive overwhelm and find sustainable ways to thrive in their roles.
Do you need more help with handling your workload?
Here are some guides that can help:
➡️The CEOs guide to time management: How do CEOs manage their time for best productivity?
➡️Better work life balance: how to balance work with your personal life
Do you need help with getting your design work done?
We can make it super easy for you!
You just have to send in your design requests and our reliable design team will take care of them for you.
Key takeaways
- When you find yourself spiraling through self-doubt and irritability at work, you might be experiencing CEO overwhelm, which can not only affect you mentally but also emotionally and physically.
- The same mindset that allows CEOs to take on challenging work can also cause them to have unreasonable standards, negative self-talk, the fear of failure, and a feeling of loneliness.
- CEO overwhelm can manifest as different signs, such as emotional volatility, difficulty concentrating, and even physical symptoms.
- To prevent CEO overwhelm and burnout, it helps to manage your time better, focus on one task at a time, set realistic goals for everyone, delegate or outsource tasks, celebrate achievements, and take time for self-care.
- Don’t be ashamed to seek support, whether that’s from your team, from other CEOs and business owners, or from a professional who can help you cope with stress better.