How to Overcome Founder Burnout in 3 Steps ​​

Being a founder is exhausting. You’re juggling pitch decks, product updates, and a caffeine addiction that would make Starbucks blush. Burnout isn’t just a risk—it’s practically a rite of passage. But what if we flipped the script? Instead of working until you’re a burnt-out husk, let’s get ahead of the spiral. Here’s your founder-friendly, slightly sarcastic guide to banishing burnout in three (mostly) simple steps.

Step 1: Schedule Time for Nothing (Yes, Literally Nothing)

You know that calendar app you live and die by? Open it up right now and block out at least an hour a week labeled "Nothing." No calls, no meetings, no doom-scrolling Twitter for VC hot takes. Just… nothing.

Spend that time doing whatever recharges you—meditating, binge-watching The Great British Bake Off, or staring into space while contemplating why you thought this startup thing was a good idea.

Why It Works: Your brain is like a Wi-Fi router; sometimes it needs to reset before it can connect to genius ideas. Plus, doing nothing feels like rebelling against hustle culture. You’ll love it.

Step 2: Stop Hoarding Your To-Do List Like It’s Precious

Listen, Frodo, you don’t need to carry the entire startup journey on your back to Mordor. Your team (or even a good virtual assistant) is there to help. Stop clutching every task like it’s a rare Pokémon only you can capture.

Start with the stuff you hate doing. Hate bookkeeping? Outsource it. Loathe scheduling meetings? That’s why calendar apps and assistants exist. You’ll feel 20 pounds lighter without even hitting the gym.

Reality Check: Nobody gets a "Founder of the Year" award for being a one-person everything. If Jeff Bezos isn’t packing Amazon boxes himself, you can definitely let go of some tasks.

Step 3: Treat Self-Care Like a KPI

As a founder, you obsess over metrics: ARR, CAC, LTV, you name it. Now it’s time to add a new one: BPS (Burnout Prevention Score).

Here’s how it works:

• Did you sleep more than 5 hours last night? +5 points.

• Ate something other than ramen or takeout? +10 points.

• Exercised without checking Slack mid-plank? +15 points.

• Turned your phone off for an hour? +20 points and a standing ovation.

The Goal: Hit 100 points weekly. Think of it like gamifying self-care—because founders love a good gamification hack, right?

Burnout is a Boss Battle You Can Beat

Burnout feels like the inevitable side effect of chasing your startup dreams. But here’s the truth: it’s not. You’re building a business, not sacrificing yourself to the gods of hustle culture.

Take an hour off. Hand over a few tasks. Make Self-Care a priority. Do these three things, and you’ll find yourself refreshed, recharged, and (dare I say it?) maybe even excited about building your company again.

Now go schedule that hour of nothing. Your startup—and your sanity—will thank you.

Until next time—keep building!

Cheers, 

Steve Walsh 

Founder, Hands On Angel

P.S. Stop stressing over investor meetings—start mastering them! Join The Funding Accelerator and take control of your fundraising journey! 🚀