Twelve years of working and ten of running my business, my life has been a rollercoaster ride – and in a good way – well, mostly.
Let me tell you the one time it wasn’t so good.
I was staring at my laptop at 3 AM, trying to finish a pitch deck and a proposal that needed to be sent ASAP. Even though I had created similar documents a thousand times before, this was taking me unrealistic number of hours – and that’s when I realized I hadn’t slept properly in weeks.
I needed an escape – something other than work that I could passionately follow to reignite my energy and creativity.
What saved me wasn’t a fancy productivity tool or a weekend retreat; it was something far simpler: books.
How reading helped me get over my burnout
It may seem far-fetched, but here’s how I went from burnout to bookworm and it ‘worked’:
1. Mental escape from the chaos
Startup life is like an endless to-do list. Just as you’re completing one, you realize there are at least ten more running in tandem. And no, going through each of them obsessively does not work – especially when you’re burnt out.
Reading is what gave me the much-needed mental break. It took me away from these to-do lists, allowing my brain to recharge, reducing the stress and anxiety around building my startup.
2. Learning new perspectives
As a startup founder, learning is continual. While there are several resources I referred to online and offline, books exposed me to even more diverse perspectives and fresh ideas. Whether it was a biography of an entrepreneur or a self-help book on developing a stronger mindset, I found inspiration that helped improve my creativity and problem-solving skills.
3. Personal growth
From time management to emotional intelligence, books have equipped me to become a far more effective leader and decision-maker. And no, I’m not always reading self-help books! Sometimes, they are just stories from other founders.
4. Connection to stories
All those fictional characters and real-life stories reminded me that I wasn’t alone in my struggles. Being a startup founder isn’t as rosy as it seems; knowing that others had faced – and overcome – adversity, gave me the strength to really keep going and build my dream.
5. Improved focus
Reading requires you to set aside time and focus on the words in front of you. It helps you improve your concentration levels and helps train the brain to focus. This counters the scattered mindset that most of us suffer from at the point of burnout or when we’re doomscrolling.
6. Creative rejuvenation
Like I said, I don’t always read business or self-help books. I love reading fiction – especially thrillers, mysteries and other genres. Believe me (and not in the wrong way), this has helped stimulate creativity that comes in handy at my marketing agency.
7. Routine and balance
Setting aside time to read every day has helped me ‘forcefully’ create a routine. While this started with just a few minutes a day, today, it is a calming ritual that has helped me establish work-life boundaries.
8. Reduced screen time
I run a marketing agency for technology products; which means, we’re always in front of screens. Reading physical books or even e-readers have been a blessing to my eyes. They give them the much needed break from constant strain caused by digital screens.
9. Sense of accomplishment
You’re not always going to be able to strike off all the tasks on the to-do – and living with that stress is almost second nature. But finishing a book, even a small one or a couple of pages, gives you a morale boost and a sense of achievement like no other.
10. Knowledge acquisition
Books have helped me learn new skills and strategies to tackle life and the challenges of building a business. As someone who doesn’t like learning through videos and always likes to refer to the good-old text, books have been a savior!
Can books help you overcome burnout?
In my case, they did.
And I’m going to share the ones that really did help me overcome burnout in the most effective ways. So if you’re still hanging around this blog, stay tuned!
