What Startup Founders Get Wrong About Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout

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Startup founders — and leaders of all kinds — are burning out at unprecedented rates. Instead of seeking balance, our answer is often to work harder and sacrifice the things we love. The critical question startup leaders should be asking ourselves is: How can we build a rock-solid foundation that allows us to perform at peak levels for the long term and still enjoy a good life?

A recent survey by Sifted found that 49% of startup founders are considering leaving their startups this year — that’s 2024 — due to feeling “overworked, exhausted, and broken.” The survey data revealed that in response to market changes making it more stressful and challenging to be a founder, their reactions have been to cut back on essential activities like exercise, eating well, and spending time with family and friends.

This patterning is exactly what perpetuates the cycle of burnout.

Working harder and longer is a common response to uncertainty and stress; we think that at some point we’ll break through to the other side. I call this “When/Then” thinking. It goes something like this: “When I achieve X (financial results, project completion, etc.), then I will take a break, cut back on hours, or [fill in the blank].”