When individuals work too hard or push themselves too far physically and/or mentally at work or within a specific area, they are often described as ‘burning out,’ and this can have many knock-on effects. Practicing Self-Care for Jetsetters is essential to maintain energy, focus, and well-being, especially for those constantly on the move or balancing demanding schedules.
Burnout will look different for every individual depending on their unique situation, and often they will require specific advice and care to overcome and be able to return to their responsibilities.
For example, some individuals may develop an addiction as a result of burnout i.e., as a coping mechanism, and this can require serious and long-term care, sometimes requiring special services such as an alcohol detox and/or a specialised rehab programme.
This article will explore burnout, especially in relation to jetsetters and entrepreneurs, as well as how these groups can work to overcome and avoid burnout in the long-term.
What is self-care?
No matter whether you are a jetsetter, an entrepreneur, or anyone else struggling with stress and pressure at work or in your daily life and at risk of burnout, all individuals should be aware of self-care and how it can boost one’s mental health.
One meta study refers to self-care as a way of promoting one’s own health, limiting future illness, and restoring their own health (1).
Self-care refers to practices and activities that individuals partake in as a way to preserve and treat their mental health. Often, these are activities that an individual enjoys participating in, as well as being something that does not require too much of the individual’s effort, energy, or stress.
Self-care will look different for each individual case, again; every individual has their own likes, dislikes, and activities and hobbies that they find relaxing, even if someone else may not find these specific activities relaxing and caring.
Why is balancing one’s mental health important?
Mental health, in the modern world, is now understood to be something that all individuals should be aware of and able to recognise when something is not quite right.
By supporting one’s own mental health, other areas of an individual’s life will also see improvement, including to their physical health, as well. This also works vice versa.
For example, one study found that adolescents who engaged in more physical activity were more likely to see reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety (2), highlighting the clear link between physical and mental health – one that can work both ways.
Additional challenges for jetsetters and entrepreneurs
Everyone in their lives in likely to struggle with some form of mental health issue, but this is not to say that there are some careers, titles, and responsibilities that may come with an increased risk of burnout.
Jetsetters and entrepreneurs, for example, are often at the forefront of mental health interest due to the unique challenges of their jobs and careers that can potentially put them at a higher risk of burnout.
The following subheadings highlight some of the key areas in which jetsetters and entrepreneurs may struggle with, leading to additional risks of burnout and additional stressors.
1. Fast-paced environments
When running one’s own business, or when in charge of a small force of employees, many individuals are faced with quick turnarounds, short deadlines, and little time to do much recreationally.
This can cause immense amounts of stress as an individual takes on the responsibility of making sure that everything (and everyone) runs on time.
2. Organisational skills
Along a similar line, the organisation required to run one’s own business or to be part of a small workforce is also much more of a factor when considering day-to-day responsibilities.
With the added pressure or needing to be on time and keep everyone else doing so can cause a great amount of stress, sometimes leading to burnout if left without treatment and/or attention for a long period of time.
3. Constant attention/worry
In addition to the factors mentioned above, individuals who consider themselves to be jetsetter or entrepreneurs are also likely to be thinking about and working on their business most of the time, leaving little room for other thoughts.
Because of this, self-care may be neglected or not given as much time as it may require, adding to the stress, pressure, and risk of burnout as a result of this.
How can jetsetters and entrepreneurs care for their mental wellbeing?
So, what can jetsetters and entrepreneurs do to care for their mental wellbeing? In general, every individual will require a different treatment programme to engage in self-care and ensure that this is a beneficial use of their time.
In addition, every individual will require different amounts and levels of self-care, meaning that where someone may just require an evening off to watch TV once a week, others may require therapy sessions or daily affirmations and activities to care for themselves.
The remainder of this article will cover some of the key recommendations for engaging in self-care, reducing stress, and therefore overall reducing the risk of burnout in the long-term.
From Burnout to Balance: Self-Care Strategies That Actually Work
Burnout is not a sign of weakness; it is a signal that something needs to change. For jetsetters and entrepreneurs navigating fast-paced environments, constant pressure and little downtime can quietly erode mental wellbeing. Self-care offers a practical path back to balance. Whether that means carving out realistic work schedules, stepping away from screens, or simply protecting time for rest, these small shifts make a meaningful difference. Supporting your mental health is not a luxury reserved for quieter seasons; it is an ongoing practice that keeps you performing at your best without running on empty.
Simple Practices to Protect Your Mental Wellbeing
Mindfulness and meditation are two of the most accessible tools available for reducing stress and restoring clarity. Mindfulness encourages awareness of the present moment without judgment, while meditation takes this further by training the mind to acknowledge emotions without reacting to them. Both can be woven into even the busiest of days with as little as ten minutes of focused practice. For those who find burnout has led to deeper struggles, seeking further support through professional services is always a valid and courageous step. The goal is not perfection but progress, one small act of self-care at a time.
1. Realistic work schedules
Though maintaining and running a business often seems to take precedence over an individual’s other ventures in life, the idea of creating a schedule or a rota that is achievable is something that all individuals should consider – employer and employee.
By creating a schedule that is realistic, time-sensitive, and achievable for the individual, their needs, and their workload, individuals are likely to have a far better experience of their work-to-life balance.
This is something that can be tailored and altered as an individual trials it – no one will create a ‘perfect’ schedule first time, so trial and error will always have to occur.
2. Mindfulness
As a general term, the idea of mindfulness is that individuals become more aware of their surroundings, without reacting to them.
This is beneficial as a practise as it often focusses the mind, brings into attention the small things in life, and generally calms an individual physically and mentally.
For this suggestion, individuals may choose to use techniques such as the 54321 approach in which they identify:
- 5 things they can see
- 4 things that they can feel
- 3 things that they can hear
- 2 things that they can smell
- 1 thing that they can taste
This is done alongside deep breaths, adding to the awareness and mindfulness that the individual is bringing to the situation.
3. Meditation
As a more focussed form of mindfulness, meditation brings into attention that which surrounds us, but combines this with deep breaths and the control of the thoughts and reactions that come forward in the brain during these times.
When meditating, it is important that individuals recognise their emotions and any feelings that may come to the surface but instead of reacting to them, they should instead acknowledge them before bringing their mind back to meditation.
This is something that can take a long time to perfect and no individual should expect to see benefits from this form of support immediately.
Seeking further support for entrepreneurs, burnout, and more
For individuals struggling with burnout, additional stress at work, or any associated issues such as addiction, individuals should contact their local health services to seek support as soon as they are able.
In emergencies, the emergency services should always be contacted.
References
[1] Levin, L.S. and Idler, E.L., 1983. Self-care in health. Annual review of public health, 4(1), pp.181-201.
[2] Bell, S.L., Audrey, S., Gunnell, D., Cooper, A. and Campbell, R., 2019. The relationship between physical activity, mental wellbeing and symptoms of mental health disorder in adolescents: a cohort study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 16(1), p.138.
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