By Elena Meskhi is a certified accountant and tax adviser, author of Rewire Your Business and founder of accountancy firm, Elena Meskhi & Co.

You’ve grown your business, you’ve spent countless hours working to build a company that is aligned with your goals and passions, but how can you take it to the next level without burning out?

Burn out is a big problem for entrepreneurs. They hit the ground running and take each opportunity to develop and grow a business they dreamed of, but often end up completely overwhelmed, stressed, and have no time for their loved ones. How can you get to a stage in business that allows you to push on to the next level, without reaching this stressful point?

There are some essential steps you can take to prevent burnout, so you can spend your valuable time working on the business you love, without feeling negatively towards it.

1. Create your vision

How does it look when you reach the next level? Create a film in your head about what life might look like. Put yourself in that film. How do you feel? Having a vision for your goals is really important to keep you motivated and determined.  And it helps you to work back from that vision to create the steps needed to achieve it.

2. Set boundaries

Light bulb moments only come when you are relaxed and content. Give yourself regular opportunities to unwind, dream, and recuperate.  It is during these moments of relaxation that you will have moments of inspiration. Ensure you set boundaries to your working life, to your team, and to yourself, and stick to them to make sure you’re not working 100% of the time. Give yourself the opportunity to have periods of self-development or simple relaxation that you enjoy – without this, you will burnout quickly.

3. Stop doing the operational stuff

As a leader, you need to learn the skill of delegation – it really is an art, but an art that can transform your whole mindset! There are people you can bring into your life that can do tasks better, faster, and with more passion than you can. This doesn’t mean you are not good at what you do, in fact, it is the opposite – it means you are becoming a great leader who can see the bigger picture.

Consider the tasks that are taking up the most time and space within your mind, how can you delegate these? This will free up time for you and will encourage you to develop your business in line with your vision for the future.

4. Know your values

What made you want to start your business? For many, it’s because their core values drive them to build a business that rings true to these values. Alongside your business values, you should consider your personal values too – what is important to you? Perhaps it’s relationships, the environment, money – when we know our values for our business and for our personal lives, we will start to attract others with similar values. When your values are confused and unidentified your business won’t thrive. Take your time to establish your business values and stick to them.

5. Enjoy the journey

Ultimately, we are creating a business that will last a lifetime – or until we want to sell it. You should enjoy the process! You started the business for several reasons, and I am sure they are not solely to just make more money. Running a business can be an enjoyable and truly rewarding experience, so once you know where you are going and who you wish to take on this journey with you, remember to have fun along the way.

Burnout is avoidable.  Protect your time, focus on your priorities and take time out of the business to relax.  It takes a conscious effort but if you can get the hang of it, you will reduce your stress levels and be a better leader for it.