Burnout is a real thing.
Much like writer’s block cripples a professional writer’s career, burnout can have similarly devastating effects on professionals across various industries and fields, including entrepreneurs, knowledge workers, and even healthcare practitioners.
In fact, according to an article published by the Harvard Business Review, a study by Stanford showed that workplace-related stress costs nearly $190 billion and leads to nearly 120,000 deaths annually. The startling results? Burnout costs the global workforce an estimated $1 trillion in lost productivity every year.
The article was written and published in December 2019, approximately three months before the COVID-19 pandemic sent the entire world into upheaval. However, even in our post-pandemic era, it’s safe to say that the costs and fatal results of burnout have only worsened.
But it’s not all bad news. Burnout can be prevented by making small changes to how you spend your time—specifically, where you spend it. I will also share my own story about how I dealt with my most recent case of entrepreneurial burnout and how it completely changed my life.
My Entrepreneurial Burnout Journey
I’ve experienced many moments of entrepreneurial burnout over the years. Of course, every business has its ups and downs; its ebbs and flows. However, there were three occasions when it led to the uprooting of my business and changing the course of my career. But one thing was for certain: I wasn’t happy. I lost the joy, passion, or fulfillment in my work. And that alone was disheartening.
You may recall reading my stories before. In 2020, I uprooted my entire life. I left my cushy, cookie-cutter Cape-style childhood home in Massachusetts and permanently relocated to New Hampshire. Born and raised in the fast-paced, rushed, congested, and conceited culture and lifestyle of Massachusetts, I knew I was stressed and unhappy, but I didn’t realize how much until after I left. You wouldn’t think moving 167 miles north would make a difference, but it did.
Less than three years later, I completely dissolved my business in Massachusetts. I laid off my employees, let go of my remaining clients, sold off my property, and left behind the remnants of my life I had held on to.
I set up a new corporation in New Hampshire and kept only 3-4 clients I consulted with to still make a living, but without all the management, overhead, and headaches. I was instantly much happier.
Then, in Q4 of 2025, it happened again. Each client became emotionally and mentally draining in their own way. I suppose one could argue that that was the life of a consultant, but I wasn’t accepting that. They pushed me beyond my limits, and I had had enough. I wrapped up current projects and contracts, and then, once again, began seeking something new and different.
Nature Helps Us Solve Problems
As I reflect on the times I reached pivotal moments in my life and career, there is one common element: Each time I needed to think—and I mean really think, without any distractions, interruptions, or emotions—it was in nature where I had those epiphanies.
I can recall times sitting atop a mountain, far above the rest of the world, overlooking a beautiful, frozen lake, watching the sun come up, and writing this blog. Or kayaking down a quiet, peaceful, winding river with nothing but the sound of my own thoughts. Stress is far away and down the mountain in the world below to deal with on a different day.
Hiking has allowed me to put things into perspective numerous times; despite how much my body hurt, my muscles screamed in pain, or how hard my heart beat out of my chest.
My most recent hiking adventure was Christmas morning in 2025. On that morning, the sun pushed away the clouds and reflected off the freshly fallen white powder, giving the world a peaceful glow. The views were breathtaking. It was on that adventure that I conceived the idea of developing eight revenue streams. That would allow me to participate in different activities at different times, without relying on a single source of income.
This epiphany was the result of the visual thinking and creative problem-solving exercise I had worked on over coffee earlier that morning. The exercise stirred my thought patterns, and nature brought them to life so I could see them.
The Power of Nature in Your Own Adventure
Getting outside regularly has significantly reduced my stress levels. It has also allowed me to slow down and rethink life, reminding me of my purpose and what truly makes me happy. It also helped me get through one of the most challenging and pivotal points of my career.
And it’s not just me. Many studies show that time in nature can yield numerous cognitive health benefits, including the following:
- Increased focus
- Improved mood
- Improved creativity
- Improved cooperation
- Reduced stress levels
- Reduced risk of mental health disorders
Even a short walk can calm our busy minds and improve brainwave activity. In fact, this is scientifically known as “biophilia”. In short, spending time in nature boosts creativity, reduces stress, and improves brain health. It also gives us an “incubation” period to relax, clear our minds, which also allows us to find solutions to problems in unexpected places.
Ralph Waldo Emerson best described it in “Nature,” one of his famous essays: “To the body and the mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone.”
Leonardo da Vinci was also a believer in “nature’s handwriting”. Nature has a way of communicating with us through its vast use of beautiful shapes, forms, and patterns.
Additionally, according to 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People, author Susan M. Weinschenk, PhD, cites studies showing that pastoral scenes make people happier.
Through this long and arduous journey, I learned to take my own advice: Live simply. Live minimalistically. Trying to do “all of the things” just leads to burnout. As author and business analyst Jill Schlesinger noted in her book, The Great Money Reset, sometimes staying small is better than going big. It all comes down to what brings you the most joy and what you want your lifestyle to be.
Take time to discover what helps you reduce anxiety and stress so you, too, can avoid burnout. Maybe it’s taking control of your schedule and changing when and how you work. For me, it’s taking the time—and giving myself permission—to slow down, get outside, and appreciate my surroundings. I encourage you to do the same.
Even if you aren’t an outdoors person, there’s something to be said about getting out and exploring without an agenda. It could be as simple as walking barefoot through the grass.
If there’s one thing you can take away from this article, it is this: Don’t underestimate the positive power of spending time in nature. Regardless of your journey or adventure or what uphill battles you face, I guarantee the view from the top will be well worth the climb.
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