As your freelance writing business grows, there will come a time when you just need a break. You may enjoy the work you’re doing and are happy to see your bank account grow, but you can’t keep up with a crazy pace forever. Eventually, you will need to take a step back to rest and recharge.

For some freelance B2B writers, taking a break is hard to do. They see it as a failure because the time away from the keyboard means they’re not working towards their goals.

But that’s not true.

You may actually miss your targets and goals precisely because you didn’t take a break. All that hard work can make you sluggish and inefficient, so it becomes more difficult to meet your goals.

A break is just what you need to help sustain you and your freelance B2B writing business. Here are five tips to help recharge when you’re feeling burnt out (and to hopefully, avoid burning out in the future).

Take a mental inventory

It can be hard to notice when you’re burnt out because we’re so focused on our work and our businesses. It’s a bit of a vicious circle; we have to work harder because our creative batteries are nearly depleted, but it takes hard work to do that creative work.

So start your recharging process by doing a mental inventory. Take a step back from your work and make a list of all the situations that cause you to feel stressed, anxious, worried, and frustrated. These can be work or life situations, it doesn’t matter.

Feeling burnt out often happens because of a series of events that leave us feeling overwhelmed, no matter if they are work-related or life-related. The end result is the same: it’s harder for you to do your freelance work.

A mental inventory will help you identify your “stress” triggers so you’ll be in a better position to prevent them or deal with them so they don’t impact you quite so severely in the future.

In my case, I know that I need to get regular exercise, otherwise the mental and physical stress of pounding away at a keyboard starts to get to me and my creative battery is drained more quickly.

Prioritize nourishment

When you run on empty, you feel like you’re working through quicksand. It’s hard to muster the energy to do anything, even though you’ve got deadlines to meet. So you skip meals, eat on the go, and get less sleep.

At this point, nourishment is non-negotiable. That means you’ve got to eat regular meals, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and get some fresh air. All of these things nourish your body and mind in different ways, and are critical to keeping your creative battery fueled.

It also means fueling your heart (or soul or whatever you want to call it). You’ve got to start doing the things that give you joy and make you feel like you. So go on, listen to the music that makes you want to dance or sing, take your dog out for playtime in the park, finish off that art project you’ve let sit in the corner, meditate, or hug your partner or child.

Being nourished at all levels means you’ve accepted the responsibility of staying healthy through all the pressures and priorities in your life. Both now, when you’re recovering, but also when things are going well.

Step away from your work

This might mean an actual vacation where you don’t even look at your computer or answer emails. Or it might mean you take an hour-long walk every other day in the park near your house. Whatever it is, just make sure you take some regular time away from your work.

A change of scenery provides you with a fresh perspective, gets you out of your head, and might even provide you some inspiration for that client project that’s due next week.

If stepping away from your work isn’t possible, consider adding new activities to your schedule to break things up. You could take a new class, learn a new skill, or schedule reading breaks every couple of days to get through the mountain of business books you’ve been gathering. Exploring new opportunities like this can be a springboard for growth and creativity, and give your mind a well-deserved break without breaking the bank.

Just say ‘no’

One reason you may be feeling burnt out is that you’ve taken on too much work. The reason why you did that is not important; the fact is, you did it and now you’re paying the price. So, while you’re recharging, learn to say ‘no’ to any new projects, works, or personal commitments. This way, you’ll be able to finish off the work you have right now and slowly recharge.

Once you’re back to an even keel, keep practicing that skill: say ‘no’ on a regular basis. It’s a skill you have to practice, because as a freelance business owner, you may not want to turn down work, but it can help both you and your business in the long run.

It’s a powerful word that you need to get used to saying. If you need some inspiration, just look at Steve Jobs, Founder of Apple, who famously said, “…I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”

Build some guide rails

Burnout can happen quietly, building slowly till you’re completely buried. By answering a client email on the weekend. Doing an extra 30 minutes of work when you should’ve already knocked off for the day.

While you’re recovering from burnout, it’s important to establish firm guide rails that will prevent you from getting to this same point in the future.

It’s not to say you have to become an inflexible person in the future. Rather, it’s about knowing the things you’re happy to go the extra mile for and the things important enough to you to enforce the boundaries.

For example, working an hour on the weekend to help your favorite client meet a tight deadline or saying no because it’s your niece’s college graduation and you want to attend.

Working hard on your freelance B2B writing business is satisfying. At least, it should be satisfying. There are times when you feel the weight of your business every day and it’s hard to get motivated to do anything.

Since every part of the business relies on you and your creative energy, burnout can be a real detriment. If you don’t have anything left in the tank, you can’t give your best to your clients and your personal life will probably start to suffer too.

Burnout is a common situation for freelancers. Use these five tips to help recharge your creative batteries when you’re feeling burned out, but also to prevent the issue in the future.

What works best for you when you’re running on empty? Do you use one of these tips to get yourself back on track or do you do something else? Share your strategies in the comments.