Entrepreneurs are people who risk it all to follow their dreams. They see the world and ask, "What next?" They have passion that pushes them beyond their fears to follow through on building a business.

Women entrepreneurs, particularly, want to control their workplace environment and how they utilize their time. But, too often, this desire to control everything leads them to burnout.

As a business and health coach, I experience how quickly women entrepreneurs go from indefatigably, energizer bunnies to overwhelmed, burnt out jellyfish.

I know personally the excitment that comes with launching a business. You start off feeling as though you could scale Mount Kilimanjaro before breakfast and run a marathon before dinner. It's all about the thrill of victory and never considering possible defeat. The entrepreneurial bug generates superwoman strength at the outset. Even when you come across challenges, you are ready to fight them with the intensity of a momma grizzly. Then, just when you believe you have all balls in the air and juggling them like a pro, the unexpected takes place. You become overwhelmed, stressed, depressed, physically and mentally exhausted. You think about throwing in the towel, escaping to a place where all the people and problems in your life could just disappear. YOU ARE EXPERIENCING BURNOUT!

I learned from my own experience of starting a business and attempting to do it all - operating two businesses at a time, nurturing a home and family and taking care of my own health needs - how easy it is to go from feeling like superwoman to turning into a complete mess. Why? My mom's health care needs became my responsibility. I survived and thrived because I practiced self-care.

All it takes to burnout is to put one more ball in the air!

So before this happens to you, what can you do to prevent it:

First, recognize it before it happens:

Everyone has a bad day now and then, but if you start dreading each day and losing interest in what you are doing - burnout is in your future.

Second, prevent it from happening:

Everyone has stressful days and moments of feeling overwhelmed. But when you take care of yourself first with a healthy diet, daily exericse routine and enough rest you'll have the energy to deal with unexpected situations. (selfcare).

Eating a healthy diet doesn't take any more time that an unhealthy diet. It is a matter of choice. Carrying a banana in your purse is as easy as toting a candy bar. Taking a brief walk in the fresh air every day will give you a boost of energy to get more accomplished that spending that time at your desk and not moving your body. And, sleep is the most important business skill any entrepreneur can learn. Without enough rest no one can consistently deliver their best game. Every cell in your body requires rest to rejuvenate itself. The belief that everything will fall apart if you are not plugged-in every minute of every day is really just egotiscally arrogant.

To truly gain the respect and service of your colleagues, employees, friends, peers and family, you must share your vulnerability and ASK FOR HELP when you need it.

As women in business and women entrepreneurs, we want to believe that we can be superwomen. I often encourage my clients to visualize this picture of themselves.

My  definition of a SUPERWOMAN is: a woman who confidently accepts her roles and responsiblities and takes care of herself so that she has the energy and fortitude for the others in her life. Her goal is to leave a lasting impact on the world.