From Burnout to Bliss: Strategies for Sustainable Success in Startups | Mark MacLeod, CEO Coach

Live and lead with intention - be purposeful about how you show up in every moment and role

Set clear boundaries between different areas of life (work, family, personal time) rather than trying to blend everything

Break the unhealthy “hustle culture” mindset that glorifies constant work and burnout

Practice daily gratitude - write down 3 things you’re grateful for each morning

Remember that intense work periods are temporary chapters, not permanent states - maintain perspective

Stop multitasking - humans can only effectively single-task, rapid task switching drains mental energy

Create specific intentions for major life roles/relationships and revisit them regularly

Take intentional breaks for recovery (meditation, exercise, hobbies) rather than using caffeine/alcohol to push through

Don’t let your inbox control your day - set proactive priorities rather than reactive responses

Make time for self-reflection through practices like journaling, meditation or regular life reviews

Recognize that success without balance and boundaries often leads to burnout and relationship damage

Improve gradually - focus on changing one area at a time rather than trying to fix everything at once