Juggling a million projects at once, burning the midnight oil, and traveling nonstop may sound like roads to success. But they're also a recipe for burnout. Once you reach that point, it can be difficult to pull yourself out of a funk. Your health and productivity will suffer, and you'll find it tougher to get jazzed about going to work or coming up with creative ways to market your business. Here are five ways to beat burnout - before it beats you down.

1. Just say no. Whether you're getting tons of requests for consulting or speaking engagements or you're asked to serve in a leadership role with an organization you believe in, women often have a tough time saying no. But, trust me, it can save your sanity! Make a list of your top five business and personal goals, then turn down any requests that won't help you achieve those goals. Staying focused on a few important goals, rather than trying to be all things to all people, is the best way to be effective.

2. Schedule "me" time. Even during hectic times of year, I always make sure to schedule a massage or a girls' night out. Mark it on your calendar and commit to that appointment the same way you would commit to a meeting with a client. You might enjoy relaxing with a celebrity magazine or taking a long, luxurious bath. Whatever your pleasure, taking time for yourself will allow you to return to work refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges.

3. Get a change of scenery. There are times when you don't necessarily need a break from work, but you might benefit from a different environment. Try taking your laptop or other materials to a different location: a coffee shop, coworking space, even a beach if you're lucky! I've been known to do some of my best work in a hotel suite.

4. Prioritize your well-being. When we get busy, we tend to overlook our need for sleep, exercise, and nutritious foods. That's why it's so important not to fall into this trap. Give yourself time for seven to eight hours of sleep each night and make time for exercise and meals. Hire a personal trainer or have healthfully prepared meals delivered to your office if that's what it takes. The extra time and money is a worthwhile investment in your health and future success.

5. Practice delegating. One of the reasons that so many businesswomen suffer from burnout is that they think they have to do everything themselves to make sure that it's done right. Not so. The key is finding competent people and delegating some of your work to them (particularly work that you don't enjoy or that detracts from your main business function). Consider hiring a virtual assistant to handle your schedule, a copywriter to handle your blog and newsletter, and a bookkeeper to run numbers for you. Your business will run more efficiently, and you'll be a lot less frazzled.

Ultimately, the key to beating burnout is listening to your body and its needs. Take breaks when you need to, say no when you need to, and always make your physical and mental health a high priority.

© 2010 Ali International

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Self-made millionaire entrepreneur and Inc. 500-ranked CEO Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. Get her FREE weekly articles and advice at http://www.alibrown.com/

I attended a free seminar with entrepreneur Roger Hamilton last year.  Roger is a successful entrepreneur and highly entertaining and motivational speaker.  He offers a huge amount of useful advice and inspirational guidance to would be entrepreneurs and those wanting to improve their game in any field of business.  He sheds light on understanding the many paths to creating value, wealth and success.

Here is his free Wealth Dynamics e-guide in pdf format.

In the 2009 Spring edition of the Glass Cone magazine published by the Glass Association, Roger Ersser takes a look at Contemporary Glass Sculpture, showing how various artists are using this wonderful medium to enhance gardens and bring dramatic colour, sound, movement and light into outdoor living spaces.

For more information about the Spring Issue 86 of the Glass Cone magazine please go to www.glassassociation.org.uk

Please note fig. 4 in the article should be attributed to Ark Glass.  

In early June we travelled ‘en famille' to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic.  Happily we had been invited to attend the wedding of glass artist Yumi Nozaki to Ladaslav, director of the Czech centre in London.  Having known Yumi for many years while she was studying for her degree in glass at Farnham (UCCA) and beyond, we knew we were in for something special and this was going to be no ordinary wedding.  Part of the preparation was the hire of Rococo style costumes for the ceremony to be held at the Stavovsky Theatre where Mozart performed.  This promised to be a theatrical affair!

We were not disappointed.  A fair size group of the ‘congregation' were transformed into an aristocratic 18^th century audience.  There was much laughter as we donned gowns, wigs and Mozart style paraphernalia in readiness for the big event.  Once suitably attired in our apparel we paraded to the theatre nearby, much to the astonishment of locals and camera clicking tourists.  We were already part of the performance, gentlemen in brocaded long coats and frills, ladies in lace, taffeta and wigs adorned with feathers.

Seated in the Stavovsky Theatre reminiscent of the flamboyant period, the melodrama unfolded like an Operetta with wonderful melodious singers and the resonant sounds of a chamber orchestra conducted on stage.  The stars of the show were of course the bride and groom, a spectacle of Japanese poise and ceremony meets Czech coquetry and frivolity. 

Yumi looked stunning in her beautiful bridal gown and Lada the perfect gentleman in satin brocade.  The audience were touched and overjoyed to see them shining together and there was much applause..... and the Icing on the Cake?  My daughter caught the wedding bouquet!

 Synchronicity

On our flight out to Prague we bumped into renowned studio glass pioneer Peter Layton, founder of London Glassblowing Workshop. We thought he may also be destined for the wedding but he was on a short business trip. So we said goodbye at the airport and went our separate ways.

Fortunately we had an extra full day prior to the wedding to explore the handsome old city and came across a wonderful glass sculpture exhibition named Lhotsky Pelechov. In the Czech lands work with this material has produced unique and inspiring results. Glass has become a material of true sculpture with artists using its potential qualities in a pioneering way e.g. Stanislav Libensky and Javoslava Brychtova.

Zdenek Lhotsky is also an artist who has created unique glass sculpture, reliefs and objects which radiate something special. He has founded his own glass studio that is devoted to the highly demanding discipline of cast glass in Pelechov near Zelezny Brod where glass production has a long tradition. The Pelechov studio has become the focus for a large group of artists from the Czech Republic and other countries around the world.

The exhibition in Prague presented a selection of the most outstanding work from this special and highly creative collaboration. We also saw a film taken at his studio involving his production team in the casting process and were intrigued to find out more.

Co-incidentally we were lucky enough to meet Zdenek at Yumi and Lada’s evening  celebration and he invited us to visit his studio in the country north of Prague. What an unexpected treat! So a couple of days later we hired a car and drove through the Czech countryside to visit Zdenek at the Pelechov studio. He was welcoming and showed us around his workshop and we met his production team. We got to see his and other glass artist’s work in progress plus the inevitable glass graveyard, yes he too has casting failures!

We were very pleased to meet Rebeca Huerta Viga at Pelechov.  Originally trained in Ceramics, I had much admired her curvaceous glass forms at the exhibition.

Whilst talking about the coloured glass he uses he suggested that we go to Radlo about 15 kilometres away to visit Rudolf Banas who makes ‘Banas’ Casting Glass. Driving further out into the countryside we got to the tiny leafy hamlet of Radlo and found to our amazement that Rudi's workshop is part of his home. We were invited into his kitchen and talked with Rudi and his son Patrick about his beautiful coloured casting glass. Of course we couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring some samples back to try. 

Oh....and Peter Layton had beaten us to Pelechov with a glass project in mind.  Mums the word Peter!

Glasszoo were asked to make a monumental glass sail to be exhibited at the prestigious 2008 Chelsea Flower Show.

This was commissioned by Quist for the Hillier Garden, which takes centre stage in the great pavilion. The sail is a modification of the shape that I have been making and exhibiting on and off since 2003 and the design is a development from a private commission created between October 2007 and February 2008.