I started going to Orangetheory a few months ago and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience there. The workouts are designed around five heart rate zones, and the goal is to stay in the “orange zone” as you rotate between the treadmill, rowing machine and weights.

In a recent workout, we had a competition on the rowing machine. A friend of mine who is in incredible shape beat everyone by a long shot. However, he went so hard—spending too much time in the “red zone”—that he couldn’t complete the rest of the workout.

He burnt out.

I recently had breakfast with someone who is a great friend, business associate and successful entrepreneur. But his success came with a price. He worked so hard that he now will be taking a year or two off to get his head right.

He burnt out.

These two experiences made me think about how often we experience burnout. Both men pushed too hard and began to shut down physically and mentally, which can affect performance and relationships in the workplace and in the home.

I’ve run several half-marathons, marathons and triathlons. Runners will tell you that to avoid burnout while training and competing in these races, you need to listen to your body.

As entrepreneurs, what are we doing to listen to our bodies and minds? What are the warning signs that we are working too hard—that we are in the “red zone”? How can we avoid burnout?

The answer is that we need to take more time to recover, to recuperate, to recharge. At Orangetheory, the workouts include 30-, 60- and 90-second breaks to recover before moving on to the next part of the routine.

My own professional recovery includes an established morning routine and weekly clarity breaks. I also hold quarterly meetings out of the office both with my team and on my own. (I’ll further detail these offsite meetings in a future post.)

Businessman and best-selling author Stephen R. Covey advocated for physical, social/emotional, mental and spiritual renewal to “Sharpen the Saw.” His principles involve a healthy diet, exercise, rest, meaningful relationships, professional development, hobbies, meditation, prayer and more. 

Dan Sullivan, founder of The Strategic Coach, Inc., also stresses the importance of recharging mentally. He encourages entrepreneurs to take Free Days: full 24-hours breaks with no work-related activities or thoughts.

Your recovery process should be unique to your body and mind. As you take time recuperate, you will avoid burnout and find yourself operating in the optimal "orange zone" with more energy, more creativity and more success.