Category: Eggu

Is your small business facing burnout?

Posted on by Kat

Burnout among small business owners in the UK has become a pressing concern, with various studies highlighting its rise and impact.

A survey by FreeAgent in May 2023 revealed that 37% of small business owners admitted to experiencing burnout due to increasing demands.

Let’s face it – freelancing or operating a small business in the current UK economic climate has it’s pressures and challenges. But taking healthy steps to maintain resilience is essential for business progression.

So, what contributes to small business burnout?

Extended working hours

Research from Simply Business indicates that one in three (33%) small business owners have faced burnout, working an average of over 46 hours per week. That’s 10 hours more than the UK average, which can ultimately lead to physical and mental exhaustion.

Insufficient leave

Three-quarters (73%) of small business owners take fewer than 20 days off annually. That’s below the UK statutory entitlement of 28 days.

Work-life imbalance

An American Express survey reported that 88% of small business leaders experience work regularly interrupting their personal lives, with over a quarter (27%) facing such interruptions daily.

Impact on mental health

The Mental Health UK survey highlighted that 80% of small business owners experience symptoms of poor mental health, including stress, anxiety, and depression, at least a few times a year.

Girl working from bed at home on laptop

So, what steps can we take to mitigate burnout?

Delegation

Assigning tasks to employees or outsourcing to fellow freelancers can reduce the workload and allow business owners to focus on critical areas. Collaborating and partnering with similar sized businesses can also bring a range of benefits to lighten the load and boost your offering.

Setting boundaries

Establishing clear work hours and ensuring time for personal activities can help maintain a healthier work-life balance. It’s tough when the responsibility is on your shoulders, but productivity will undoubtedly improve by restoring balance in your life.

Regular breaks

Taking regular breaks and ensuring adequate annual leave are essential for mental and physical rejuvenation. If booking a two week holiday might be detrimental to your business, make sure you schedule more long weekends to amp up the down-time.

Seeking support

Engaging with professional networks, mentors, or mental health professionals can provide guidance and emotional support. Talking openly with businesses close to you can also give you great insight to how they might tackle similar challenges.

Man working on laptop from bed at night

Summing up

Addressing burnout is crucial not only for the well-being of small business owners but also for the sustainability and growth of their businesses.

Implementing proactive measures can help mitigate the risks associated with burnout and promote a healthier work environment.

Now, to slightly lighten the mood… check out Dom Joly (AKA creator of Trigger Happy TV) fronting Air Landline’s advert to hilariously play out the tricky challenges of work-life balance.

The power of storytelling in elearning

Posted on by Kat

Storytelling has always been a fundamental part of human communication, helping to engage, inspire, and educate.

In elearning, incorporating storytelling techniques can make learning experiences more immersive and impactful.

But why does storytelling work so well in digital learning?

Increases engagement

Stories captivate learners by creating an emotional connection with the content, making them more likely to stay focused and motivated.

Well-developed characters and relatable situations allow learners to connect emotionally, making training more impactful and fostering a deeper understanding.

Provides context and meaning

Real-world scenarios and characters help learners understand abstract concepts in a relatable way.

By embedding concepts into real-life situations, storytelling helps learners understand how the knowledge applies to their own experiences, making learning more meaningful.

Improves retention

People remember stories better than isolated facts. A well-crafted narrative helps learners retain information more effectively.

Simplifies complex ideas

Storytelling can break down difficult or technical subjects into digestible, relatable narratives, making it easier for learners to grasp challenging concepts.

Encourages critical thinking

Scenario-based storytelling presents challenges or problems that learners must navigate, reinforcing practical application and fostering analytical thinking and decision-making skills.

Find out how to enhance the impact of your digital learning with bespoke storytelling?

Play

Celebrating the power of partnerships in small business

Posted on by Kat

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain the backbone of the UK’s economy, accounting for 99.9% of the business population at the start of 2024.

While traditional, formal partnerships have seen a decline, collaborative efforts among small businesses are on the rise.

These modern partnerships often involve resource sharing, co-marketing initiatives, and joint ventures, enabling SMEs to expand their reach and enhance operational efficiency. This trend reflects a strategic shift towards cooperation, allowing small businesses to remain competitive in a dynamic market.

Partnerships offer a powerful way to drive growth, increase brand visibility, and enhance operational efficiency.

Eggu team meeting

Just like Eggu, here’s why more small businesses are embracing collaborations:

1. Expanding reach and audience growth

Partnering with another business allows both parties to tap into each other’s customer base, increasing brand awareness without the high costs of traditional marketing. This cross-promotion strategy helps small businesses grow faster.

2. Sharing resources and reducing costs

Small businesses often face budget constraints. By collaborating, they can pool resources, share technology, and split marketing expenses, making operations more cost-effective.

3. Enhancing credibility and trust

Collaborations can boost credibility, positioning both businesses as industry leaders and fostering customer confidence.

4. Diversifying offerings

By partnering with a complementary business, small companies can expand their product or service offerings without having to develop them from scratch. In crowded markets, this helps small businesses gain a competitive advantage and stand out.

5. Boosting innovation

Working with another business brings fresh ideas and perspectives, sparking innovation and creative problem-solving.

Celebrating a new partnership

Summing up

As small businesses look for smarter ways to grow, partnerships provide a strategic, low-risk way to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

Eggu are always on the hunt for exciting agencies to partner with on to deliver our clients a blended solution to meet the specific needs or any project requirement.

Looking to collaborate with a digital expert to snag that next contract? Why not get in touch with Eggu to discuss your partnership ideas?

Blue Monday Busters

Posted on by Kat

January’s third Monday, “Blue Monday”, is thought to be the most depressing day of the year.

This might be triggered by gloomy weather, post-Christmas debt, disappointment from not keeping New Year’s resolutions or dissatisfaction about going back to work.

Spoiler alert: None of this is actually true. Obviously, the darkest day of the year would be different for every one of us. Blue Monday is really just a clever PR ploy to sell holidays!

But there is truth in seasonal variations in our mental health. Bodily changes in the winter can also impact our hormones, sleeping, eating habits and even our mood.

So, in light of this trending calendar event, the Eggu team have put together some of the things we find are great to protect our mental health, both in January, and throughout the rest of the year.

Mark flicking through vinyl in a record store
Mark flicking through vinyl in a record store

Mark – For the love of vinyl

Music has the power to evoke joy and create strong associations. Listening to a great album can trigger positive emotions and memories, releasing a dose of dopamine in the brain, which definitely helps me counteract any January blues.

As a graphic designer, I appreciate the artistic and physical aspects of vinyl, as records often come with visually appealing album artwork. Choosing a record, placing it on the turntable, and carefully dropping the needle is always a more satisfying experience compared to just pressing play on Spotify.

For me, streaming is more associated with background listening, whereas vinyl records typically require more effort and attention to play, allowing me to fully engage with the music.

Entering a record store or record fair, rummaging through crates of albums and finding a bargain or rarity evokes happy memories of my childhood which cannot be replicated by any algorithm Amazon tries to produce.

Kat surrounded by sequins
Kat surrounded by sequins

Kat – Just bloody wear it

When I put on an outfit that makes me feel good… it’s like a rush of adrenaline. It gives me armour to tackle my day with confidence and positivity.

Even during lockdown, sat on Zoom after Zoom, pregnant and uncomfortable, there wasn’t a day I did not style a look and slap on some lippy. It seems crazy, but I even insist on a spritz of perfume before every video call. It makes me feel prepared and gives the meeting as much importance to me as if it were face to face.

You might think dopamine dressing always has to be bright colours and sparkle… it often is… but sometimes what you have a craving for might be a bit of grunge, DMs and a dark smokey eye. Whatever the outfit, if it’s captured and coordinated right, it has the mentally stimulating impact I’m looking for.

I’m a confessed shopaholic and huge supporter of independent brands. So much of my wardrobe I used to hold back for those special occasions. Those times we dress up for a social occasion to really feel glam and put together. But why do we lock away these items for fleeting moments each year? We should strive to capture that enthusiasm and self love every day.

In the words of my true fashion icon Dawn O’Porter… just bloody wear it! So I’m gonna!

Luci walking the Scottish hills
Luci walking the Scottish hills

Luci – Climbing the Scottish hills

Putting one foot in front of the other and filling my lungs with fresh air is my go to.

When I feel anxious, or lonely or just a bit flat, I pull on my trainers and get out for a walk. Saying hello to people I pass and smiling gives me that little rush of endorphines. Breathing the fresh air deeply slows down my thoughts and steadies any angst.

Sometimes I get the tunes pumping, sometimes I listen to a podcast, or sometimes I just listen to the world. I always make sure to stop and look around me and take in the beauty – it makes me feel lucky to live where I do, and happy I made the choice to be here.

Amy stretching in the gym
Amy stretching in the gym

Amy – Kicking negative thinking to the curb

Mental health has been one of the most talked about things over the past couple of years and for me it has taken time to find something that can really make a positive impact to my mental health.

Then I found my kind of exercise… Body Combat! As well as really pushing myself and getting the strength and weight loss benefits, the endorphins I get afterwards has really helped boost my mood and get my days started off right with a clearer mind and more motivation.

I’m the better and happier version of me having found this way of boosting my mental health!

REMEMBER: It’s always important to distinguish between temporarily feeling down and experiencing depression or a mental health problem.

If you have concerns for your mental health and are looking to seek help and support, Mind is a great place to start.