Running a successful business isn't just about finding a lightning-in-a-bottle idea or hiring a great team to surround yourself with; it is also about staying motivated and making sure you don't get too overwhelmed. However, keep in mind that admitting you are overwhelmed is not a sign of weakness, but of great awareness.

It's an ability to step back from a project and say, “I'm overwhelmed and need more help with this project or time to regroup.” As a founder and business owner in ButterflyMXI've learned that how you follow through on that acknowledgment is the key to not letting your crush turn into burnout.

Connected: Overwhelmed? These 10 techniques can help you cope with unpleasant feelings.

Early indications of overload

In order to prevent overload from turning into burnout, you must first be able to detect it. This is difficult because many early indications of being overwhelmed are subtle and can be mistaken for typical stress in the workplace. However, keeping indicators to see if they become stable over time is a good way to become aware of congestion early.

Here are some key indicators that you are overloaded at work:

• Endless feelings of anxiety about projects, meetings, and deadlines.

• You consistently work long hours that significantly disrupt your work-life balance.

• The feeling of a constant decline in job satisfaction regardless of achievements.

• A focus on routine tasks and deadlines used to be exhausting and taxing.

• You feel like you're facing challenges you can't handle instead of challenging your health.

Generally, when your focus at work shifts from the solutions you're finding to the problems you're facing, you're probably reaching a tipping point. So, it is important to deal with this issue before it becomes unmanageable.

What fuels the state of being overwhelmed?

You have decided that you may be overwhelmed, which can very easily turn into burn out In work. What is expected next? Determining what is fueling your overwhelmed feelings can lead you to a solution.

So what fuels the state of being overwhelmed?

There are a number of reasons that someone may become overwhelmed at work. The pressure to grow and move up the corporate ladder, wanting to be a key member of your team, or simply wanting to appease your boss and coworkers are all common reasons people get overwhelmed. Noticing that you've been feeling any or all of these things in relation to the main indicators of overload may mean it's time for you to put in more professional boundaries.

Connected: 7 Tips to Avoid Burnout When Growing a Business

Establishing professional boundaries

When you respond to feeling overwhelmed, you don't need to give up all your responsibilities to avoid burnout. Instead, you can reevaluate your task management style in order to set stronger professional boundaries. When you do, watch how you prioritize projects, delegate tasks, and how you and your team members manage your time. You may think you're doing all of these things well, but until you take a step back and really examine how you manage your tasks, you're unlikely to reduce your frustrations.

But what exactly does setting professional boundaries look like? This varies from professional to professional, but most of the time, it starts with the same few things.

First, map out and clearly communicate when projects are due so you and your team are on the same page about deadlines.

Second, delegate tasks to your direct reports – and let them delegate to their teams. Not only does delegating tasks instantly lighten your workload, it also gives your direct reports the opportunity to challenge themselves by doing a task outside of their comfort zone. Just be sure to check their progress and provide helpful feedback on their work.

Third, set professional boundaries to avoid overwhelm, which involves project prioritization. Got two projects for the same week and don't know which one to start? Consider which project will affect the largest group of people. If one project is a report that needs to be finished before a larger project can move forward, and your other project is a draft that won't be published for days or even weeks, start with the report. And if you ever need to push a deadline back in order to prioritize a more pressing project, let those affected know well ahead of time to avoid surprises.

Connected: 7 Ways to Reduce Stress When You're Overwhelmed and Need to Prioritize

Healing from feeling overwhelmed

After you have faced your feeling of being crushed face to face, you must apply long-term solutions to ensure that the same constant threat of burnout does not harm your future. But how can you do this?

Recognizing areas of imbalance at work is important, but the steps you take to achieve stability are even more important. Maintaining a healthy balance of professional challenges, workloads, and professional relationships is key to becoming a successful long-term worker.

Remember, knowing you feel overwhelmed and taking steps to improve is not an admission of defeat. It is a sign of awareness and dedication to the greater good of your company.