Burnout has long been a problem for small business owners who throw themselves into their companies. The struggling economy makes it worse, and the stress of the holiday season can add to the misery.

The signs are clear: exhaustion, irritability, forgetfulness, a feeling of being overwhelmed. Worse, an owner doesn't seem to find much joy in this business that he or she used to be excited about.

Owners who have suffered from burnout learn that it can be alleviated, even prevented. They get more balance in their lives, learn not to carry their burdens by themselves and to take better care of themselves physically. For example: have a social life, build a support system and get some exercise and a good night's sleep.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS

Paying attention to yourself and how you're feeling can help stop burnout early.

"I feel myself getting tired on nights and weekends and that's my cue to step back," said Lyn Mettler, founder of Step Ahead Inc., a Charleston, S.C.-based company that creates and manages social media publicity campaigns.

It's also the point when Mettler starts to take better care of herself. "If I burn out, we're in real trouble."

Avi Karnani and Matt Wallert are on the lookout for burnout not only in themselves, but also in the employees of their New York-based startup advisory firm, Churnless.

"The moment I see people being short-tempered with each other," Wallert said, he knows that burnout has arrived.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF PHYSICALLY

The admonition "a healthy mind in a healthy body" is something small business owners should take to heart.

Simona Paige, who co-owns Gourme Mist, maker of an organic food mister, said exercise, yoga and getting enough sleep have been keys to fighting burnout.

Sleep in particular is something that many entrepreneurs decide they can do without. Paige warned: "If you don't sleep well, you're not going to be able to function well."

Paige said she and her partner, Sherene Costanzo, started burning out about five months ago, when they were both traveling to trade shows while trying to run the Coral Gables, Fla.-based company.

"We were being pulled in a million different directions," Paige said.

Mettler also exercises and watches her diet, especially her blood sugar level. She finds that poor food choices, especially too much sugar, makes her "crash and burn, only to crave more sugar, followed by another crash."

Many owners might think, I just don't have time to worry about all that. But burnout takes away some of the time and energy you need to run your company. Fighting it by taking care of yourself physically can restore that.

TAKE A BREAK _ AND GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME