Entrepreneur Javier López on Burnout: "Setting Boundaries Is Extremely Complicated; the Mind and Heart Push Forward, but the Body Says Enough"

Burnout is a significant concern for entrepreneurs, with regional data indicating that 6 out of 10 exhibit moderate symptoms and 3 out of 10 suffer from severe psychological distress. The World Health Organization classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon, describing it as an extreme state of exhaustion that surpasses normal tiredness and can result in serious health conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular issues.

Javier López, an entrepreneur, spoke about his personal struggle with the relentless demands of starting a business. "Setting the limit is very complicated," he stated. "You work and work and work, and you don't see it as work, but your body charges you for it. What the mind and heart push forward, at some point the body says enough."

López also reflected on how he initially missed the signs of his own burnout. "You have to be attentive, and at that moment I apparently wasn't paying enough attention to what was happening to me," he admitted. This disconnect, coupled with a loss of passion for his work, ultimately led him to leave his corporate career. "I think that's what made me leave, that the path I was following had no heart for me," he said.

His realization pushed him to take the leap into entrepreneurship and create his own venture. "So I think that's what encouraged me the most to jump into the void at that moment, not being happy with what I was doing. It was a mix of things," said the founder of Goût, a gluten-free restaurant. López, who was a public accountant and worked in the corporate world until age 42, was diagnosed with celiac disease during a period of high stress. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their passions. "If you're passionate about it, I don't know if you'll care so much about the results. If you're not passionate, yes, if things don't go well, you'll say, 'What did I do?' But if the idea, what you sought, what you found truly excites you, even if you fail, you'll be at peace because you did what you love," he added.