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Prevent Founder Burnout

This playbook targets the pattern behind founder burnout: chronic unmanaged work stress combined with disappearing recovery boundaries. It sets a work ceiling, protects one high-value shipping block, preserves a minimum dose of movement, food and sleep, and checks the three WHO burnout dimensions weekly. It supports prevention and early response; it is not a clinical diagnostic tool.

Start here

Do not try to do everything at once. Start with these 3 foundational protocols.

Daily flow

  • Set a Work Ceiling

Protocols in this playbook

Tap a protocol to see the full guide and details.

How I use this playbook

This is deliberately a minimum viable system. During a launch or crisis, protect the smallest set of behaviours that keep high performance from becoming chronic self-neglect.

Notes and safety: Persistent exhaustion, cynicism, sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, substance misuse or declining function require more than productivity tactics. Reduce load and seek qualified medical or mental-health support. In an immediate crisis, contact local emergency or crisis services.