Owner burnout is a business risk, not a feelings problem

When the owner runs out of gas, the business runs out of gas. Treat it like the operational issue it is.

The early signs

You're working more hours and getting less done. You're irritable in conversations you used to handle easily. You're avoiding looking at the numbers. These aren't moods, they're inventory warnings.

The one-week reset

Most owners can take 5-7 days off if they plan two weeks ahead, document the rolling decisions, and tell one person 'you have the conn.' The shops that survive without the owner for a week are the ones that survive long-term.

Build the business so it doesn't depend on your energy

If the shop only runs when you're at 100%, the shop is fragile. Documented processes, a second decision-maker, and customers who trust the team, not just you, are the long-term cure.

Take your version of this question further

This is one operator-tested angle on the question. Your shop, your size, your trade, and your team change the answer. Ask your specific version inside Ask a Shop Owner to get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.