When it comes to running a business successfully, it’s important for you to think about your health. This can be a challenge, of course, because running a business is one of the most stressful and time-consuming activities out there. It’s fun and can be quite freeing to be your own boss, especially when you’re using the best sales promotion methods and killing it on social media. But at the same time, it can have devastating effects on your health. Whether you’re sacrificing sleep, days off, or exercise, you probably often find yourself not feeling as great as you could be. And the fact is that once your health starts to suffer, the health of your business will suffer, too.
For that reason–and for the reason of health itself–it’s important to make time for your health. There are some great strategies for being healthy out there, even when you’re busy with work, so read on to learn more about them.
Get enough sleep
When you’re running your own business, it’s easy to forget to sleep enough. There are late nights spent going over details for the next day’s presentation; there are mornings when you have to wake up early enough to catch a flight to meet with a potential partner. There’s also the toxic culture of being busy all the time that many entrepreneurs fall into, acting “busy” all the time to show how hard they work. But however cool it is to seem busy all the time, it’s going to have disastrous effects on your body and your business if you aren’t sleeping enough.
A third of US adults report that they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep. Chances are, as a business leader, you’re getting even less than that. So use the right strategies to get enough sleep. Set up a bedtime for yourself, and stick to it even on your busiest days. Avoid watching anything on your laptop or phone before going to sleep, and don’t drink either, because this makes it harder to have a restful sleep.
Get your exercise in
Something else you probably think you don’t have time for is exercise. After all, who has time to wake up every morning an hour or more before work, even before the long morning commute? But just because you don’t have time to do that, that isn’t an excuse to leave your health by the wayside. Instead, get creative. For example, start an initiative at work for everyone to count their steps they take every week, with a cash prize. The sense of solidarity will keep you and everyone else motivated. Another option is doing 20-minute bodyweight exercises at the office or using an app like ClassPass so you can exercise even when you’re traveling for work.
Only 23 percent of Americans get enough exercise, which goes to show how anti-exercise our busy culture is. But just because many people don’t make time for it, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. After all, it’s not only good for you but will also give you the energy you need for that early morning meeting with investors.
Watch what you eat – and drink
When you’re a busy entrepreneur, it’s easy to be unhealthy in regards to food. You might end up staying late at the office and ordering pizza or eating too much at a company event where the food is catered by a sponsor. That’s why it’s so important to keep track of what you’re eating when you’re able to. Bring food with you to the office. By checking out this list of quick and healthy recipes, you can cook in large batches and freeze. Even better, start a healthy food initiative in the office so that everyone is healthy, too.
Additionally, watch what you drink. It’s too easy to drink too much, especially after a busy day. But considering that, in England, there were 1.1 million hospital admissions for which the first or secondary diagnosis was alcohol-related. If you find that you’re drinking wine every day after work, or drinking too much on work retreats, it’s time to cut back. The calories are a lot considering that you aren’t consuming anything nutritious, and you might end up relying on alcohol emotionally. If you think the latter might be true, you should think about joining AA or speaking to a therapist about your stress levels.
These are some of the best ways to stay healthy, even when you’re a business leader with many responsibilities. By making time for your health, you’ll end up feeling better and being a more successful business leader. Are there any strategies you use to stay healthy even when you’re busy and overwhelmed?
