The schedule of a business owner can bring about unhealthy habits. Late hours, early mornings. Countless cups of coffee. Idolizing work. Letting priorities slip. Acquiring major stress/anxiety. Eating out because it is convenient. Sitting for most of the day.
We can settle into our daily routines and go through the motions without realizing how unhealthy our lifestyle can truly be. I am not just talking about physical health. It goes beyond working out and ordering salads.
When we become so overly consumed with the day-to-day of our jobs, and we don’t take care of ourselves, our well-being can suffer mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well.
It doesn’t have to be like this, though. You can take control of your health by implementing small, but powerful changes to your routines. Don’t settle for just okay. Be the best you that you can by prioritizing your health. Your body, relationships, family life, business, spiritual life, and friendships will all benefit.
- Get up once an hour. If you are sitting all day, you may notice some neck stiffness, headaches or soreness. Often times when we’re sitting at a desk, we do not sit with the correct posture. Slouching from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is not doing your body any good. Set a reminder to get moving once an hour. Make a quick phone call. Chat with your coworker. Walk outside and stretch. Take the trash out. Anything to get you to stand, take a break and move around. Or consider investing in a standing desk. These are becoming more popular and have many health benefits such as improving your mood/energy and lowering your risk of weight gain.
- Pack your lunch. Eating out, while delicious and convenient, is also pricey and can be more unhealthy than you think. When you order food, you don’t have the ability to know exactly how it’s prepared. The nutritional information in restaurant-style food might shock you. Not only that, but their portion sizes are normally double what your body really needs. Overeating makes you tired and miserable, which is not how you want to feel going into the second half of your workday. It may take some extra preparation the night before or the morning before work, however, you can be happy knowing that you’re eating a healthy, well-portioned, home-prepared meal.
- Have someone to talk to. As a business owner, there is probably a lot on your plate. Running a business is no small task. There are many moving parts that you are responsible for and have to think about throughout the day/week. Consider seeing a counselor or hiring a business coach. This will improve your mental and emotional health. You need to be able to talk out issues and concerns with someone who has experience.
- Maintain healthy relationships. Healthy relationships have a direct impact on your happiness. Relationships are all around us. Friends, family, coworkers, employees, etc. By keeping these relationships healthy, you will have a more positive attitude. And positive attitudes and experiences have a positive influence on your health. Be intentional, laugh, smile, think of others before yourself. If you’re happier, you’ll be healthier.
- Start your day off on the right foot. One saying we probably all hear a lot is, “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” Ask yourself this… are you allowing enough time in the morning to prepare for your day? Our mornings can have a big impact on our health. Make sure you’re getting adequate sleep so that when you wake up, you feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead of you. Eat a hearty, healthy breakfast in order to jump start your metabolism. Spend some time with God, maybe in prayer, in the Word or listening to worship music, and lift up your day and your prayer requests to Him. You may want to get active as working out regularly is important to maintain your health. This doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym. Maybe you walk around your neighborhood or do a 7-minute exercise routine in your living room. No matter what, you want to make good use of your time and prepare yourself for the day mentally, spiritually and emotionally.
Maintaining your health isn’t just for people who have too much time on their hands. Anyone can maintain their health.
As business owners, it is crucial that we care about and work to improve or maintain our health. It will set an example for your employees and it will allow you to be the best version of yourself for your company.
If you’re in need of a business coach, contact [email protected]. We’d love to hear about your business and talk through strategies to help your company succeed, grow and reach its full potential.
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