Health matters for everyone. Taking care of yourself not only gives you a longer life but also a higher quality one. Entrepreneurs, unfortunately, are among the worst at taking care of themselves. Long hours and little leisure time can lead to a range of physical and mental ailments. As a result, 72% of entrepreneurs have mental health issues.
Entrepreneurs don’t often discuss the issues they’re experiencing. They’re so concerned with business that they just don’t have their time. But taking some time away from the office to focus on your health can pay dividends. Here are the main reasons why the best entrepreneurs don’t ignore their health:
You are your most powerful asset
Think about your business’s strongest asset. What may come to mind is company offices, your product, the designs you’ve patented, or even your customers. But all of those things can disappear overnight. They can be replaced if the worst happens. What no entrepreneur can replace is themselves.
If you miss a whole week because you’re stuck in bed, that’s a whole week of productivity lost. This can have huge implications come the end of the year. For this reason, one of your main priorities should be to avoid illness and take care of yourself.
Physical strength influences everything else
Physical fitness directly influences mental fitness. Going to the gym isn’t just for athletes in training. The best entrepreneurs understand that preparing your body physically will help you defend against illnesses and give you more stamina to last the long hours demanded by an entrepreneurial lifestyle.
It isn’t necessary to be able to lift 300kg, but you do need to have a basic level of fitness. This can come as a result of bicep and triceps workouts, squatting with weights across your back, or even just going for a run. The point is to give your body the tools it needs to get rid of illness.
Good health keeps you motivated
Burnout is a real problem for entrepreneurs. They live and breathe their industries. The lack of a 9-5 lifestyle means they never get to switch off. Within a few years, a lot of entrepreneurs battling burnout. Those who lose the battle may quit or see their businesses stagnate.
Healthy entrepreneurs can stay motivated because they’re not constantly thinking about other things. Exercise and eating the right foods can keep the creative juices flowing and prevent stress from building up.
Motivation is important in the long-term because once that initial passion has subsided, many entrepreneurs have trouble attacking their problems with the same zeal.
Depression is a real threat
Studies have shown that depression is the curse of the entrepreneurial world. This is the case for two reasons. First of all, many entrepreneurs allow mental health problems to build up because they don’t want to talk about them. Secondly, most entrepreneurs live off a diet of fast food and don’t performing much exercise.
Depression can be ignored for a while, but sooner or later it will catch up with you. Once it does, it can leave you feeling like you don’t want to get out of bed in the morning.
Depression is the black dog you’re not going to shoo away easily. The best remedy for depression is exercise and healthy eating. Doctors have found that these are the two best ingredients for maintaining your mental health.
How can entrepreneurs stay healthy?
The best way to stay healthy also happens to be the main reason many entrepreneurs don’t stay healthy: time. You have to set aside a certain amount of time during your day to stay healthy; otherwise, it’s impossible to manage. This includes taking time to exercise and making healthy foods to eat at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Entrepreneurs can also benefit from taking some time away from the office in general. The chance to recharge mentally and physically can set you up for the future. The best entrepreneurs know when they need to take some time away from the business.
Staying healthy starts now
To protect your physical and mental health, you should create an action plan right now. Include the changes you can make to your diet and determine what you’re going to do to get the right amount of exercise.
What steps will you take to make sure you stay healthy?