Entrepreneurs know how hard they’ll have to work if they want their start-up to succeed. The business climate is more competitive than ever. The internet has helped democratize the commercial landscape. But it has also opened the floodgates for the rivalry. There is little time for a business owner to sleep, let alone exercise and practice good health to stay healthy.
But being healthy is critical beyond the most obvious reasons (your health!). It can improve performance, keep you alert, sharpen your mind and bolster creativity. Moreover, it can make you happier. For these reasons, entrepreneurs should make their personal well-being a priority. If they don’t, then they risk underperforming their businesses. This article will lay out three simple ways to take care of your health, even when you’re crunched for time.
Manage your time efficiently by creating a task list
Time is the most valuable commodity for an entrepreneur. There just never seems to be enough of it. Though, poor time-management skills can cause us to waste them. That nullifies our ability to do things like going for a jog, practicing yoga, playing sports on a team, or however else we choose to exercise. It also cuts into our sleep.
Create a task list on your smartphone. Then, make your objective to check off what’s on it. That will keep you focused on what’s important. It will eliminate room for dawdling. Personally, I set up my tasks through my Gmail calendar. Each morning, I wake up to about 20 notifications that are emailed to me. They remain at the top of my inbox all day until I’ve completed them. In fact, it’s so frustrating having a cluttered inbox that I’m encouraged to tackle them right away!
Take phone calls while walking
Entrepreneurs often take multiple phone calls each day. For instance, each morning, I wake up to an 8 am call with one of my partners. Every Wednesday at 11 am, I have a scheduled conference call with my team. And then my days are peppered with multiple other phone conversations.
If you have a call scheduled in advance, try to take it while going for a walk. Plugin your headphones because they can block out unwanted noise. Then, hit the road! This is the simplest way to get exercise, burn calories and relieve stress. It’s even better for those who don’t particularly like to exercise because your mind will be preoccupied.
Obviously, one can’t always be outdoors on the phone. Sometimes we need to be in front of the computer. Other times, it’s raining! But those notwithstanding, taking business calls while walking outside can be an effective way to promote good health.
Use mobile apps to promote good nutrition
There are various smartphone apps that can track your caloric intake and ensure that you eat a balanced diet. They can monitor your sodium, potassium, fat, carbohydrate, and protein consumption. Some even measure how much water you’re drinking.
I use My Fitness Pal, but there are plenty of other options to record your nutrition and improve it to stay healthy. Since I frequently go to lunch meetings and after-work drinks, I find it a helpful way to stay on track with my goals. For instance, prior to using the app, I didn’t realize how much salt I was eating each time I dined out. It’s also helped me become more informed about nutrition in general. You can also add unique blends like smoothies to your fitness checklist.
Author Biography:
Alexis Assadi is the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Income Capital Corporation, which serves as a general partner to Pacific Income Limited Partnership. While running his businesses, he strives to maintain a happy, balanced and fruitful life.
