Healthy You, Healthy Business

Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.

As small business owners, it’s easy to feel anxious or stressed at one time or another. We are juggling many balls – in the business, in our home life, and in our health.

While the demands of a small business never seem to stop, we can make headway in reducing anxiety and stress by being proactive in our health. Most successful business owners know that personal health is a top priority. When you are healthy, you have more energy, focus, and clarity to make smart business decisions.

Let’s look at 3 ways to support your health – and achieve optimal health for yourself and your business.

Eat Smart

We all know that a healthy body deserves healthy fuel. That’s why the key ingredients of healthy nutrition often start with an inventory of current practices.

How are you doing with the 6 core basics of nutrition: Check on your sources and consumption of Proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins, and minerals.

While you may ‘think’ that you’re doing all right, chances are some essential elements could do with a tune-up. Perhaps you’re relying on poor-quality proteins. A simple switch to high-quality, lean chicken or turkey could be an improvement over grabbing a pork taco.

As you do this review, take a close look at vitamins. Many busy professionals let their vitamins fall to the wayside. It seems too time-consuming to investigate single vitamins, evaluate reputable producers, and sort into a pillbox. If you’re short on time and looking for a solution, try out personalized vitamin packs.

These convenient packages take all the time-consuming stress out of vitamin selection. You can even have your packs shipped directly, and set up an automatic subscription. How’s that for a convenient way to support your health goals?

Get Outside

Small business owners are great at strategic thinking. When it comes to funding, we’re all ready to roll up our sleeves and sort out options. We can cite the pros and cons of using angel investors, identify the best small business bank loans, and outline fixed or variable expense items.

But when it comes to being strategic about our health, we often fall short. It seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day. If you ask most personal trainers, they will tell you the number one reason cited for not exercising is, “no time.”

In your heart, you know this isn’t entirely true. You have time to review the balance sheet. You have time to work weekends to prepare a pitch for angel investors.

Perhaps the issue about ‘time’ is related to ‘value.’

If you consider getting out in nature as a top value, essential to sustaining your energy and peace of mind, you’ll make time for this activity. The Japanese practice of Forest Bathing combines breathing fresh air in nature with gentle exercise. It may be just the thing to help you make time to be outside, clear your mind, and rejuvenate your health.

Practice Self Care

You wouldn’t expect your employees to not take a break, eat well, and take care of themselves. Yet, as small business owners, sometimes we are the last on the list.

Practicing self-care may seem too soft or fluffy. Yet, successful entrepreneurs know that they need to take care of their bodies, mind, emotions, and relationships. With self-care practices, you can renew, revitalize, and refresh your energy.

Here are 4 key elements to make self-care part a best practice in your business.

Identifying Strengths

Every person has strengths and personal resources. These strengths have helped you in the past – making decisions, taking risks, and evaluating opportunities. Identify your strengths so you can find ways to use these in your daily work.

Appreciating Emotions

Our emotions affect how we interpret events, perceive situations, and experience our health. By learning more about emotional wellness, it’s possible to cultivate a true sense of balance and calm.

Incremental Learning

Learning self-care is something that happens gradually. Taking small steps towards optimal health is a continuous process to build personal and business health.

Seeking Expert Help

Experts in business, physical, and mental health can help entrepreneurs. You don’t have to ‘go it alone.’ Smart business owners have a team of experts to talk with.

In Conclusion

As a successful small business owner, you understand the value of proactive decisions. That’s why it’s so helpful to: eat smart, get outside, and practice self-care. By making your health a top priority, you’ll have the clarity, energy, and focus to take your business to new heights.

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