Instead of Stressing Over Your Health Just Take Action
As entrepreneurs we often hear about the “grind.” We are frequently told we need to grind, grind, grind and work long hours to be successful in business. It is almost as if this has become an expectation and without these long hours you don’t stand a chance at success. Now this may be true in some cases but it certainly doesn’t mean neglecting your health is a viable solution long term.
Prioritizing Business Over Health is a Recipe for Disaster
It is often said that health is wealth but unfortunately not enough people buy into this. There are many billionaires and tons of millionaires who would gladly trade their entire fortune to have their health back. Working long hours and neglecting your health will only get you so far. The last thing you want to do is build an empire only to give it all back to doctors and hospitals when your health declines. Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in the United States and one out of four deaths is directly related to heart disease. With the pressure and demands we place on ourselves as entrepreneurs, stress is something most entrepreneurs are very familiar with. Combine this with a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits and now you have the perfect storm for heart disease. It is imperative that your health becomes more of a priority.
Non-Negotiable Priorities in Business and Health
All business owners have tasks each day that they must get done. Some business owners even become a bit obsessive about these tasks. Transitioning this mindset over to health is the answer most entrepreneurs need. Creating healthy habits will not only make you feel better but will help you perform at a higher level and give you the ability and energy to scale your business and be successful over the long haul. When we start making our health habits non-negotiable priorities, just like our business tasks or our hygiene, the sky becomes the limit. Most people wouldn’t go a day without performing these crucial business tasks or brushing their teeth or even taking a shower. The key is making fitness, nutrition, sleep and stress management non-negotiable priorities just like these crucial business tasks.
Actionable Steps for Every Entrepreneur
Far too often I see people procrastinate with their health because they are overwhelmed with the process and it doesn’t need to be this way. Many people think they need the perfect plan to get started and this leads to a delay in them taking action. Ultimately it all comes down to identifying one or two things to work on and taking immediate action. An imperfect plan followed consistently will provide much greater results than a perfect plan followed inconsistently. Drinking more water, getting more active and making time for regularly scheduled meals are all great places to start. A common trend is skipping meals and instead relying on soda and energy drinks to power through the day which can turn into a vicious cycle. Stress management is also extremely important and implementing things like consistent meditation or deep breathing can help tremendously. These are all actionable steps to get started immediately. It doesn’t take a drastic overhaul of your health for you to start feeling better. The mental process behind walking three times per week for ten minutes is the exact same as walking five times per week for thirty minutes. It may seem minimal but three walks per week for ten minutes is thirty minutes of exercise you weren’t getting before and every little bit adds up.
In Summary
Every entrepreneur should have big dreams. Building an empire brick by brick and leaving a legacy is something most entrepreneurs want. But sacrificing your health to get there isn’t something you can do for very long. Ultimately you will have to pay the price and that could mean giving up everything you worked for because you chose to neglect your health for too long. Don’t let the “grind” grind you into the ground. Taking immediate action and working toward the healthiest version of you will give you the ability to grow and scale with your business instead of heading down the dark, downward spiral of poor health. We only have one body and it is up to you to leverage your health to build your wealth instead of neglecting your health and giving up any and all wealth.