This is a collaborative post by SMB Compass with tips to help women in business.
Women are continuing to shatter glass ceilings throughout the business world. In virtually every industry, there are women building and running their own innovative and successful companies. As women continue to carve out their various paths to success in business, it’s imperative that they aren’t neglecting their health in the process.
Remember, the better you are at taking care of yourself – both physically and mentally – the better off your business will be. In this article, we’ve compiled five relatively simple tips for balancing your health and your business.
image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/laughing-businesswoman-working-in-office-with-laptop-3756679/
Create a Routine
Entrepreneurs have to wear many hats, which means they are juggling a lot of different roles and responsibilities as they run their business each and every day. Creating a routine is an effective way to reinforce consistency and manage what can, at times, feel like chaos.
Listen to your body. When do you feel most productive? Is it in the morning? Afternoon? If you’re a parent, perhaps it’s in the evenings once your children have gone to bed. Tailor your routine so you are maximizing your productivity. There is no one routine that will work for everyone. Once you’ve decided what works best for you and your business, do your best to be mindful and stick to it. This is how you will form positive habits.
Manage Stress
It’s no shock that running a business comes with a whole lot of stress. On top of the standard pressures and challenges of managing operations and ensuring the company is performing well, there are dated stereotypes that too many women still have to battle with.
Suffice it to say, failure to address mounting stress can lead to exhaustion and burnout, both of which could have real effects on your mental well-being. Physical symptoms like a consistently increased heart rate, uneasiness, constant fatigue, or anxiety may be an indication that you’re not managing your stress properly. Consider investing in therapy if you’re able. Other relaxation practices like meditation or yoga can also help on a daily basis. It’s also important to take some time off to rest and recuperate every once in a while. This could be a vacation or just a long weekend to unplug and refresh.
Funding can certainly be a cause for stress, so it’s worth noting that there are several grants for women in business that you can apply for. Different grants cater to different needs and business types so do your research to find which ones would best suit you and your business and apply!
Eat Right
In thinking about ways to improve our workplace performance, we rarely think about food. However, what we eat actually plays a big role in our productivity. Why? Food has a direct impact on our cognitive performance as it converts into glucose and provides our brains with the energy needed to stay alert. This is why a failure to eat could lead to struggles concentrating. Or, on the other hand, if you’re consistently eating junky foods that lack nutrition, you’ll feel sluggish and slow.
It’s important that you eat three meals a day to keep your blood sugar consistent and stable. Give yourself enough time in the morning to eat a quality breakfast. This will set the tone for your day. If you skip breakfast, you’re much more likely to make a poor lunch choice as you’ll be doing it on a hungry, empty stomach. With lunch, consider meal prepping at home and bringing it to work with you instead of ordering something in to your office. This allows you to be in control of exactly what you are putting in your body.
With regards to what you eat, you should really avoid processed foods. Not only will this increase energy, but it also decreases your chances of developing gender-related cancers like breast, cervical, and uterine cancers. Focus more on greens, fiber, protein-rich foods, and healthy fats.
Exercise
Exercise is an integral part of developing a healthy lifestyle. Too often we look at exercise as something that has to happen at the gym. This is not true! With countless fitness companies and instructors curating online content, it’s easier than ever to break a sweat from virtually anywhere.
Exercising doesn’t have to mean an hour of running on the treadmill, either. Try different things – like yoga, cycling, Pilates, hiking, dance – whatever interests you. Variety can help to mix things up and prevent your workouts from feeling like a chore. Companies like Peloton offer workout classes that vary in length – some as short as five minutes. Listen to your body and do what you can on a given day.
Fitness classes aside, you can also take small steps to form better habits throughout your day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, going for a walk on your lunch break or breaking a few times a day to stand up and do a lap or two around your office. No matter what you choose, just make the time to move. Your body and your mind will thank you for it.
Get Annual Check-Ups
Lastly, don’t forget to schedule annual check-ups with your doctors – both your primary care physician and OBGYN for routine testing and preventative screenings. No matter how crazy and busy work can get, making these regular appointments must be a priority.
If ever something feels off, like irregular or painful menstrual periods, you should always air on the side of caution and get yourself checked out immediately. Routine tests and doctor’s appointments can detect potentially serious diseases earlier where treatments are still highly effective. The same thing goes for regular dental appointments.
Health is Wealth
Running and growing a business can be one of the most challenging undertakings in an entrepreneurs’ life.
While marketing, growth, and other business strategies will play a significant role in your business’s success, without a healthy body and mind, you won’t be able to meet the full potential that you, and your company, are capable of. Prioritize your health and work to keep your body in its optimum condition.
