When running your own business, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of overworking; it can sometimes feel as if there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

However, everyone needs a break, and your mind and body have their own needs.

Unfortunately, not all business owners see it this way, and eventually, long hours a day in and day out will take their toll on your mental and physical health.

In other words, entrepreneurs often treat their bodies badly in exchange for success, by functioning on very little sleep, fuelling their body with bad food just so they can get back to what they were doing.

Living a healthy lifestyle will dramatically improve your achievements both in and outside of work.

Ultimately, if you treat your body well by getting enough sleep, eating properly and staying active, you’ll reward yourself with better focus, more energy and achieve new levels of productivity. 

The key here is consistency, which starts by creating a daily routine.

Here are 3 important factors to include in your daily life to boost your business success and live a healthy lifestyle.

1. Get Enough Sleep

As a business owner, you’re constantly on your feet, making key decisions left, right and centre.

But how can you make the right move if you’re feeling unrefreshed and groggy?

Well, you can’t.

Inevitably, bad sleep is going to ruin your day and so, sleep is critical if you want to effectively lead your business to success.

At the end of the day, you need a clear head to negotiate deals, communicate with your team and produce content in your marketing strategy - running on low sleep means you’re not going to be as productive as you could be.

Therefore, you must maintain a regular sleep schedule; go to bed and wake up at the same time every day - experts recommend at least 8 hours of sleep.

At the same time, what you do before bed is equally as important; try to limit blue light in the evenings from smart devices and avoid working in bed, or you won't associate this space with rest, making it harder to fall asleep.

2. Workout

Once you’ve mastered your sleeping schedule, it’s time to incorporate some physical activity.

Arguably, you have the most energy in the mornings, so aim to get your workout done first thing - plus this way, you can’t use the excuse “I don’t have time”!

It’s been found, working out in the morning will boost your mood, give you more energy and reduce stress levels, as well as helping you feel relaxed despite the busy day ahead.

Research reveals those who work out as part of their daily routine are 50% more productive than those who exercise once in a while.

As such, aim to workout daily - even if it’s just 30 minutes a day and see how your brain feels more stimulated and refreshed.

Just look at Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Group who wakes up at 5 am every morning to exercise, or Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief at Vogue Magazine who plays a 45-minute tennis match at 5:45 am before heading to the office.

Clearly, working out does wonder and puts you in a better position, mentally and physically, to achieve business success.

3. Eat Properly 

I’m sure we can all agree that eating properly has its benefits; you live longer, have more energy and allow us to think more clearly.

However, it’s not just what you eat that matters, it’s how you eat too.

Of course, mornings can be hectic, but you must find time to eat breakfast because missing out on this meal will disrupt your body’s natural flow and cause you to lose concentration throughout the day.

And, it doesn’t have to be complicated either; you could have peanut butter on toast with sliced banana, or eggs and avocados, for example.

If you’re in a hurry, chuck your favourite fruits into a blender and start the day strong with a healthy smoothie after your workout - whatever it is, don’t skip breakfast.

Furthermore, your meal times should be set for each day, for instance, breakfast at 9 am, lunch at 1 pm, dinner at 6 pm and stick to these times.

By doing so, your body stays active during your working hours, keeping your energy levels high and mental focus.

As opposed to missing a meal which can have adverse effects on your body, affecting your mood and daily performance.

Final Words

All in all, sleep, exercise and nutrition are critical to building a business so make health a priority, in order to make better decisions and keep a level head at all times.

Having no routine or structure can be much more draining, so practising these healthy habits is not only a self-investment for yourself, but will pay off in your business too.

To learn more, get in touch with us today.

This blog was produced in collaboration with HR Consultancy Huddersfield: Nectar HR, and written by the team at SEO Agency Leicester: Axies Digital.