4 healthy habits small business owners should cultivate

That obsession is good for your business, but your health can suffer as a result. People working a 9 to 5 office job have the luxury of scheduled lunches and the ability to step away from their desk at the end of the day. If you’re running your own business, you often have to try that much harder to get that workout in or prep your own meals.

Here are a few easy things you can start doing today to cultivate good, healthy habits while operating your business.

1. Keep tabs on your mental health

This is a big one, but it isn’t talked about as much as your standard ‘apple a day’ health tips. Entrepreneurs deal with a large amount of stress — it’s something that Amy Morin has identified in this article for Forbes. She lists a few of the mental health issues common in business owners:

• Depression

• Self-worth issues

• Anxiety

• Addiction

You can’t run your business properly if your mental state is fraying or you burn out. Remember to pay attention to the little things, and be grateful — science says that’s good for you.

Some people find that guided or transcendental meditation are good ways to refocus mental energy, it might help to build something like that into your schedule.

2. You are what you eat

This is the one you probably hear about the most, but it has a big impact on your day to day. Time is short, but a little bit of preparation goes a long way. As yourself what your ideal daily food intake looks like, and make a plan to achieve that.

3. Give yourself a break

Make sure you have some time to yourself, away from your work life. This is important in order to recharge mentally and physically.

4. Get your heart pumping

Unless you’re a personal trainer or fitness instructor, your job is probably pretty sedentary. To offset that, you should get active on a regular basis.

You don’t have to do intensive marathon training, but you should have some bare minimum exercises built into your daily routine. Looking for something to get you started? Here’s an article that suggests 10 exercises for busy entrepreneurs that require no equipment.

One of the most important things to keep in mind with all five of these items is to be realistic, and don’t get discouraged if you slip up.