“One in two small businesses fail within five years of opening, and research shows that burnout and exhaustion are contributing factors.” – Entrepreneur

If you want to maintain a healthy small business, you need to be a healthy small business owner.  This goes for both mental and physical health.  The demands of owning a business can limit your ability to focus on yourself, however, taking time to take care of yourself will make you a more effective owner.

Sleep

“Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that participants who slept only 4.5 hours a night for one week reported increased levels of anger, stress and sadness.” - Entrepreneur

By now most people understand the affect sleep has on mood and productivity.  The problem is many small business owners choose to ignore these facts.  Getting enough sleep not only affects your mood, it has an impact on cognitive function.  Sleep may be the most important ingredient in leading a healthy lifestyle as well as operating a successful small business.

Proper Diet

“Food has a direct impact on our cognitive performance, which is why a poor decision at lunch can derail an entire afternoon.” – Harvard Business Review

Binge eating and crash diets are a recipe for disaster for small business owners.  Maintaining a balanced diet will help you control your weight, blood pressure, anxiety and stress levels.  All of which will contribute to you being the best version of yourself.  Effective leaders need to think clearly, be confident and maintain a positive self-image.  A proper diet can help you get there.

Daily Exercise

“Regular exercise increases productions of endorphins that give you a natural high and bring about a calmer mindset to get you through the ups and downs of running a business.” – Ryan Battles

A positive mood and mindset are important factors for successful business leaders.  Regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy outlook on both life and business.  Not only will you have more energy and enthusiasm, your team will notice the work you’ve done and be motivated to get healthy themselves.  This can improve productivity and reduce sick days, both of which have a tremendous impact on your bottom line.

Meditation

“Meditation brings clarity and clearer thinking and leads to better business decisions. “It is the cheapest, most portable and most effective tool for improving your business!”” – Kochies Business Builders 

Meditation and the practice of mindfulness will help you keep a positive perspective and allow you to control the thousands of thoughts that go through your mind on a daily basis.  Being able to focus on tasks and complete them in a timely fashion will help you to better manage your time, allowing you the extra hours needed to focus on maintaining a healthy mental and physical state.

Network

“Connecting with others who know exactly what you’re going through is important, and our social connections have as much impact on our long-term health as eating well or quitting smoking.” – Entrepreneur

Surrounding yourself with like-minded people who face the same daily challenges as you is just as important as anything else on this list.  Learning from other’s experiences and sharing stories of both success and failure will help you maintain a healthy mindset.  Taking time out to have a social life and enjoy friends, colleagues and family will keep your from burning out.

If you want to grow and maintain a successful small business, personal growth should be a top priority.  Your business will only go as far as you take it.  Being the best version of yourself will help you to create the best version of your business.

Click Below For More Ways To Grow Your Small Business