6 Tips to Be a Healthy Entrepreneur

The first wealth is health.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

We’ve all heard the line “healthy body, healthy mind.” It is true, and it matters even more for entrepreneurs. Building a successful business takes real dedication. You have to be willing to work harder than most people and push your limits. That lifestyle has downsides, and too many founders let their health fall to the bottom of the list.

An entrepreneur’s demanding schedule rarely has a true break, and that can take a serious toll on health. That is why we put together six tips for a healthier entrepreneurial lifestyle. After all:

What good is success if your health will not let you enjoy it?

Sponsored*

1- Make exercise part of your routine

Daily exercise keeps your mind sharp and makes you happier. A positive mindset and outlook are key to success. With all the obstacles and challenges entrepreneurs face every day, any edge is worth taking.

My mentor, Alan Burak, always told me: “Working out in the morning before you head to the office puts you in the right headspace to handle whatever comes your way. It also improves your work-life balance and supports better problem-solving.”

It does not matter whether you train in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Find a time that works, and make it a priority.

2- Eat healthy (obviously!)

Eating well is one of the easiest ways to live a healthier life, and even small changes can make a big difference. For example, cutting out soda and switching to water is one of the fastest ways to lower your sugar intake and support weight loss.

Instead of eating out or ordering lunch, bring a nutritious meal to the office. You can still take a real break, but do it with nutrient-dense food like kale rather than cheeseburgers and fries.

3- Rest matters

My partner and mentor always told me to take about 20 to 30 minutes in the middle of the day to unwind. I did not understand why until I started following his advice. Sometimes I feel so relaxed that I take a 20-minute power nap, and when I wake up I am fully ready for whatever comes next. I also started turning off my phone on weekends. I focus on my hobbies and my family. If a true work emergency comes up and they really need me, the right people know how to reach me.

Running a business is stressful. If you never take time to rest and unplug, you will burn out hard. Many entrepreneurs believe they have to work nonstop and put in exhausting hours. That is partly true, but you also have to know when to step back and recharge. Downtime can be highly productive. Some of my best ideas have come to me on vacation.

4- Routine, routine, routine

If you ask my wife what I say most often, it is this: Stay organized! It frustrates me when people take forever to do something simple, or when they arrive at work and have no idea where to start. I have had employees who only became productive after 11 a.m. because they had no system for organizing their day.

Keeping a regular schedule helps you stay on track and hold yourself accountable. Early in my career I started getting up at 6 a.m. every morning. Now that I have a team and I am strong at delegating, I get up at 8.

When your day is planned and you know exactly what you need to do, you finish tasks faster and close deals more efficiently.

The hardest part is simply starting. It is like going to the gym: after a while your body adapts and those habits become part of your routine.

5- Learn to manage your stress

Stress is almost impossible to avoid as an entrepreneur, but you can manage it. You need to learn how you let it shape your thinking and your decision-making. Stress is not only bad for your personal health. If you let it run the show, it can also hurt your business and your personal life.

Read more about the risks of stress here.

Learn how to reduce stress at work here.

6- Get to sleep already

Who does not love a good night of sleep? With daily stress, responsibilities, and deadlines stacking up, sleep is the reset your body and mind use to recover and prepare for another full day. Multiple studies have found that people who sleep poorly are less responsive and take longer to process their surroundings, an effect similar to being intoxicated. So treat yourself the way you treat your phone when the battery is low: make sure you get at least seven hours a night so you are fully recharged.