Healthy Business Owners Make Healthy Businesses

As a business coach, I mostly talk about running your business and how to make it the best it can be. However, as a life coach, I also believe that part of a healthy business is a healthy owner. Health affects your moods, your abilities and your motivation. As a result, part of making your business better is taking care of yourself. It is a true win-win, health and business success.

“its a true win-win”

Debunking the Excuses

So what's stopping you? Well, let's consider some of the answers I usually get.

“I don’t have time”

Let’s start with the primary question, how much time do you need? The answer is ‘anything’. Anything is better than nothing, so, if you can only find 15 minutes before you go to bed, before you have your first meeting, during your lunch break, that usual time you spend checking your social media, reading the online news or when you walk in the door after work, you do have time! If you think you don’t, tell me there isn’t 15 minutes of your day that you watch tv or you are waiting for your food to cook, making a phone call (multi-tasking bonus!). Don’t have 15 minutes, how about 5 minutes, 3 times in a day?

Sorry I don’t accept it, if you think you haven’t got time, you just haven’t looked hard enough!

You don’t even have to exercise everyday, how about you start with 3 times a week and build on it. 15 minutes, 3 times a week is achievable for anyone.

“I’m not an exercise type of person”
“I don’t want to be sweaty during work”

Sure you might not be an ‘exercise person’ but we are all exercise people in our daily lives. The key is to do an exercise you do already in your daily life. We walk, we climb stairs. These are exercises and they don’t make us sweat (much). The key is to raise your heartrate, pump blood and make the heart work a little harder before or after your sedentary day of work.

How about your commute changes from a 5 minute walk from the subway to work, to a 15 minute walk around an extra block from the subway to work, through a park or you go to get your morning coffee from a coffee shop a little further away than usual.

We’ve all heard, take the stairs instead of the elevator. We’ve all heard it because it's true. Stairs are a great way to increase your heart rate and give your legs a good pump before sitting.

If you are going to do somewhat vigorous exercise and get sweaty perhaps during lunch or before work, just plan in it a place you can get showered at after, local YMCA, corporate gym or if you are really dedicated and have the financial means, have a shower installed in your business. Your employees may also see this as a benefit of working there.

If you don’t enjoy exercise, try and find a sport your enjoy and make it more energetic. Again, something is better than nothing. It may not be as physically demanding as the gym but if you enjoy it, it won’t feel like exercise, it’s less of a chore and you are more likely to stick to it.

Set Goals For Yourself

Just like in business, you need to set goals for yourself. Goals and accountability are an important aspect in life and business and if you have nothing to aspire to, you tend to not push yourself.

You don’t have to go crazy with your goals. The key to achievable goals is to be realistic. If you are time restricted, start small like timing your walk to work. Your new longer route takes you 15 minutes at a relaxed walking pace. In 2 months, aim to reduce that to 12 minutes by walking at a faster pace. Same with the stairs. It takes 5 minutes to walk the stairs, try and shave off a minute in the next month. Add an extra stair climb at lunchtime to get your midday coffee. Eat your lunch outside in a nearby location and walk there.

Is your goal to lose weight? Combine your exercise with a little diet adjustment. Don’t fall into the trap of a food treat to reward yourself for the exercise you are doing. Consider the healthier food options for those business meetings.

Looking for a way to measure your progress? Although weight is a factor in health, it is not always a good indication of improved fitness. A better option may be to buy a smart watch with heart rate monitoring and monitor your resting heart rate. As your fitness improves, your resting heart rate will decrease. You can also periodically get your blood pressure tested. This can be done in many local pharmacies for free with their blood pressure testing machines. Track your progress, your resting heart rate, your blood pressure, your steps. You will soon see how a little exercise can bring you a long way.

Results Take Time

Like in any business, hard work takes time to show a return. Exercise is no different. ‘Slowly but surely’ certainly is the way, especially if you are starting from scratch. Don’t expect dramatic changes right away.

Stick to it with Scheduling

As a business owner, you prioritize your tasks. Exercise should be scheduled into your tasks. Make it part of your daily schedule and prioritize it highly. It should not be the task of least priority in your list or it will become the last thing you do, and the first thing that gets dropped when time becomes rare. Schedule it and don’t change it for anything. Schedule your work around your exercise routine. You can’t buy health, you can only earn it through dedication and determination.

Summary

I am not a fitness trainer, I am someone who realizes the importance of exercise for my clients and myself. If you can afford it, I recommend consulting a fitness instructor and dietician for a full exercise plan to achieve your goals. Look at your schedule, figure out what time you can afford to spend exercising and your goals and take this to your trainer. He/she will make a customized plan that works for you and your schedule. Your heart, your family, your employees and your business will thank you.

Yes, You Do Have Time!

If you need help organizing your healthy work-life balance, contact business and life coach David D’Silva.

Healthy Life, Healthy Business