Running your own business is great. You don’t have to answer to a moody boss; you do what you love, follow your passion and make a difference in the lives of others. What can be more satisfying and inspiring than that!
But together with these benefits comes an increased responsibility for the success of your business and the realization that you can’t call in sick.
I mean, if you don’t feel well, you can just stay at home (or stay in bed, if you work from home) and cancel all your appointments; but taking time off often means losing a sale, or missing an opportunity to meet a new client or to attend an important event. And that will at the end affect your income.
So, there is no way around it, as entrepreneurs, we have to take care of our health and set our daily health habits in a way that support our immune system and energy levels.
I have put together a list of my favorite health tips for women entrepreneurs. If you start by incorporating at least 2 of these tips into your day, I know you will feel better.
But if you really want to take your health to the next level, I highly recommend you make it a goal to implement all of these strategies into your day. Your body will thank you and so will your business.
1. Drink lots of water.
Water provides a medium for many chemical reactions involved in digestion and other body processes. It participates in energy formation and transports nutrients to cells and the waste products away from them. Our need for water is so obvious that we often take it for granted; however, not drinking enough water may cause fatigue and mental fog. Make it a goal to drink at least 2 litres/64oz/ 8 cups of water every day.
2. Avoid blood sugar roller coaster by eating 3 low-glycemic meals and 2 to 3 low-glycemic snacks a day.
Low-glycemic carbohydrates such as veggies and whole grains combined with good protein will keep your blood sugar stable by slowly releasing glucose into your blood stream. High-glycemic foods such as white bread, white pasta, rice, and potatoes, will spike your blood sugar and cause you to get hungry shortly after you’ve eaten; they will also make you crave more high-glycemic foods. To learn more about low-glycemic vs. high-glycemic foods, check out this article.
3. Eat whole unprocessed foods.
Processed foods are full of preservatives and toxic chemicals that are foreign to our bodies. They are usually high-glycemic as they contain highly refined carbs – white flour, sugar, corn and almost no fiber. Eat raw foods every day. Also eat at least one green salad or drink a fresh smoothie made from green leafy vegetables every day. For example, mix a 1/2 cucumber with 2 handfuls of spinach and an apple in a blender.
4. Take a high-quality multivitamin together with a fish oil supplement.
Even if you eat a super healthy diet 100% of the time – and none of us really do that – you still need to supplement your diet because in our modern world the foods just don’t have all the nutrients we need in the amounts we need them. The USDA surveyed 16,000 Americans and found that not one person obtained 100% of essential nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin E, and zinc. Especially with our busy lifestyles our bodies need even better nutrition to maintain optimal health.
5. Go for a walk in the fresh air every day for at least 30 minutes.
It’s best to do it during the daylight hours. It’s proven that daylight positively influences the production of happy hormones in our brain and it even helps us have a better sleep during the night. Next time you are thinking of drinking one more cup of coffee, go for a walk instead and you will see how the fresh air will energize you.
6. Take the time to exercise.
Put working out into your calendar and treat it as an appointment. Exercise is not only important for your long-term health; it will also make you feel better about yourself, give you energy and reduce stress. Do what works for you – run, dance, swim; find an activity that you like so that you are more likely to stick to it.