Written by: Tuesday P. Brooks, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Part one of this series discussed habits and how establishing the right ones can help women business owners become more profitable and successful. It examined seven habits related to organization and professionalism. This article explores six additional habits around physical and mental well-being.
It makes sense that taking care of yourself both physically and mentally will naturally improve your ability to run a business, manage employees, and grow your profit. While your business is growing, however, it can be a challenge to make your health a priority. Implementing the suggestions below will thankfully help you do so. Keep reading to learn how incorporating these habits into your life can impact you and your business in profound and positive ways.
Habit 1: You stay hydrated
It can be easy to forget to drink water throughout the day – after all, we’ve got coffee, soda, and other flavored drinks vying for our attention, right? But the research is in, and it’s indisputable. Drinking an adequate amount of water every day is critical to maintaining our health and well-being. From our energy levels to our digestion, heart, body temperature, joints, skin, weight, and more, water affects our health in a myriad of ways.
So we encourage you to drink plenty of water daily! Doing so will improve your mental clarity, concentration, and mood, all of which will help you consistently perform at a high level.
Habit 2: You don’t forget to eat
Sometimes we get so busy we run, run, run all day long, not even stopping for a second to inhale a sandwich. Well, it’s time to break that destructive habit and establish a new one: eating meals and healthy snacks regularly throughout the workday so you remain energized, productive, and mentally sharp. Remember that food is fuel for the body, and you need the nutrition it provides to handle complex tasks and decision-making.
Plus, we all know that skipping meals can make us cranky and irritable, which no one around us appreciates. So, remember to eat a balanced diet, no matter how busy your day is!
Habit 3: You move your body
Everyone’s aware of how important it is to exercise. But not just outside of work. You should also be taking frequent breaks to move your body during the workday. Yes, this means getting up from your desk! Take walks, dance around your office, stretch periodically, whatever it takes.
The payoff has the potential to be big: a reduced risk of health problems, less back and neck pain, improved mental health, higher productivity, better concentration, increased creativity, and the opportunity to socialize with your team during these movement breaks (fostering cohesion and creating a positive work environment). The list of benefits goes on and on.
Habit 4: You listen to music
Another beneficial habit is listening to music as you work. Why? There are lots of reasons. Perhaps most notably when it comes to running a business, music can 1. stimulate creative and innovative thinking, 2. boost your energy and make the work you’re doing feel less tedious, and 3. alter your perception of time, helping the day fly by enjoyably versus dragging by miserably.
Note that some tasks require silence and some folks aren’t big fans of music. Do what works for you. But when you’re looking to be inspired, think outside the box, and/or boost your mood, music might just be the solution you need.
Habit 5: You look away from the screen
Save your eyes! Save your posture! How? By making it a point to get away from your computer screen every half hour. Beyond helping you avoid digital eye strain (blurred vision, headaches, eye dryness), taking breaks from your computer reduces mental fatigue, boosts creativity, cuts down on stress, and helps prevent burnout.
Habit 6: You supplement your nutrition
Finally, consider taking nutritional supplements if needed. While a balanced diet should cover all your nutritional needs, sometimes gaps arise due to dietary restrictions, food preferences, and other lifestyle factors.
Supplements can help fill these gaps, boosting both your cognitive and bone health. When your overall health is good, you can focus on being the impactful leader and boss you want to be. (Do check with your physician before starting anything new.)
While it may seem obvious that you need to take care of your physical and mental well-being before you can properly serve your customers and employees – and grow your business – it’s easy to overlook this when you’re running around every day. Things can get hectic. But by implementing the six habits above, you’ll prioritize your health which will lead to so many good things. Go ahead and give it a try! The next article in this series delves into good and healthy social habits.
Tuesday P. Brooks, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Tuesday P. Brooks, MBA is a business owner, educator, trusted tax & accounting advisor, and fierce champion of small business. Unwaveringly devoted to financial fluency Tuesday’s mission is to accelerate the profitability of financially-sound, women-led companies that employ across the U.S. As such, she works tirelessly helping women founders gain the confidence to take a leap of faith towards growth so they can tap further into their joy of business ownership more easily.
