Why Physical and Mental Health for Entrepreneurs Matters

Written by Josh Hirsch Posted on January 13, 2022 In

Woman in an office doing a yoga pose for physical and mental health for entrepreneurs

What’s good for your health is also good for your career success. Here’s why entrepreneurs need to keep their mental and emotional wellness in mind.

Key takeaways:

Both physical and mental health need to be priorities for entrepreneurs.
Focusing on these areas is important because company leaders are vital assets who need to be motivated and physically fit.
To focus more on total wellness, entrepreneurs must exercise regularly, have a better diet, get more sleep, and take time off.

How often do you “burn the midnight oil” at work? Many professionals – and perhaps entrepreneurs especially – often boast about doing this and wear it as a kind of badge of honor. It’s a measure of their personal investment in their companies or missions if they’re spending long hours at the office.

What often doesn’t get talked about, though, is the day after all that oil is burned, including tiredness, lack of concentration, and loss of productivity. There’s also the stress resulting from all of those things, on top of the work that needs to be done. It’s no wonder burnout is common among company leaders!

So, why do entrepreneurs neglect their physical and mental wellbeing? Many would probably say they just don’t have the time, but another factor is playing a major role: They don’t think it’s that important. They’ve got too much on their plates to worry about that stuff.

If this sounds familiar, you’re hurting your health as well as your career. This is because:

You’re too important

You probably can’t imagine being away from your business – physically or virtually – for even a day, but what would happen if you were sick for an extended time? What would happen if you felt so burned out that you had to get away for a while? You – and any company co-leaders – are too instrumental to the success of your business to risk any major disruptions involving health.

Your motivation is being affected

You likely eagerly jumped out of bed every day to get started when you first began your business or initially worked on the concept or idea. If you’re now repeatedly hitting the snooze button, you may be lacking in motivation. Your business will suffer once the zeal and passion you used to have for tackling anything that came your way is gone, too. This may also have a negative effect on those around you.

Your lack of physical exertion is costing you

If most of the movement you do during the day involves refilling your coffee or hitting the vending machine, it’s no wonder you may be feeling sluggish. Regular exercise is very important, and some of the most successful people take the time for a workout – even a brief one – every day. There are physical benefits, of course, but a regular workout offers a whole host of things that are good for you mentally. These include helping you be more focused, fostering self-discipline, and improving self-esteem – all of which can help you better at your job.

You’re putting yourself at risk for depression

Mental health is still treated as something of a taboo subject, and that means entrepreneurs are often reluctant to talk about it. They don’t want to seem weak or vulnerable, especially to their teams. But if they’re suffering and don’t discuss it or look to get help, it can turn into a snowballing problem that may lead to depression. Burning the candle at both ends can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression.

How to prioritize your wellness

In order to concentrate more on your physical and mental wellness, these are the things you should be doing regularly:

Exercising

Physical exercise provides a wealth of advantages for both your body and brain. This doesn’t mean that you need to go get an over-priced gym membership, however. Walking, jogging, or doing yoga before you start working or sprinkled throughout the day can make a big difference with your wellbeing.

Eating better

When you’ve got so much to do, it can be very easy to grab a hotdog or slice of pizza from a nearby spot and quickly scarf it down. That little jolt you experience from junk food doesn’t last long, though, and when it goes, so too will your productivity. This is why it pays to be more mindful with your food and eat things that offer good nutrients – like salads, nuts, and fruit juices – for longer energy.

Getting more sleep

How much sleep do you typically get every night? If you’re waking up tired it might not be enough. Sleep is vital for recharging, both physically and mentally. It may sound counterintuitive, but if you’re trying to solve a problem, don’t stay up late to do it. Just go to sleep. There’s a good chance that your brain will do it for you while you’re catching some Zs.

Taking some time off

Another way to recharge and refresh is to take some time off when you can and not when you have to. Even if it’s just a day or even half a day, removing yourself from the grind does wonders for your mental health. Just make sure that you’re actually away when you’re away. Do things you enjoy doing that have nothing to with your job.

One thing that can have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing is knowing that your business can run without you having to be involved in every aspect of it. The mission of MetaGrowth Ventures is to help companies quickly and efficiently put world-class sales teams in place. We do this by helping you find the right salespeople to help you reach your goals, training them for you, and tracking their progress to ensure they’re constantly hitting your goals.