As a professional health and performance coach who works solely with entrepreneurs, I have seen habits in my healthiest and most successful clients that separate them from the majority of entrepreneurs.
Here are the six mistakes the healthiest entrepreneurs do not make.
#1 Binge Drink
Speaking on behalf of every entrepreneur under the age of thirty, most of us don’t do moderation well.
We binge work. We binge eat. We binge exercise. We binge socialize. We binge. Period.
But, the most damaging activity that the healthiest entrepreneurs avoid is binge drinking.
As entrepreneurs, the most precious resources we have are our time and energy.Excessive alcohol depletes our bodies of nutrients and leaves us with low energy, which leads to the loss of productive work time.
Healthy Entrepreneur Action Item: If you’re going to drink alcohol – moderate your consumption.
#2 Skip meals
You pull your head out of your work for a moment and realize you are absolutely starving. Your first instinct is to grab the fastest and most convenient option, but it’s not the healthiest option.
Most entrepreneurs get caught up working for 6-8 hours straight and so they forget to eat. When this happens, your body sends a signal to your brain to eat something will supply your brain with instant energy. Typically, the fastest and easiest energy fixes are carbohydrates.
These types of carbs are great for quick energy, but they do not help you maintain a healthy body weight.
Irregular eating also prohibits your brain from functioning optimally, so you will not be as effective as you would be eating regularly.
Healthy Entrepreneur Action Item: Eat a healthy meal every 3-4 hours.
#3 Multi task
The fastest way to drain your battery is doing too many things at once. Ultimately you don’t get much productive work accomplished and feel overwhelmed.
Healthy Entrepreneur Action Item: Use the Pomodoro app or a timer to work in twenty-five minute cycles. Work for twenty-five minutes on one task at a time. Then, take a five minute break and repeat. If you want to change tasks, wait until the end of the cycle so you don’t fragment your energy.
#4 Define self- worth by business achievements
The healthiest entrepreneurs understand that their identity is not strictly defined by their achievements in business. They understand they are an individual and their worth is not dictated by their business accomplishments.
Healthy Entrepreneur Action Item: Reflect on all of the things you’re proud of in your life and that make you unique.
#5 Skip on sleep
The fastest way to burn out is by giving up sleep. Though it may be tempting to log a few extra hours working, your performance will suffer. So, swap out the extra hour of work with an extra hour of sleep. You will be much more productive and happy when you do get back to work.
Healthy Entrepreneur Action Item: On average, get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
#6 Binge on stimulants
Absorbing too many stimulants, like caffeine and nicotine, can lead to adrenal fatigue, which can weaken your immune system and drain your energy.
Healthy Entrepreneur Action Item: Try not to consume more than 1-2 cups of coffee. Cut yourself off from stimulants after three in the afternoon.
Try to eliminate at least one of these unhealthy habits and watch as your energy and productivity skyrocket. The more you eliminate – the healthier you will be and the better you will perform.
Founder of entrepreneurfitness.com, Brandon Epstein has the recipe to optimizing your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Image credit: CC by mu523
