The life of an entrepreneur is filled with many ups and downs. On the bright side, you get to start a business from scratch and see it succeed, watching as your dreams come true. However, that success often comes with a heap of stress. If you’re out and about, the personal connections you make can help with that stress, but if you work remotely, the isolation can become a serious issue.
So how do you stay engaged and productive with your work while also keeping your mental and physical health in a good place? The key is to practice self-care and engage in a productive work-life balance. Doing so can help you live a healthy life and allow you to watch your business succeed.
Mental Health is the Priority
As an entrepreneur, it’s essential that you keep your brain healthy and your mind sharp so you can grow your business to new heights. Of course, that’s easier said than done when you work alone in an isolated home office. Psychologists are aware of the toll that remote work can take on our mental state. They’ve found that those who work alone without proper coping mechanisms can easily turn to bad habits, from over-eating to obsessing over negative stories in the news, and none of that is good for your wellbeing.
The best-case scenario is to avoid these dangerous thoughts in the first place, and that begins by enforcing a proper work-life balance. When we work at home, it’s easy to get lost in our tasks and sit in the office for 12-14 hours without seeing the light of day. It’s important to never get to that point. Set an ending time for every workday and stick to it. Once done, go outside or spend time with your family — get the rest and relaxation your body requires.
You also need to get enough sleep every night, at least seven to nine hours. When you deprive yourself of sleep, you wake up exhausted and with a lack of focus. Your mattress can have a significant impact on the way you sleep, so if you do not have a great one at the current moment, then you may want to go online and read articles that discuss the ‘Best Mattress Australia 2023’, for example, to ensure you are well-positioned for good sleep. When stress bleeds into your work, the anxiety can continue to stack up until you can’t get through the day without experiencing mental anguish. Go to sleep at the same time every night and avoid screens a half hour before bed.
If you’re having trouble managing the stress, there are many ways that can help. You can start practicing meditation or yoga. If you still feel anxious, talk to family or friends who will understand. If that’s not enough, remember that it’s perfectly normal and accepted by society at large to talk to a professional therapist. You may wish to consider someone like Counselling Kingston, who can help and support you. Whatever you do, don’t let negative feelings fester.
Maintain a Proper Work Space
Even if you feel okay, you may not realize that certain aspects of your office might be causing you harm. Staring at your computer screen for too long can negatively impact your vision and cause painful headaches. Make it a habit to follow the 20-20-20 rule, which has you look away from your computer every 20 minutes at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to keep your eyes fresh and clear.
The way you sit at your desk can also cause unwanted pain. Chairs that are not ergonomically designed can harm your back and even reduce the flow of blood to your legs. Avoid this risk by purchasing an ergonomic chair that supports your spine. Always sit with your back straight and shoulders back. When typing, your arms should be bent at 90-degree angles.
Stay in Shape
Many remote employees forget about proper hydration, but by drinking water, you can prevent headaches, naturally increase your energy levels, and promote weight loss.
Being in an isolated office can make it easy to skip meals so you can get more work done, but starving yourself is not the answer. When you do eat, avoid fast food and eat a balanced diet. Natural energy can be found in many great snacks. Fish, especially salmon, is good for you and are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which improve memory and mental performance. Almonds are probably the best snack food you can eat because they are a great source of the proteins that help you stay healthy.
Finally, it is important to remember to exercise regularly. Just 30 minutes of exercise every weekday morning can keep you fit and put you in the right mind frame for the day ahead. You can run outside, power walk around the neighborhood, or even make your own home workout space. Doing so could be as simple as purchasing free weights or watching exercise videos on YouTube. You can get the additional fitness you need during the day by standing or walking around the house in between meetings and tasks. In addition to staying active, make sure that you also have regular checkups with a physician and a dentist too. If you don’t have a dentist yet, you can check out this one that does dentures, veneers, and dental implants in Lake Jackson.
Entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy, but to help our country thrive, you need to be healthy. Follow the tips above to stay healthy and ready to take on the world.
