The Entrepreneurβs Guide to Balancing Health with a Hectic Schedule
Jan 13, 2024Today I’m going to help you to give your health a prominent place in your busy schedule.
Starting anything new can be overwhelming. Especially if you have a busy schedule. You’re short on time and spending it on anything other than your business can seem like a distraction.
I coached many entrepreneurs who thought the same. Until they found out how easy it was to create a health-centered life. When they experience the benefits of a health-centered life it becomes a non-negotiable really quickly.
This guide will make it extremely easy for you to invest time in your health, without hesitation or regret. Stop reading immediately if you are not interested in the highest ROI you can possibly earn with time.
If you struggle to make health a priority in your life (even though you know better), this guid is for you.
Health is more than the absent of disease.
Health isn’t just the absent of illness or disease. Health is the foundation of your day-to-day performance and wellbeing.
A true healthy life is one where you thrive, not merely survive.
When I talk about health, I refer to a body that’s in amazing shape; strong, lean, fit, sharp and energetic.
Having a healthy body is essential for:
- Maximizing your use of time.
- Maintaining sharp mental focus.
- Achieving maximum productivity.
- Sustaining high energy levels.
- Building resilience against stress.
I don’t have to tell you that these abilities are all essential as an entrepreneur.
The moment your health starts to suffer, so will you abilities and performance.
This is often a slow and unnoticed process.
It’s a trap that many people fall for.
But not you. Not anymore. You’re going to make health a top.
So let’s get to work. Follow these steps and start optimizing your health today.
Time & Health Paradox.
— Bart Jessen (@Bart_Jessen) January 3, 2024
You have to invest now or pay later.
Invest time in health now, gain time later.
Save time neglecting health now, lose time later.
If you want more time, invest in your health.
Step #1: Health choices
There are many things you can do to improve your health. The most important things most people lack is physical activity and a healthy diet.
It’s vital to define which of those two areas you lack.
Do you need to start going to the gym? Do you need to improve your diet?
Maybe you need help doing that. On way or another, you have to decide what health choices you have to start making. To make this easier for you, here’s a list of health choices that will improve your overall health:
β Walk for 30 minutes a day
β Take the bike to work (instead of the car)
β Do strength training 3 times per week
β Cut back alcohol intake to 2-3 units per week
β Drink 3 liters of water per day
β Regular sleep times: set evening + morning alarm
β Stand and walk for 5 minutes every hour spent behind a desk
β Choose 1-3 items that make the most impact at this moment. You don’t have to start big. Smal but consistent changes, can lead to big results over time.
Step #2: Confront your best thinking
“I don’t have time to exercise”
Is the biggest lie entrepreneurs tell themselves.
Let’s be honest, we all have the same amount of time. The only difference is how we spend that time. Now ask yourself this:
Can I be truly successful if I trade my health for my ambitions?
Of course you can’t. What does any amount of wealth mean without your health?
Success becomes invaluable really quick when you lose your health.
The “I don’t have time” excuse is just one example, but it’s the most common and limiting one.
There are many more examples of limiting beliefs that withhold people from investing time in their health.
Your best thinking has gotten you where you are today. I lead you to wanted outcomes and to unwanted outcomes. If your current belief system stands in your way to achieve great health, you have to confront it.
Confront it today:
β Make a list of everything you prioritize over working on your health.
β Cross out anything that isn't really that important
Losing health is a slow process.
— Bart Jessen (@Bart_Jessen) January 9, 2024
You don’t notice it until you do.
When you do, reality hits you hard.
Suddenly health becomes top priority.
Now you want to regain your health ASAP.
You’ll find out quickly what damage you’ve done.
Don’t fall for this trap → Prioritize…
Step #3: Set health priorities
Time isn’t the problem, it’s your priorities.
If you say “I can’t find the time to exercise”, you actually say that exercise isn’t a priority.
You can never find more time, but you can free some time in your schedule. You identified what health choices you are going to start making. To make sure nothing stands in your way, you have to make those activities a priority.
β Make a list of the 10 most important tasks/ goals.
β Rank that list on importance
β Put the health choices at the top of your list
β If necessary, cut some items on the list that aren’t that important, but cost unnecessary time.
Step #4: Make a promise to yourself
It’s not hard to say that you’re going to improve your health. Everyone can make an action list or even a a well-considered plan. The hard part is the consistent execution.
There’s a reason why you didn’t do those activities in the first place. From experience I can guarantee that at the first setback, you will automatically fall back on your old behavior.
Not because you’re a bad person, a lack of willpower or you just can’t stick with things. Just because we’re wired to look for comfort in stressful situations. The easiest choice is to do what you’ve always done.
The good news is, you can prevent that scenario. Simply by making a honest promise to yourself.
β Make a genuine promise to yourself that you continue to make the chosen health choices, no matter what happens. Even in high-pressure situations.
β Bonus: Express the promise you made to yourself to your partner. Ask if he/she holds you accountable for the agreements you have made.
β Extra Bonus: Offer something in return if you break your promise. Something uncomfortable that gives you extra drive to stay consistent.
Summary
In this guide, we’ve walked through essential steps for entrepreneurs to balance health with a busy schedule. We started by understanding the importance of health beyond the absence of disease, recognizing it as a foundation for peak performance and wellbeing. We then moved on to practical steps: making informed health choices, confronting limiting beliefs, setting health priorities, and finally, making a personal commitment to health.
This guide isn’t just theoretical advice; it’s a practical roadmap to elevate your health to the level your entrepreneurial life demands. Each step is designed to fit into the hectic schedule of a busy professional, ensuring that health becomes a seamless part of your lifestyle.
Health is a non-negotiable
Remember, as an entrepreneur, your health is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s the bedrock upon which your personal and professional success is built. Ignoring it can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and even health crises. Taking action on these steps is not just about improving your fitness; it’s about safeguarding your most valuable asset - your health.
Execute
Don’t let your health goals turn into wishes, hopes and dreams.
Make them a reality.
Start implementing these steps today and feel free to share your progress or ask questions.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with fellow entrepreneurs who might benefit from it. If you need help, I’m here. Let’s connect on π or LinkedIn and send me a DM with your challenges.
Remember, your journey to a healthier, more balanced life starts with a single step. Take that step today.
