The life of an entrepreneur is stressful, full of stress that the average person never faces; men, learning to de-stress and unwind is vital to your health and relationships.
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Doing a few simple things every day to nourish yourself is easy to do.
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You know you should relax more, your wife is always reminding you. She’s right, but it’s not always easy to do as a busy entrepreneur. Taking the time every day to prepare yourself mentally, to exercise and renew your body, and nourish your relationship with your family, will not only have you producing better business results, but you will be healthier in mind, body, and spirit.
There’s good news! Doing a few simple things every day to nourish yourself is easy to do and doesn’t take a lot of time…and yes, your wife will approve!
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Meditate every morning. Yes, men meditate, and meditation is good for the soul. The quiet, the solitude; starting the day with a peaceful, serene atmosphere will help you gain clarity and renew your spirit, so you’re ready to tackle the day. Meditation doesn’t have to be an hour long process, even five or ten minutes first thing in the morning is enough to have a huge impact on your health and well-being.
Just find a comfortable place, not too comfy or you might fall asleep, and allow your mind to relax. If you’re new to meditation, don’t be intimidated, mediating is a journey, and your journey will improve the more you follow through. The science on meditation indicates that it is just as important as working out.
Which brings us to exercise–essential for your health and de-stressing, workout every morning. When time is short, even a few minutes will get the blood pumping–did you know exercise increases the blood flow to the brain? It also increases testosterone; that’s right–exercise makes you more of a man. Exercise is a great way to stay fit as well as stay sharp and may even give you your next big idea.
After meditating and working out, your body and spirit are ready for what the day may throw at you. Now, it’s time to tackle work! The next step to starting your day stress-free is to have a business meeting with yourself.
A daily business meeting with yourself first thing in the morning means that you will be focused on what is truly important for the day. Block out an hour every morning to just think about your business–no meetings, no calls; just time to think–unrushed. Think about where you are headed, your goals, your accomplishments, your employees, even those problems; this is the time to be focused and concentrate.
If you can’t devote an entire hour to a business meeting, figure out how much time you can spend focused on your business first thing in the morning. Even 15 minutes a day is more time than you’re spending now!
Be sure to schedule breaks throughout the day. As Michael Hyatt says, “If it’s not on the calendar it doesn’t get scheduled.” Putting breaks throughout the day on your calendar ensures that you will take a break to stretch and clear your head, rejuvenating yourself for the next stretch of work.
This one may be the hardest–when you’re home, be home. Be present, put the phone and laptop away and don’t think about work. This may be even harder to do if you work at home. But for your sanity and the health of your relationship with your family, you must give your family the time and attention they deserve. Your wife will thank you!
Constantly checking your phone or answering emails hurts relationships, we know this. Requiring yourself to take time off work and be fully present with your loved ones communicates to them that they are what’s important to you, that all the hard work you do is for them. While it’s not always easy to turn off your business mind, try leaving your laptop and phone at the office.
As an entrepreneur, you’re blazing their trail, seeing and doing business.
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Besides taking time daily to spend with your family, you need to take a day or two away from work as well. Do you even remember what a “real” weekend is like? No business, no deadlines, no rush? If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you probably work at least a little bit every day. Try taking an entire day off and see what that does for you and see how your family reacts.
When you’re ready, take two days off in a row and when you’ve finally mastered that, your family would love to have a “real” vacation.
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As an entrepreneur, you’re blazing their trail, seeing and doing business like it’s never been done before, but sometimes it takes time-tested strategies to keep your mind, body, and spirit healthy. Taking the time every day to nourish yourself and your relationships will ensure that you don’t lose sight of what’s important and that you never sacrifice your health.
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Photo: Flickr/ MorBCN