We’re frequently sitting at our desks all day (and many nights) working. This somewhat shocking infographic stresses the importance of regularly exercising at work. All of the success in the world is meaningless if we aren’t around to enjoy and share it.
What do you need to start delegating so you can get up and get active? Start today for the sake of your business, your family, your friends and yourself! It’s as simple as getting out of your chair…
Over the past few weeks we’ve been sharing insights into how you can maintain a healthy lifestyle as a busy entrepreneur or business owner.
Eating right and managing your time are a great start, but staying active is also key.
We’re often at our desks for hours on end. There are simple ways to stay active with a busy schedule.
Stand up desks
Stand up desks are gaining popularity. If you’re using a laptop, you can simply move it to higher ground. The simple act of standing instead of sitting will keep your blood flowing.
Stretch
Get up and stretch regularly! It will immediately help you feel refreshed and revitalized. Certain yoga and tai chi exercises can even be done right at your desk.
Posture
It’s easy to fall into the habit of slouching while working. To avoid ending up looking like Mr. Burns, it’s important to remember your posture and sit up straight.
Walks
Consider taking a walk during your next break. It will both keep you active and likely provide new inspiration.
“What you are looking for is what is looking.” — St. Francis of Assisi
Maybe it’s time for a time out. In a world of incessant clicking and scrolling, where our attention spans are the equivalent of a colander dish, maybe we should just click off for a while.
We talk about being on the “Internet”, maybe the truth is in the “INNERnet”! Go within, tap into our own brilliance, be our own guru’s, know what to do next by ourselves.
Now, just click here and I’ll share the seven secrets to……..just kidding. And hey, say Hi to yourself for me.
I like quotes that are concise and profound as well as blogs.
Here’s to looking at you, that BRILLIANT you!
Gary
© Gary Evans, DemGen Inc. 2013
Many entrepreneurs feel that a testament to how serious they are about their business is gauged by how many hours they put in.
This is a major misconception. The key to success is working smart, not hard.
Take a step away
Though there are often crunch times that require putting in long hours, doing so on a day-to-day basis is not sustainable. The mind, just like the body, needs rest to rejuvenate.
To put this into perspective, take a moment to think about your greatest business ideas… When did they come to you? Chances are, it wasn’t after a 12-hour day at the computer. More likely it was during a break, where you weren’t officially working – on a walk or in the shower.
Less is often more when it comes to creating brilliant strategies and ideas.
To feel that long hours justify great work is a natural human tendency. We want to do our best and feel time is relative to performance.
Those random strikes of insight that tend to hit when taking a step away, are often the million dollar ideas.
Have a healthy work / life balance
Having a healthy work / life balance will also help to keep you energized and inspired.
Putting in too many work hours can have a very negative effect on quality of life.
Eating ‘fast food’ instead of nutritious meals do nothing for brainpower or energy levels. Here are 5 tips to be a healthy entrepreneur.
Family and friends are often put on the backburner, though the to do list doesn’t have feelings and will still be there tomorrow.
Delegate, delegate, delegate
Let’s face it… We’re willing to put in long hours because we love what we do. It’s easy to get lost in our work.
But surely you don’t love every aspect of your business… There are certain genius abilities and special talents that you’ve always had that led you to do what you do – those should be your primary focus.
There are people in the world that specialize in any task imaginable. If you don’t like doing something, don’t do it – delegate it.
DemGen was created based on the principle that there’s a specialist for every role that loves to complete the tasks you may not be interested in or all that accomplished at.
Give yourself a break
As entrepreneurs, we’re always working in spirit; so don’t be hard on yourself for taking a step away from the office.
These days technology lets you remain connected at almost all times, if you so choose. If there’s an emergency that requires immediate attention, you’ll surely be the first to know.
Make an effort to work smart instead of hard and you’re sure to see great results!
© Tamara Smith, DemGen Inc 2013
Flexible work arrangements have long been attractive to a huge segment of the working population, but it is only within the last several years that companies which provide professional services have noticed the huge exodus of many of their best employees.
Many of their most talented employees, especially women, have switched to other firms who allow them to work from home or have started up their own companies. The decision is based on lifestyle choices, rather than monetary factors, with many of the employees taking a huge loss in net pay compared to what they formerly made.
Those companies who are in the forefront and a model for others, provide the flexible arrangements that are demanded today. The focus is on how well the work is done, not where it’s done. With an aging population comes the decision to lead a more simple life and that life includes time to relax and time to spend with family and friends. The baby boomers in particular are finding that with elderly parents to care for, the 9 to 5 typical work arrangement will no longer do.
Creating new work schedules and arrangements that suit a variety of workers is imperative in the next half decade, particularly in countries like Canada with a labour shortage. Virtual teams provide high-quality services which are more in demand than ever. Social change will eventually drive the demand for such teams even higher. With many virtual employees working part-time or on contract, working fewer hours but still maintaining the required work load, compensation for such employment is also changing. Projects are allotted to employees according to how many hours they wish to work.
Genius abilities are the main ingredients that keep these teams running smoothly. Interested more in lifestyle changes and focusing less on salary, each member of the team is motivated to do their best for shorter periods of time. Intensive work periods combined with collaborative efforts lead to professional, high quality results.
The simpler lifestyle that is driving the virtual workforce won’t work for everyone. There will always be those who have their eye on attaining a monetary prize. For the rest of us, the chance to create a life that is more to our taste and within our own boundaries rather than those of others, is worth far more.
“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” Chinese Proverb
© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc 2013
image courtesy of pondera
1. Focus, focus, focus.
In this day and age, we’re faced with a plethora of distractions at any point in time. Avoid letting others dictate your agenda. You know what you’re supposed to be doing… In the timeless words of Nike, ‘Just do it!’
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Life is never perfect. Often, small issues take on a life of their own, and distract us from the goals at hand. Ensure you’re always moving forward by avoiding investing your energy in small problems that may creep up.
3. Learn how to say NO.
We’re frequently pulled in many different directions in both business and life. It’s impossible for one person to do everything. Understand and protect your genius abilities and what you’re here to do.
4. Appreciate yourself.
It’s not egotistical to regularly celebrate yourself. We all have special talents that can benefit those around us and the world. Recognize and be thankful for the gifts that you’ve been given.
5. Let go of attachments.
The pursuit of ‘things’ can often become a major distraction from what we really want in life. The old adage that you can’t take material possessions with you is true. What legacy do you want to leave?
6. Realize you can’t control everything.
We all love to have a sense of control. Unfortunately, having control over all things is impossible. Life always has surprises. By rolling with the punches, you’ll have less stress and be happier and more productive.
7. Focus on solutions, not complaining.
Unsuspected problems can throw us off of our game. In fact, it’s such problems that often lead to the best discoveries. The next time you’re you run into what appears to be an insurmountable problem, stay focused on finding the solution. You will most likely be pleasantly surprised with what happens.
8. Constant self-improvement.
Life is all about learning – it never ends. There’s always room for improvement. Actively aiming to improve yourself will help you to truly be the best person you can be. As you start to see results through investing your time, you will begin to set grander goals and surprise yourself by all that you realize you’re capable of.
9. Have no fear.
There’s nothing to fear but fear itself. Fear is the most debilitating emotion of all. We developed the fight or flight response to stimuli that posed the threat of pain or danger in ancient times, but we’ve evolved. These days, we aren’t faced with the same dangers as we used to be. The next time you find yourself in a state of fear, ask yourself what’s the worst that can happen?
10. Approach every situation with love.
We aren’t suggesting revisiting the 60/70’s or joining the current new age movement; it’s more about perspective. If you expect the worst, you’ll get the worst. If you choose to see anything life throws at you with a positive attitude and love in your heart, you will always be happy.
11. Believe that anything’s possible.
It is. Never say never. At some point in life, you’ve likely faced what appeared to be an insurmountable obstacle, only for ‘magic’ to happen. Magic happens every day, if you let it. Believe you will achieve your goals and you will.
Being your own boss can take a toll on your health. With long hours and excessive stress, it’s tough to be a healthy entrepreneur.
The following tips will help you to stay focused on your health.
1. Incorporate activity into meetings.
Entrepreneurs often collaborate virtually. A great way to get your blood flowing (and pumping into your brain) is to incorporate activity into your meetings. Stand up and walk around during phone meetings. Skip the unhealthy restaurants and opt for walking meetings. (You’ll also get much more achieved without your mouth full.)
2. Take a step away from your computer.
As entrepreneurs, we are often chained to our desks. Sitting in the same position all day isn’t good for your posture or health. A new trend is stand-up desks. If you’re not ready to commit to standing all day, consider incorporating your own variation if you have a laptop or simply take a walk at some point each day.
3. Eat right.
The old adage is true, “You are what you eat.” It can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet with a busy schedule, but it’s extremely important to eat the right food to fuel your genius. While caffeine will give you a quick fix, healthier foods will provide long-term energy and inspiration. For more specific ideas, check out our blog post The Entrepreneur’s Diet to Increase Health and Brainpower.
4. Stay active.
Exercise is one of the first things to be overlooked with a busy schedule. Staying active doesn’t require 3 hours at the gym. Simply taking a break to stretch or incorporating a simple exercise routine into your day is a great starting point.
5. Manage your stress.
Stress is unavoidable with an entrepreneurial lifestyle and can lead to multiple health problems. Be aware of your limits and remember it’s okay to say NO sometimes. As entrepreneurs, we often try to do it all, which can become unhealthy and eventually unproductive.
Our businesses tend to be heavily intertwined with our lives. Ensuring you keep your health in mind will benefit your business and your life.
© Tamara Smith, DemGen Inc 2013
“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
I keep getting reminders of how thoughts become things. I was attending an event on the weekend with my partner. When we walked inside I quickly found the line to buy tickets and we proceeded to line up.
Yvonne said, “Uh, we have to pay for this event?” I chuckled and said, “Yes, I don’t have comp tickets to this one, and it’s well worth it.” I had no sooner said that than someone came up and asked– do you need two tickets? I said yes. She had two extra tickets! I thanked her by saying I had been doing the same thing the week before while on vacation with extra express passes for events. We had gifted these to others. Voila – instant manifestation and we saved $40, that we later re-invested in products purchased at the event.
So to me the equation is not “I don’t want to pay for things, or that I expect free stuff”, but rather it’s that all good things come to me and that I attract the best outcomes in life. I constantly see this over and over. I see it both personally and professionally every day. Do good things for yourself and others and good things come back. And when I hold a clear holistic vision of my best life and consciously take action towards it, it manifests.
I am constantly thinking about, acting on and just allowing/being a conscious person in my personal and professional life. I wish the same for you ~ it’s a good life.
© Gary Evans, DemGen Inc 2013
An interesting look inside the entrepreneur’s brain.
The entrepreneur’s diet can be key to business success. As entrepreneurs and business owners, we’re often busy and tend to always be on the go. Eating right can be overlooked.
Maintaining a healthy diet, even when things get hectic, will help to keep you healthy, increase brainpower and ensure you’re working at the best of your abilities.
Fruits and Veggies
Fresh, local, organic produce is an easy and fast way to eat healthy. Keep lots of your favorite fruits and vegetables on hand so you’re prepared when hunger strikes.
They are high in various vitamins and can help prevent illness. There’s truth in the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.
“Smart” Foods
Research has proven that adding certain foods to your regimen can increase memory and brainpower.
Blueberries can improve learning capacity and motor skills.
Avocados are almost as good as blueberries for the brain; they contribute to healthy blood flow, lower blood pressure and increase brain function.
Beans are a quick, easy and economical way to boost your energy and brainpower.
Pomegranates offer potent antioxidant benefits, protecting the brain from damage from free radicals. If you don’t have time to wrestle with the fruit’s tiny seeds, go for pomegranate juice (just be aware of the added sugar).
Nuts and seeds improve cognitive abilities. Try walnuts – they can improve memory scores and functions.
Whole grains promote blood flow and cardiovascular health, and a healthy heart means a healthy brain.
Deep-water fish like wild salmon are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids essential to brain function. Sardines and herring contain the same goodness.
Freshly brewed tea provides a caffeine fix, and enhances memory, focus and mood. Tea also has potent antioxidants.
Dark chocolate is the best bet to satisfy your sugar cravings. With powerful antioxidants and natural stimulants (including caffeine), it enhances focus and concentration. Even better, it stimulates the production of endorphins that help improve mood.
Plan Ahead
Keeping your kitchen full of healthy foods ensures you have the energy and brainpower to keep going – even on the busiest day.
Balance
Getting the most benefit from a healthy diet also requires exercise and sleep.
Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. Exercising doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to hit the gym… go for a walk, take a bike ride or do yoga in your office. What you do to exercise isn’t as important as just doing it.
Late nights and early mornings are common for busy entrepreneurs. Getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep per night will leave you rested and ready to take over the world.
How do you stay healthy as an entrepreneur? Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments section!
Tamara Smith
© DemGen Inc. 2013
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