Entrepreneurs are notorious for having unhealthy lifestyles due to busy schedules. Unfortunately, their “fast pace, on the go” life seems to go hand in hand with poor physical and mental choices that are often not intentional.
In his famous book “The Power of Habit,” the American journalist and author Charles Duhigg outlines why having strong habits can influence positive change in our lives. At its core, the book helps the reader come to terms with the fact that achieving any type of success starts with understanding how habits truly work.
In this article, we will look at 5 behaviors that can help you cultivate and maintain healthy habits even with a preoccupied schedule.
The Power of Habit
by Charles Duhigg
⏱ 14 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
Create a Clear Schedule
One thing that most entrepreneurs often overlook is setting crystal clear boundaries. Instead, they get caught up in their work which often overrides everything else.
Certainly, running a business is not easy. But things can be made easier if there are concrete boundaries established between personal and professional development.
Therefore, a great way to focus on your personal health is to create a clear schedule starting right from the time you will sleep to when you desire to begin your day.
Establish a Routine
Consistency fosters habits, and your habits make you who you are. This means that if you want to start your fitness journey, it will not happen simply as a result of planning. Instead, it would be best if you did it regularly.
According to Duhigg, effective change can begin just by creating one good habit. You don’t need to have a luxurious lifestyle in order to live optimally. Something as simple as getting a good night’s rest and having your share of a short workout is enough to get you going.
Plan and Prepare Healthy Meals Ahead of Time
Most busy people end up having unhealthy meals for the sake of saving time. This could largely be avoided if you have nutritious meals prepared ahead of time.
You can also stock up on healthy snacks to grab on the go.
Planning and preparing meals ahead of time fosters healthy dietary habits and promotes the fulfillment of your body’s nutritional needs – all of which ultimately work in tandem to help you be more productive and become a better businessperson.
Kick Bad Habits
As mentioned earlier, your habits make or break you. According to Duhigg, positive habits increase self-discipline, which is a direct precursor to the success of both individuals and organizations.
Therefore, kick bad habits, such as drinking or smoking, to the curb and focus on introducing substitutes in your life that will limit your stress and, consequently, your dependence on addictive behaviors.
Be Aware of Your Limitations
As an entrepreneur, you are expected to work around the clock. However, there should be clear limitations and distinctions between your professional and personal life.
Practice saying “no” to things that are not worth your precious time. It’s important to realize that a proper work-life balance will eventually increase your ability to perform at work, helping you produce better services for your clients and make better business decisions overall.
According to “The Power of Habit,” our work-life balance doesn’t necessarily have to be a 9 to 5 work schedule followed by evenings spent with family and friends. Rather, it should equate to 100% focus on the business at certain times and 100% focus on family, friends, and personal interests during other times.
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