Don't sacrifice your health for your business

Sidnee Peck, director for the Center for Entrepreneurship, explains how one's health and work should go hand-in-hand — not against one another.

By Sidnee Peck, Director

Center for Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs and business leaders make significant sacrifices; how can we ensure we are not sacrificing our health as we spend so much time on our businesses?

Without good health, you cannot do your job. Therefore, think about weaving together your work and your workout.

Many studies out there demonstrate the value of physical exercise for your lungs, your heart, your brain, your mood, your relationships, your work and the list goes on and on. You need to make good health a priority without feeling like you're slacking off from your business, so consider physical activity an element of your work.

To get started, try some of these:

• Walk and talk. Turn a regular weekly meeting with your partner, assistant or management team into a walking meeting. Walk outside if you can, but if nothing else, stroll around the office. Walking is not only great for your body, but it also can brighten your mood and enhance creativity. Plus, it often makes meetings more efficient. (Worst-case scenario: Hold standing meetings.)
• Stand up. Avoid sitting at your desk for hours at a time, and force yourself to take standing or walking breaks. This is important for both your body and your brain. In fact, a recent study performed by the Draugiem Group found that more frequent breaks improved productivity (52 minutes on, 17-minute breaks, to be exact). This may not be the perfect ratio for you, so explore what is. Open or download a timer on your computer or smartphone, and respect the alarm when it goes off (around every hour or so). You don't have to go for a jog; just walk across the office, grab a glass of water or do a few stretches.
• Schedule exercise. Going to the gym or for a run can often get pushed off the calendar when meeting or event invitations appear. It is easy to justify why you should take a business meeting, instead of making your regular gym visit. However, you should treat your exercise time just as you would a meeting with an important client. Do not take other meetings that interfere.
• Get a buddy. Find someone who is also a business owner and wants to make exercise a priority to create a powerful relationship. When you do not feel like making the time, your buddy can motivate you and vice versa. Plus, you'll usually push yourself a little harder when you have a partner. As a bonus, you can talk shop while you work out and not have to feel guilty about the time you're spending away from your computer.

Overall, it is of paramount importance to remember that our bodies and our brains should be treated with incredible respect. Without them, we cannot be the formidable leaders we are, and then we cheat everyone. Exercise is only part of the trifecta (exercise, sleep and nutrition), and it is valuable and necessary for our effectiveness.

First published in The Arizona Republic, Oct. 13, 2014.