Unfortunately for Mr. Musk, while these long hours have helped him build successful businesses, they've taken a heavy toll on his health and future projects. This is because working an extra 80 hours a week is not good for many. It leads to poor concentration and an intolerable level of stress.
From a health perspective, he's not a role model for entrepreneurs, and he even admits that. Entrepreneurs should, therefore, pay attention to their health in order to be able to take charge of their business. Working long hours is not impossible; however, those who go down this path need to make up for it with behaviors that promote wellbeing. Here are some behaviors you can practice:
1. Get enough sleep to improve productivity and reduce errors:
Sleep experts recommend that we all get about 7-9 hours of sleep per night to stay out of trouble.
A 2016 Rand study found that lack of sleep causes an average person to lose about 11 days of productivity per year, resulting in a loss of approximately $2,280 in total. As for workers of importance, such as entrepreneurs, this figure is likely to be much higher, given the implications of the decisions they make.
To top it off, lack of sleep may lead entrepreneurs to make more mistakes - posting controversial tweets on Twitter. Studies show that sleep-deprived people are 20-30% more likely to make critical mistakes.
2. Follow a healthy diet to improve the mood and enhance productivity:
Our culture tends to discount the profound impact of what we eat on health and productivity, but global organizations have not lost sight of this. The World Health Organization (WHO) has published research indicating that eating a balanced diet raises productivity levels by about 20%, which is equivalent to working an extra day in the office every week.
The type of food you eat also affects your mood. Researchers in the British Journal of Health Psychology have found evidence that eating more than seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day significantly improved participants' moods and made them feel better to take on the challenges of life.
3. Exercise to boost productivity and strengthen interpersonal relationships:
Top business leaders around the world keep exercising, which should come as no surprise. The data suggest that physical activity has several benefits, including improving mental well-being, general health, and lowering stress.
One study found that the productivity of employees hit 72% higher on the days when they did exercise than when they didn't, and another study concluded that moving your body from time to time instead of sitting around all day long limits wasting your days in vain due to poor performance and strengthens relationships between people.
Brian Jackson of BurstiQ, a health-focused company, says: "Sticking to daily exercise plays an important role in combating the stress of being an entrepreneur."
You can start by joining a gym to encourage your family too because exercise not only makes you healthier, but also happier and more balanced.
4. Reduce stress and improve decision-making:
Entrepreneurs often try to automate their personal lives so that they can devote their energies to their business. However, this approach can lead to unwelcome consequences, including losing focus, high levels of stress, and poor decision-making.
Mindfulness is practiced by everyone, including Steve Jobs and Richard Branson. It has many perks. A study from the University of California found that practicing mindfulness for just two weeks may significantly boost your focus. Another study by the University of Pennsylvania concluded that meditation reduces the likelihood of wasting money and helps increase the clarity of the decision-making process.
Finally, research by Johns Hopkins University indicates that those who practice meditation notice a moderate and significant reduction in their overall stress level.
5. Listen to music to reduce stress and keep your focus:
Listening to music in the office can give our brains a break by reducing stress and anxiety throughout the body. William Alfred, founder of MusicDigi, confirmed that listening to your favorite music can help focus attention on the present moment and help you enjoy what you're doing, no matter how stressful it is. This helps you stay focused, motivated, and generally happy throughout the day.
6. Increase happiness in tough times with social support:
Entrepreneurs can improve their health and businesses by seeking social support when needed because many of the world's top business leaders have a mentor. Research also indicates that people who have close relationships with others, both inside and outside the organization, are lower on stress levels in the workplace and feel happier.
Therefore, focusing on personal health is not optional for entrepreneurs, but an essential tool that allows them to improve their operations and make better decisions, allowing them to play an essential role in their organizations and making the workplace more thriving.
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