“Sound mind, sound body.”
In college, this meant maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA and partying as much as possible – all while staying in shape. My experience in a fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) helped me live out this motto. I focused on my studies, and I worked out often to stay in shape (to a certain extent) as a full-time student.
In addition, SigEp was the cornerstone that gave me the vision and desire to run my own company. This is after all the leadership and social skills I gained from living with 56 other guys.
But let’s fast-forward three years after college. I founded Dog Media, which I believe has become a creative powerhouse. However, my physical health has declined since I started working 16-hours a day and stopped hitting the gym. With all this physical inactivity, I gained 10 pounds, partly due to the types of food I’m eating. (Any of my friends would vouch that I used to be a health nut.) All of this got me thinking about my SigEp roots and the struggles that other entrepreneurs face when they’re trying to balance the startup lifestyle with a healthy lifestyle.
Here are five helpful tips to combat the daily grind of working in a startup without compromising your physical or emotional health. Take it from me. These are all mistakes I have made that I am now in the process of correcting.
1. Prep Your Meals
I take advice from a good friend and Doctor of Physical Therapy named Ilya Gluskin, who preps his meals like a mad man. Taking the time to make your meals ahead of time will help you control your portions and ingredients. In effect, this could help you lose weight and save money, too.
2. It’s All About the R & R
My managing partner Brandon Ray says it best: “You should work smarter, not harder.” My retort is always the same: “Work smarter and harder.” To do this, you should always feel fresh and well rested. I easily fall victim to trying to work every minute, every day. If you’ve started your own business before, you may know the feeling. It’s important to take at least one day off a week and make sure you take a vacation when you’re feeling burned out. This is for your sanity.
3. Own Your Mornings
When you run your own company, you need to make sure you’re sharp the moment you walk into the office. What helps here is having a set routine. For myself, I like waking up at least 2 hours ahead before I’m at my desk. I’ll make some coffee and eat breakfast, watch the news, or listen to my favorite show/podcast. Get your brain up and running so that when you get in at 9 a.m., you’re operating at noon speed.
4. Exercise Often
Besides all the great benefits that come with exercising, it’s important to keep your body strong and healthy. If you’re like me, your brain is probably running like a Lamborghini engine right now. It’s absolutely essential that you don’t lose sight of your own health. Spend an hour hitting the gym, playing ball, or doing something to ensure your body will keep up with your mind.
5. Don’t Disappear
As easy as it is to disappear from your circle of friends while your business is growing, it’s essential to make time for them. This is not only beneficial to your social life, but also quite crucial in business to ensure that you stay grounded and get the proper “gut check” every now and then.
Through my college years, SigEp was my support system. I wouldn’t feel right ending this post without a shout out to my fraternity brothers, who have helped me succeed in school and life. Ensuring that you keep a sound mind and a sound body is one of the most essential parts of owning and operating a successful business.
Feel free to comment on this article with any strategies that you might have to complement the five that I’ve laid out here.