Starting a business of your own is never easy. If you are a small business owner who has just begun to immerse yourself into the rigorous business life, then you know how busy work can be. 

A recent study shows that entrepreneurs and small business owners between the age group of 20 to 60 years suffer from stress and anxiety due to financial cash flows, fear of failure and disagreements. This is irrespective of their age and number of years in business. Majority of the respondents (40%) were in the age group of 40-50 years, while 34% were in the 20-40 years age group. 

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The study also noted that these entrepreneurs are more likely to use personal coping strategies like sports or joining entrepreneurial peer groups to maintain their physical and mental well-being rather than seek professional help. The top four coping mechanisms mentioned by the participants were exercising, sharing with family and friends, accessing peer groups and pursuing a hobby. 

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Offering health tips for small business owners is the need of the hour. Being healthy and fit should not be a short-term fad or trend, it should be considered as a lifestyle. After all, it will only help you live a better professional and personal life. The fitter you are, the better you will be able to perform at work and this in turn will help in making your small business a success. 

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To help you attain your best health, here are some vital health tips for small business owners:-

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Make sure to get enough sleep 

How many hours do entrepreneurs sleep? Not many. But this is far from ideal because less sleep leads to lesser productivity at work and we’re sure you must have experienced this at least more than once. Small business owners might think that this is easier said than done but according to various reports, getting a seven to eight hour sleep gives clarity and hence has been proven to be more effective for managing all the business tasks.  

Consume a well-balanced diet 

If you don’t fuel yourself properly, you’re not going to function properly. With all the healthy food options available nowadays, you don’t have to worry about getting the right kind of nutrition. A well-balanced diet consists of equal amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. No matter how much workload you have, take out the time to eat a healthy lunch, preferably a home-cooked one.  

Me-time is Important 

In between the hustle of running a business, you tend to forget looking after yourself. You spend the entire day managing your employees and clients and are hence around people all the time. So it is very crucial to spend some time alone to breathe, relax and reflect. You can go on short walks alone or at least sit in the quiet corner of your workplace, close your eyes and unwind for some time. This will not only rejuvenate you but also help you focus better. 

Pay attention to your mental health 

The stress of starting a new business is real. Due to the incessant ups and downs of a small business, you are going to feel stressed out a lot of times. Anxiety, stress and depression are becoming more common among small business owners. After all, you are going to deal with people and circumstances that will stress you out. So make sure you maintain your physical as well as mental health, to avoid the eventual burn-out. 

Make time for exercise 

Being constantly busy might make you want to relax and lay down, watch some T.V in your free time. But exercising is an important part of making sure that you are being productive throughout the day. Doing any kind of exercise actually will help you put your work problems into perspective. If you need to destress, exercise, be active. You don’t even need to go to expensive gyms and spend hours working out. Just going for brisk walks, a quick jog, playing sports or any other form of equipment-free exercise is enough to give you long-term good health and keep you positive and active so that you can give your best to your business. 

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Story By: Samikshya Borse