If you aren’t sleeping enough you probably aren’t functioning to the best of your ability professionally, either. Sleep deprivation can creep up on the owners of SMEs with little warning, but the small compromises on your time will soon bleed into other areas of your life if you don’t set the appropriate boundaries. Aim to get a minimum of 6-8 hours sleep each night, and to wake and go to bed at roughly the same time each morning and night, including during the weekend. You’ll soon see the positive results of proactively taking charge of your own sleeping patterns.
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle
Consider your food choices as the fuel you use to power you through the day’s activities. No machine can keep running on the wrong fuel so make deliberate healthy choices which aren’t governed merely by convenience. After a long day at the office it might be tempting to slump on the sofa with a takeaway, but you’re better served by taking charge of some meal preparation which helps you function better during the day and sleep better by night. Aim to incorporate regular exercise at least three times a week which can also help to boost mood and lessen stress.
Understand Your Finances
Ensure all financial decisions made by your company are carefully considered. Gather together all the information you need to get a full and complete picture of your SMEs financial state. Even if there is room for improvement, it is better to know than to bury your head in the sand, and avoiding seeing the numbers in black and white will only cause more stress.
Make Conscious Plans
Once you’ve discovered your true financial position, you can now begin to make deliberate and rationally-led plans. Ensuring you remain healthy – and your company’s finances don’t take a hit – is more intertwined than you might think; and a healthy, well-rested individual is in a much better position to plot the right course of action in the years ahead.