5 Healthy Habits to Increase Your Success

The Gallup Poll on well-being declares that entrepreneurs have a health edge because we are more likely to exercise and eat well. The problem is we don’t take advantage of the flexible schedule that being your own boss provides. You’ve left the corporate world and now that you are your own boss, your schedule is even more rigid and allows virtually no time off.

It’s time that entrepreneurs form better wellness practices. The reality is if you don’t take care of your health you can’t achieve the level of success in business or life that you desire. Living a healthy lifestyle as a high-achiever doesn’t have to be difficult here are 5 healthy habits that you can implement today:

Visualize the Future: Creative visualization is a technique often used by athletes to increase their performance. It’s the underlying process used in positive thinking. The basic premise is, the more you can imagine a positive future outcome using as many of your senses as possible, the more likely it is to happen.

Here’s How: Close your eyes and fix your mind on things you plan to achieve in the future. If you want to be a speaker, imagine writing the speech, standing on stage, the audience clapping after you’re done. Then bring in other senses, what does the room sound like and smell like? How big is the crowd? This is a short exercise that if practiced for 5 minutes a day, can impact you for a lifetime.

Quiet Your Mind: As thriving entrepreneurs, there are constant thoughts and ideas racing through our minds. Perhaps, to the extent that you’re lacking much needed sleep. Meditation is a practice that allows high achievers to gain mental space by connecting with their breath, slowing down thoughts and increasing energy. In Success Through Stillness, Russell Simmons shares “the seconds of stillness in the present moment are the only place you can truly be creative.â€

Here’s How: Sit in a chair with your back upright or seated with your legs folded. Fix your eyes in a downward gaze, hands resting on your knees and just notice your breath. Thoughts will arise in your mind and when they do, give yourself grace and just go back to noticing your breath.

Schedule Down-Time: Give yourself permission to have fun. Just like planning an important business meeting, there should be a date on the calendar every week for much needed down-time. This time is for activities that will allow you to creatively recharge: reading a book, attending a show, or journaling. Taking time outside of your business creates space for new ideas to flow.

Listen Up: If you have an hour or more commute to work, it’s a perfect time to learn and be motivated. Whether you’re a Mac or PC user, podcasts are a great way to listen to audio on the go. Services like Itunes and Stitcher radio provide apps to download free audio on various topics such as business, health and well-being.

Love Your Body: In relentless pursuit of our dreams we can often neglect our personal health and sustainability. Take time to develop a regular fitness routine. According to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease, cancer and stroke are in the top 5 leading causes of death. By simply carving out time for a fitness activity of your choice like walking, yoga, running or weight lifting you can add years onto your life.

Now that you know creating healthy habits leads to greater success. Ask yourself “what simple habit can I adopt today?â€ and share what you decide in the comments section below.

Jamila Payne is the Author of From Payne to Power and was selected as a “40 Under 40 Entrepreneur to Watch.â€ Payne develops marketing strategy that gets businesses to align with their online audience. She is CEO of Queued Digital, a marketing agency and Founder of Soul Circle, the premier online community for women entrepreneurs. Her mission is to empower people to achieve personal and financial freedom through entrepreneurship. She shares an inspiring message of “People, Purpose and Profitâ€. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter @JamilaPayne.