Kicking off 2024 feeling refreshed from the holidays? Hopefully! The new year always brings new opportunities and possibilities to make it the best year yet.  

 

If you’re coming into the new year feeling much like the end of last year – stressed and tired, then it’s time to consider harnessing your personal wellbeing for business success. 

 

In small businesses, where decisions can make or break a venture, an often-overlooked asset is the wellbeing of the business owner. The direct link between an individual's mental and physical health and their business and personal success is undeniable yet frequently underestimated. Our personal wellbeing impacts decision-making, creativity, and endurance in the business context, and the ability to reach our highest potential. 

 

Mastering the Mind Game: How Mental Wellbeing Shapes Smart Decision-Making

 

Our mental state is the bedrock upon which sound decisions are built. You may recognise times when you’ve been overwhelmed and over-stressed, making decisions becomes harder, and you’re not sure if you’re choosing the right thing. Stress and mental fatigue can cloud judgment, leading to impulsive or suboptimal decisions. Under stress, details on a project might be overlooked that could jeopardise long-term business goals. Whereas, elevated mental wellbeing brings clarity, allowing for decisions that align with strategic objectives.

 

How do we master the mind game when we have business challenges?

 

By setting up routines that improve our mental state. Imagine a high-rise building as states of mental wellbeing, the lower floors represent anxiety, overwhelm and negative and cloudy thinking. The highest floors, we are in the ‘flow’, thinking positively and creatively, and experiencing unlimited energy and motivation. Think of daily routines as steps – each one taking you closer to the top floor, day by day.

 

 

Tip: A daily practice of reading or listening to personal development material can help to understand better ways to use the mind and regulate emotions. 

Daily meditation is a recognised tool for reducing stress. 

Weekend walks in nature have the benefit of fresh air, sunshine and vitamin D, as well as lowering stress hormones and clearing the mind.

Focus building foods can improve focus and mental wellbeing. 

 

Physical Health as a Catalyst for Creativity

 

Physical wellbeing markers such as energy, vitality, mood and productivity, affect our performance. Proper nutrition and regular exercise enhances brain function, innovative thinking and problem solving. It’s hard to imagine a small business owner with a diet of processed foods and poor health, having sustained energy, productivity, or doing their best work. Taking care of your physical health sparks creative thinking and solutions for operational challenges.

 

Where do you start when there is conflicting information online?

Tip: The best place to start is simple – nutrition through whole foods! Remove as much processed food (anything in a package) from your diet. Focus on proteins from animal sources, and lots of vegetables and some fruits. 

Cooking at home is also one of the quickest ways to improve physical health and performance. Research has shown that cooking at home far outweighs eating out – even if it’s expensive healthy food. 

 

Endurance: The Key to Sustained Business Management

Running a business is more like a marathon than a sprint. It can be an emotional rollercoaster at times, and requires sustained energy and focus. This is where physical and mental endurance come into play. During a high-pressured launch or an intense growth phase, we need the stamina provided by good physical health and the resilience offered by a strong mental state. Our wellbeing ensures that you remain effective, focused, and positive, even under pressure.

 

Endurance athletes place a high amount of physical stress on their body, but they are often champions – through their relentless focus on recovery! 

 

Tip: An essential recovery tool: good quality sleep. Prioritising 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep is crucial for recovery, emotional regulation, enhancing decision-making capabilities

 

Recognising and Reversing Burnout

An often overlooked part of diminishing performance is burnout. Signs of burnout include constant fatigue, decreased motivation, irritability, performance decline, loss of passion in your work, physical symptoms, emotional detachment, and neglect of personal care. For business owners, these symptoms can lead to impaired judgment, reduced productivity, strained team dynamics, and overlooked opportunities.

 

The reversal of burnout begins with identifying the signs and symptoms and seeking support. 

 

Tip: Establish non-negotiable self-care routines such as sleep, rest, and good nutrition. 

See your GP for a check-up, make this a yearly or twice yearly commitment to keep on top of any health changes that affect optimal performance and productivity.

 

The wellbeing of a business owner is linked to the success of their business, and these are within our control.

Business is competitive and every advantage counts. Wellbeing is an essential, yet often neglected, resource. By prioritsing your health, you can unlock peak performance, leading to new heights of success and enjoyment.