The Importance of a Balanced Routine for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Anam
May 20
4 min read

A smooth white stone placed on fine white sand with concentric circular patterns raked around it, evoking a minimalist Zen garden.

How entrepreneurs can create a balanced routine for mental strength and alertness to focus on achieving exceptional results in business

During a recent session, my young female entrepreneur client revealed that she is constantly feeling fatigued; even sleeping extra hours is not helping her to recover. She works 10 and sometimes 12 hours each day. During her working hours, she often eats whatever she can find, but sometimes this isn't possible. By the time she gets home, she is too exhausted to prepare a meal for herself. After consulting with the general practitioner, we discovered that her symptoms were due to a lack of nutrients and a deficiency of vitamins. This affected her concentration and productivity in her business.

Having a routine that allows you no time to eat, sleep, rest, and recover is the perfect recipe for a burnout. This lifestyle is prevalent among entrepreneurs, who often struggle to manage their personal time due to their busy work schedules and strong drive to achieve their goals. Malnutrition and poor sleeping habits result in constant fatigue, tiredness, and lack of focus. As an entrepreneur, you must develop the ability to manage your time in a way that allows you to keep your cup full. This means having a structure that supports your mental and physical health, resilience, and ability to manage stress and burnout. Remember that you can only go so far when your cup is empty!

In today's article, we will explore the importance of a balanced routine for entrepreneurs and how entrepreneurs can maintain it so that they have the mental strength and alertness to focus on their business and achieve exceptional results.

As an entrepreneur, you may go through several challenges during your entrepreneurial journey, such as difficulty in sourcing funding, market uncertainty, lack of resources, regulatory issues, and so much more. However, if you haven’t built the resilience and the bandwidth to deal with these challenges mentally, anything that happens outside your plan can throw you off balance.

Maintaining a balanced routine for a balanced mind

You work longer hours because you don’t want to take a break and you want to get it done without taking a break. You think to yourself that tomorrow I will finish on time and catch up on my rest, but that never happens. Over the period of time, you start to lose your energy and your focus. Your mental exhaustion begins to manifest in your physical body, yet you persist, convincing yourself that you can't stop.

Stop there! You might collapse beyond this point.

It’s understandable to give your enterprise the highest priority. But without having the right structure and routine, you may not be able to achieve the desired results.

Morning Routine

Set up a morning routine that allows you enough time before starting a workday to have a healthy breakfast; practice a grounding activity such as mindfulness technique, journaling, or exercise to set a positive tone for the rest of the day; and plan the day ahead. Starting your day at a leisurely pace gives you greater control over your day.

Your morning routine should be a doable regimen on a daily basis, something that you look forward to doing every morning as you start your day. It's your chance to start your day in the best way possible, without any interference. Mastering your morning routine is the key to living a more positive, productive, and values-driven life

A morning routine can mean something different for everyone. Some people like to start their morning with mindful practices while others prefer to start the day with an adrenaline pump in the gym. Choose what works best for you. You can start with setting up a relatively simple morning routine, and add what you need more of when necessary.

Work Day Routine

Spend 10-15 minutes each day reviewing your to-do list and planning your day ahead of time. To avoid cramping up your schedule, use a prioritization method for efficient work. You can also use the work blocks method to avoid distractions. Use a 90-minute work block to focus on a specific task before taking a break and moving on to the next activity.

As you proceed with your workday, make sure to incorporate networking meetings into your weekly schedule. Networking time is critical for entrepreneurs. It enables you to expand your network and create more business opportunities. A balanced workday means catering to all aspects of your business in a balanced manner.

Plan regular breaks and lunches during your work day to reset and nourish your body.

It’s easy for entrepreneurs to overlook these, especially when they are involved in field work, but consistently ignoring meals and breaks reduces your ability to focus and depletes your energy. During my recent sessions, I have observed many of my clients skipping meals during working hours and feeling drained and fatigued.

Use post-lunch time to focus on high-priority tasks and networking meetings. You can also allocate a few hours each week to the creative side of your project, such as brainstorming or strategic planning, when your energy might be lower.

The Wrap Up

Review your day's accomplishments and the tasks you need to complete the next day. Avoid taking work home so that you can use the after-working hours to focus on yourself and your personal life.

To relieve distress, plan a physical activity such as a walk or any form of exercise post-work, especially if it's not a part of your morning routine. Dedicate time to nurture your personal connections with family or friends if you are living alone. Plan most of your dinners at home. This includes preparing your meals if you are not living with your family.

Use nighttime as a chance to decompress and self-care. Establishing an evening routine, such as going for a stroll, reading a book, watching a movie, spending time with the family and friends, or working on a personal project, aids in maintaining a life beyond work, which is crucial for maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

If you are a HerMeNow participant or alumni, book your free coaching session now through the HerMeNow website https://www.hermenow.com/wellness.