Five Tips to Stay Healthy as a Busy CEO

Running any company, irrespective of its size, is a challenging job. From advertising to stock options to press releases, a CEO is, more or less, responsible for everything.    Since, as CEO, you are the face of the company, any failure or success may be attributed to you.  Therefore, all your focus and energy tend to be centered at work; in the process, you neglect your social life and health.    

Holding a C-Suite position in any organization interferes with your daily eating habits, sleeping, and even your entire well-being.  You may not notice the effects when you are young, but if the same pattern continues for a long time, you may be looking at some serious health problems towards the latter half of your life.  Additionally, your poor health may reflect your poor performance at work, which could be highly detrimental to your career.  This article will provide you with five tips to stay healthy as a busy CEO. 

Reduce Your Stress Levels    

The most significant contributor and a constant factor to your poor health is stress.    Stress can take many forms.  Some variants are anxiety, irritability, burnout, apathy, and sadness. It is also a constant companion if you hold a high position.    Stress is dangerous because you do not notice its effects until it is too late.  Apart from its immediate results, stress damages your cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems, weakening your body.  Therefore, if you wish to maintain a healthy body, you must keep your stress levels in check.    There are a few ways that might help you in managing your stress levels.    

The first thing you can do is to tackle those things that you have been avoiding. Fear can cause a lot of stress, and if you can conquer it, it will bring your stress levels down drastically.    

Another way is to look for quiet places. It can be your office, your car, and even your bathroom.    A place where you can relax and have some peace of mind.   

The most tried and tested way of lowering your stress is to take some time off. If a persistent problem has plagued you, then you must distance yourself from it and take some rest.  It has been observed that often, the solution that you have been looking for is right in front of you, but all you needed was a relaxed mind.    

Make Exercise a Habit   

Being a CEO keeps you busy throughout the day. Research suggests that all C-Suite level executives work for 13.5 hours each day. However, even after they leave their offices, their work does not leave them entirely alone.  In such a hectic schedule, it is difficult to find time for exercise. However, you must force yourself to do some form of physical work each day because it is good for your body and helps boost creativity.  As a CEO, creativity is your most able ally.  You need it for innovation, solving crises, and boosting morale when the chips are down. On the other hand, if your creativity is impaired, your company tends to lose its competitive edge as you stagnate in your career. Calisthenics, aerobics, and all such exercises are beneficial for your body and can rejuvenate your brain.    

Maintain Your Weight   

Although your work demands your attention, focus, and knowledge, you must also remain fit and agile. Since most CEO's become the face of their company, their physique is often judged by potential investors, stakeholders, and many others.    According to the International Journal of Obesity, there is a connection between physique, leadership, and perceived leadership potential. Therefore, you must keep track of what you are eating and maintain a constant and healthy weight as your energy, endurance, and respiratory capacity may get affected if you gain extra weight. A diet full of fruits and vegetables and lean meats will help you maintain an average weight. You must pair it with proper hydration as well as exercise to stay active and energized.    

Find a Work-Life Balance    

Being a CEO, you may feel that your work is everything. But your life is equally important. Therefore, you must find time for your spouse, children, health, and things that help you relax. A study found that if you devote an equal amount of time to your work and family, it helps in keeping your stress levels under check and can help you excel at your work. Hence, you must find a balance between your work and your life. It has been observed that many successful CEOs have expressed regret over missing some of the most important events in the lives of their family members. A CEO termed these events 'crystal moments', something you can never live again. 

Participate in Marathons    

Running marathons is a common activity among many successful CEOs. From Steven Reinemund, the former CEO of PepsiCo, to John Legere of T-Mobile, the competitive nature of the sport combined with the challenge of completing the marathon is a perfect blend for CEOs who tend to be highly competitive people.    Even the Center for Financial Research found that CEOs who ran marathons boasted of a 'higher firm value'.    

Along with your company, your family also needs the best version of you.  You tend to become a better leader if you are in better shape.  All you need is a few hours each day, and you can have a healthy body that you will cherish in your post-retirement life.