As a successful business owner, you probably realize how difficult it can be to make time for yourself. After all, you did start a successful business from the ground up! You are also needed to oversee the day to day functions of your business, which can really cut into personal time. You might not mind working long hours and never getting time to yourself, but there are a few ways in which such a schedule can really impact you… and one of these is in the realm of fitness and physical health.

There are a number of good reasons to stay physically active, fit, and healthy… and I’m going to talk about five of them. There may be more good reasons (many more, actually), but these are probably five of the most important. Taking these five reasons into account will DEFINITELY help you to see that it is in your own best interest to stay in good physical condition.

1… You Will Improve Your Overall Health

Eating right and exercising helps you in a lot of ways, and keeping you healthy is at the top of them! If you don’t eat right and naturally replenish your body’s energy and rebuild your immune system, you are going to have far less energy and be far more susceptible to diseases and sicknesses then you would otherwise. By exercising, you will get your body up and moving, which will decrease your odds of developing conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Three of the most IMPORTANT things that you can give your body to ensure that you will be as healthy as possible are…

1. Adequate sleep

2. Nutritious foods

3. Daily physical exercise

2… You Will Lose Weight and Keep it Off

Exercise and a healthy diet will also help you to shed those unwanted pounds that you have wanted to get rid of. Losing weight is important if you are overweight, but even if you aren’t, it is important to remember that sitting at a desk all day (as a lot of business owners do) can quickly work against your natural metabolism and cause you to gain weight. Getting at least 20 minutes of exercise per day, and eating sensible with well-rounded meals (most of the time) can greatly reduce the risks of you gaining more weight than is healthy or beneficial.

3… You Will Have More Energy

Another great reason to take care of your body through exercise and a healthy diet is that you will have a lot more energy when you do so. Do you drink a lot of soda? Do you drink enough water every day? Do you fail to exercise on a daily basis? Just cutting out sugary drinks and adding 15-20 minutes of exercise will make a WORLD of difference for your energy level! You will not BELIEVE how much better you will feel when you can make consistently healthy choices for yourself.

4… You Will be Able to Focus Better

Do you ever have trouble focusing on your work? Adding healthy foods to your diet (especially fresh greens, nuts, and berries) can dramatically improve your ability to perform on a mental level. Plus, throwing in a workout 2 to 3 times per week can make these improvements even more pronounced. Don’t feel like you have time to work out? Even a brief walk around the block on your lunch break can help you to clear your head, so you can think more clearly and maybe even differently! Getting fresh air is good for you, and the exercise will get your brain chemicals flowing differently than they were before. Consider having organic nuts, an apple, and healthy snacks at your desk so you can eat some in between meals. Doing this can increase your metabolism.

5… You Will be More Confident

Confidence is incredibly important to any entrepreneur, which is why it is definitely a good reason to start eating better and exercising more frequently! The better you feel about your body, the more confident you will be… and exercising definitely plays a role in this process. When you exercise, you will automatically be improving how you look in your own eyes, which can be a very valuable experience if you usually have trouble feeling good about yourse