What Does Wellness Have to Do with Healthy Business Practices?

When I talk to prospective clients, they often ask me what wellness has to do with business, and why they should care about leading a healthy, balanced life. As solo entrepreneurs, we know why it makes sense to market our businesses and build solid relationships with clients. But what's the payoff for investing in our health and wellbeing?

In my opinion, investing in your health and wellbeing has many business benefits, including:

1. Better health -- I work with a lot of small business owners who labor long and crazy hours to serve their clients. The problem is that working 24/7 can lead to increased stress, and when stress goes unmanaged, it can lead to serious conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Striking a healthy work/life balance helps you have the energy you need to maximize your productivity.

2. Increased concentration and productivity -- When you live your life in a state of relaxed awareness, you're focused and creative rather than being stressed out or burnt out. And when you're able to concentrate on the task at hand, you're more efficient and productive, which is good for your bottom-line.

3. A healthier self-image - Most of us know that we feel better about ourselves when we exercise regularly and eat healthy meals. That's important because when we are feeling confident, we're more likely to attract our ideal clients.

4. Increased energy - When we eat junk food all day and plop down on the sofa at night in front of the TV, our energy doesn't exactly soar. The solution? Eat well-portioned, healthy meals throughout the day and take time to move our bodies, so we are less stressed and have more energy to channel into all aspects of our lives.

5. Better relationships - If you're feeling stressed out or run down, how much energy do you have to dedicate to cultivating new clients or sustaining the ones you already have? I don't know about you, but when I'm feeling stressed out, the last thing I want to do is network with potential clients, because I'm already exhausted. But when I take care of myself on a daily basis, I have much more energy to network and to nurture my relationships with everyone in my life, including clients, family, and friends.

Ellen H. Brown is a certified professional coach and the owner of Wellness Journeys: A Holistic Approach to Coaching.

To learn more about how a holistic approach to coaching can increase your energy and productivity, visit http://www.wellnessjourneys.com and http://www.wellnessjourneys.com/blog (a blog that offers tips on productivity and wellness for entrepreneurs). Or contact Ellen Brown at ebrown@wellnessjourneys.com or 216.371.1299.