Health is important to an entrepreneur. You can’t keep up with the insane pace of work if you’re not a 100%. So in celebration of World Health Day, here are some fit entrepreneurs sharing their health mantras:
Bruce Schwack, Cofounder,
Netmeds.comTraining - I work out 5 days a week, for an hour every day, and walk at least 10,000 steps every day, and include a walking round a golf every weekend, which is about another 7km of walking, and I am on a regular, low carb, high protein, mostly vegetarian diet.
Schedule - I sleep every night by 11 and wake up every day by 7.
Attitude = Gratitude - I have followed the same mantra for decades: Say "SO WHAT" often! What it means, is simply, don't sweat the small stuff, and don't sweat the big stuff either. It will all work out one way or another. Attitude is the key.
For example, I got on an elevator full of stranger, whistling the other day, and a guy said, "You seem very happy today." I replied, "I am." He then said, "May I ask why," and as the crowd leaned in to hear my answer I said, "Because I woke up! Everything since then has just been icing on the cake we call life!"
Navin Balan, Cofounder,
VidyarthaEntrepreneurship, in my view is closest to distance running, it is as much in the mind as it is about endurance. Much like long distance running, entrepreneurial journey is usually about believing in yourself, it has ups and downs, fear of not completing, competing etc. A healthy body and an uncluttered mind certainly helps. Three things that I do on a regular basis:
Exercise - Fitness and good health go hand in hand. I have woven a couple of hours of aerobics and strength training into my daily regimen, it keeps me energetic and poised to take on challenges of running a startup. More importantly, this is my personal time, it helps me reflect on our plans and helps me gain better clarity.
Have family time - Active time with my kids, engaging in the sports they like is my way of de-stressing.
Sleep - When I am not traveling, I try and get as much sleep as possible. 6-7 hours works magic for me.
Arushi Verma, Cofounder,
FitpassI make a point of drinking at least 2- 3 liters of water every day. Water not only keeps me hydrated but also flushes toxins out of my system, and keeps my skin moist. Along with this, I take two cups of green tea which keeps my mind refreshed the whole day. After the hectic day, I try to have dinner before 8 PM so that I can have sound sleep afterwards to get ready for the next day.
Pritika Chatterjee, Cofounder,
Tidy HomzHealth is super important and yes, the days you don’t feel up to it, are the days it’s hardest to get out of bed, let alone run a company! I am not a gym person at all so I do alternative things to keep myself fit and healthy like having a glass of green smoothie every morning. It contains 5-6 varieties of greens, various seeds, berries, nuts and honey; exercising every morning for 20-30 minutes or go for a run whenever possible and drinking 3-4 cups of green tea throughout the day.
Mayank Bhangadia, Cofounder,
RoposoEat right. That means lots of raw veggies and season fruits. Drink lots of water throughout the day. The second part of the mantra is to stay positive, always. Staying positive helps you reach your goals in a calmer way. And finally, getting a good night's sleep because nothing exhausts you more than not having good sleep.
Ravi Virmani, Founder,
CrediHealthI believe that walking is the best form of exercise. So every day, I go for a brisk walk of 5 to 7 kilometers. This keep me energetic throughout the day. I also practice yoga thrice a week. I believe that yoga is a big stress buster and relaxes the mind and body.
Another habit of mine is to take coconut water twice or thrice a day to stay hydrated. I also opt for ginger tea once a day. It keeps me fresh. Food wise I like to savor salads of fresh fruits and green vegetables towards the evening. Then I complete my daily needs of nutrients again with a dose of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Puneet Chandra, Founder,
SkootrIt’s very important to keep healthy. Generally, entrepreneurs try to work very hard while dreaming of making millions. For entrepreneurs not keeping a check on their health, it will end up hampering their ambition and dreams to make it big.
So my fitness mantra is:
Rest - I generally take my mind off of work for at least 2 - 3 hours to give myself some space. I also ensure that I do not sit for long and often work standing in my cabin.
Light diet - I do not eat heavy before going to bed; salad or just vegetables are good enough.
Goosebery juice - I drink gooseberry juice and hot water in the morning to keep my digestion rate at a peak.
Family time - Last but not least I spend time with my children. Answering their silly questions, listening to their stories and becoming one with your child really distresses you. So I make sure I spend quality time with my family.
BW Reporters
Regina is a reporter for BW Businessworld. In her previous assignments, she has worked with Independent television Network as a news anchor and reporter in Sri Lanka
