Simple Strategies to Stay Well While You Build Your Business
Being an entrepreneur is a thrilling ride – one that’s equal parts liberating and exhausting. Whether you’re in your first year or your fifteenth, the demands on your time, energy, and attention can quickly feel overwhelming. For women in business, especially those juggling family, clients, and community commitments, burnout can creep in before we even realise we’re close to the edge.
At Co-Women, we believe you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your well-being for success. Business networking, personal growth, and career development are all deeply intertwined, but they all start with you. If you don’t take care of your health, you’ll struggle to take care of your business.
Here are some realistic, practical, and sustainable habits to help you stay energised, resilient and aligned—without needing a full-time wellness team or a three-hour morning routine.
1. Prioritise Sleep as a Non-Negotiable
Sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice when deadlines loom or inspiration strikes at midnight. But research continues to show that poor sleep impacts decision-making, emotional resilience, and creativity—all of which are critical for entrepreneurs.
Habit tip: Set a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends. Treat your bedtime like an important meeting—because it is. Consider adding a wind-down ritual, like reading or a cup of herbal tea, to help your brain shift into rest mode.
2. Move Every Day—Your Way
Forget the pressure to train for marathons or attend daily spin classes. Movement should be enjoyable, not another item on your never-ending to-do list. For busy women in business, a 20-minute walk between meetings or a kitchen dance session can be enough to re-energise and reset.
Habit tip: Schedule movement like you would a client call. Use it as time to think, clear your head, or listen to a podcast that feeds your mind.
3. Build Breaks Into Your Day
The “always on” culture of entrepreneurship can lead to chronic stress and decision fatigue. But taking regular breaks is not laziness—it’s strategy.
Habit tip: Try time-blocking techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of focused work, 5-minute break). Step away from your screen, get fresh air, or simply breathe. Your productivity will thank you.
4. Fuel with Intent
When you’re in hustle mode, meals can become an afterthought—or worse, consist of coffee and half a biscuit you found in your handbag. But your body and brain need real fuel to perform at their best.
Habit tip: Prep a few go-to meals or snacks each week to avoid defaulting to junk food. Keep healthy, easy-to-grab options nearby – fruit, nuts, smoothies, or soup. Hydration is just as key, so keep that water bottle handy.
5. Guard Your Calendar Like a CEO
Every “quick chat” or “just a small favour” takes time and energy away from your big-picture goals. Boundaries are healthy, and they protect your time for what matters most.
Habit tip: Block out “CEO time” each week for deep work, goal-setting, or just breathing space. Use tools like Calendly to set clear limits on when you’re available—and stick to them.
6. Connect to Protect Your Sanity
Isolation is one of the biggest challenges for women in business. That’s why authentic business networking—like what we cultivate at Co-Women—can be a game-changer for both your mental health and professional growth.
Habit tip: Attend one community event each month where you’re not expected to perform or pitch—just show up as yourself. Let connection, not competition, be your fuel.
7. Unplug to Reconnect
Running your own business means you’re never truly “off the clock.” But being constantly plugged in leads to chronic overwhelm and nervous system overload.
Habit tip: Try a digital sundown—no emails or social media after a certain hour. Protect at least one day a week to be tech-free (or at least tech-lite). The world won’t fall apart. But you might fall back in love with your life.
Where to Go From Here
Building healthy habits as an entrepreneur isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency and compassion. Start with one habit, not seven. Notice how it makes you feel. Adjust, refine, and repeat.
At Co-Women, we support one another not just in business growth but in personal sustainability. Because thriving entrepreneurs are healthy entrepreneurs, and we’re here to cheer you on every step of the way.
Do you need support in building better boundaries or finding balance?
Join our community today and surround yourself with women who get it.
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