How many business hours do you spend sitting in front of a screen or hunched over a pile of papers? Start thinking about your own health as well as your business health.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that many of us can work from pretty much anywhere and run our business from a laptop – which is amazing! But it does mean that we spend a lot of time sitting in front of a screen, not being very active. Research shows that office workers spend 75% of their waking hours sitting down – and that’s not great for their health or, ultimately, the health of the business.
Simply taking a walk could be the answer. When you walk, you’re supporting your own fitness, breathing in fresh air, blowing away the proverbial cobwebs, and adding energy to your business thinking.
Get active and become a more effective leader
Sitting down for long periods is not healthy. That’s the undeniable truth of being a sedentary entrepreneur that spends hours each day looking at a computer screen or mobile device. Sitting down slows your metabolism, burns no calories, and allows our muscles to weaken.
To make your working day more healthy:
Go for a walk every day
Whether it’s walking to your workplace (perhaps by getting off the bus one or two stops early), or scheduling a lunchtime stroll around the block, it’s important to be active. A 30-minute walk increases your daily step count, raises your heart rate, and can burn off between 100 to 300 calories – all good things to include as part of a healthy lifestyle for the modern entrepreneur.
Arrange ‘walking meetings’ with staff and clients
Meetings and one-to-ones don’t have to happen inside whilst sitting on a chair. Instead, take a stroll and chat with your clients, employees or suppliers as you walk. It helps keep the conversation flowing and gets you all taking in fresh air and interesting scenery.
Take time to walk and think
The best ideas can appear during a walk, without the pressures of a formal office setting. Sometimes a change of location can work wonders for your thought process, especially if you turn off your devices and don’t have the distractions of the office.
Walk between meetings
Driving to meetings may be quicker, but, where possible, why not schedule client meetings by location so you can walk between them. By walking, you’re saving money on transport costs and contributing to your company’s sustainability efforts.
Walking time isn’t wasted time. It’s keeping you and your brain active, helping to refresh your business ideas, lower your stress levels, and place a better focus on your overall health and wellbeing.
If you fancy a ‘walking meeting’ for your next catch-up, we’d be delighted to stroll with you while we talk through your plans for the business. Fresh air and business advice are a great combination, and could be an excellent way to get the support and strategic tips you need.
Put your best foot forward, and contact Pathfinder Solutions today.
About Pathfinder Solutions
Pathfinder Solutions advisory team members have either owned or managed businesses, or are investors themselves, so we know first-hand the challenges you face in your world.
Sure we’re Accountants, but the best solutions in business come from focusing on more than just the numbers. Our real-world business experience delivers just that.
