You are a busy entrepreneur who is intentional with her time. You have to be that way to handle everything that is expected of you in your business, your family, and your life in general. Regular workouts seem like a luxury reserved for others with to do lists that aren’t as full as yours. But, what if working out could actually help you build a better business? Wouldn’t working out regularly really be a necessary business activity then? Well it is.

Working out can absolutely help you build a better business in three distinct ways.

Working out increases your grit.

In business, you need to keep taking action even when things get uncomfortable- that’s grit. Your workouts are a physical practice that will develop that characteristic. You don’t even have to do the most challenging workouts ever created to increase your grit through working out. Simply showing up day after day to do the work even when you don’t feel especially motivated helps. If you do embrace challenging workouts, that’s a plus. Meeting a challenge head on, persevering and overcoming is a transferable skill. The more you do it in your workouts, the more you will do it in every aspect of your life, including your business.

Working out increases your creativity.

If you have ever sat at your desk for hours trying to figure out how to stand out in a saturated market or to come up with a better way to do something, you may have wished that there was a pill that you could take for creativity. While you won’t find such a pill in your local store, research has shown that working out improves your creativity by improving your ability to come up with multiple solutions.

To take full advantage of the increased creativity that comes from working out, keep a notebook nearby during your workouts. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself stopping mid-workout to write down all of the good ideas that are flooding your mind. It could be that the increase in circulation or the mental tranquility during physical activity is the key to great ideas. Either way, sweating it out can often be the same as figuring it out.

Working out improves others’ perception of you.

The result of consistently working out is an attractive external sign of internal discipline. The perception that you are able to deliver is just as important as your ability to deliver. It would be great if we lived in a world where everyone got a fair shot. Just imagine how life would be if your ability to do the work was assumed based on the fact that you raised your hand for the opportunity. However, as a woman in business, you already know that this isn’t the case. People will decide to work with you or not based on your expertise, your track record, and their perception of your ability to deliver.

Being fit requires consistent action – the kind of action that potential clients want you to take if they hire you. When a potential client notices that you have the consistent follow through to be fit, it is reassurance of the internal discipline that you have. People want to hire and collaborate with people who are disciplined and follow through.

While working out can help you build a better business, approaching it the wrong way can have negative consequences. When figuring out how you will take advantage of the business building benefits of working out, choose your workouts wisely. Choose workout styles that you enjoy and can consistently fit into your schedule. Remember that you don’t need the most hardcore workouts to cash in on the benefits. Doing too much too soon can actually drain your energy and focus. If you would like to discuss how to develop the perfect workout approach for you, leave me a comment. I can’t wait to hear from you.

Planning on hitting the gym this year? It’s not just to fit into your skinny jeans, but can impact your business goals too! What can you do to ensure that you get the exercise you need? Make it work in 2020!