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Energize Your Business: The Essential Role of Daily Movement for Entrepreneurs

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Energize Your Business: The Essential Role of Daily Movement for Entrepreneurs

Cordes Lindow

Thursday, April 17, 2025

As a small business owner, the energy you bring to your work directly impacts its success. The demands can be relentless, often leaving you feeling drained and overwhelmed. While strategies for time management and mental focus are crucial, there's a fundamental element that often gets overlooked: the power of daily movement. It's not just about physical health; it's about cultivating the vitality and mental clarity you need to thrive in your business and, just as importantly, enjoy the journey.

The Unbreakable Link: How Your Body Fuels Your Business Success

Often when we hear the terms of mind-body connections we think it is a lot of woowoo. However, there has been a lot of scientific evidence to support that we can control our minds through simple physical interventions. Think of your body as the engine that drives your business. If the engine is sluggish and strained, the entire operation suffers. Daily movement, in its many joyful forms, is the fuel that keeps that engine running smoothly, providing the energy and mental sharpness you need to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape.

Science Backs the Joyful Connection: Movement and Well-being

Numerous studies highlight the tangible ways our physical actions influence our mental state. For entrepreneurs seeking a more enjoyable and sustainable way to manage their businesses, understanding these connections is key:

EFT Tapping for Calm: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping, a gentle tapping on specific body points, has been shown to lower heart rates and blood pressure. Participants also experienced reduced levels of cortisol, a major stress hormone. This demonstrates how a simple physical practice can directly ease the stress that often accompanies business ownership.

Posture for Presence: You might be surprised to learn that just shifting posture in this way changes mood and alertness. Holding yourself upright can foster a greater sense of confidence and focus, helping you approach business interactions and decisions with more presence and clarity.

The Soothing Power of Breath: A form of slow deep breathing in which the diaphragm contracts on the inhale and relaxes on the exhale stimulates the vagus nerve and activates the relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system. This simple act can be a powerful tool to counter the anxiety and overwhelm that can cloud your judgment and hinder your enjoyment of your work. Deep breathing also gets more oxygen to the thinking brain, improving cognitive function.

Smiling Your Way to a Better Day: Believe it or not, put a pencil between your lips in just the right way, and you’ll feel happier. This seemingly small physical action activates facial muscles associated with smiling. The brain constantly monitors what’s happening in the body, including facial expressions, to gauge how you are feeling. By physically creating the sensation of a smile, you can subtly shift your emotional state, making even challenging business days feel a little lighter.

The Uplifting Effect of Laughter: Laughter releases endorphins, known as "feel-good hormones" and reduces stress hormones. Interestingly, our brains are unable to tell the difference between fake or real laughs. Incorporating moments of laughter into your day can provide a quick and enjoyable way to release tension and boost your mood, making the entrepreneurial journey more enjoyable.

Infusing Your Day with Joyful Movement: A Path to Business Flourishing

For busy entrepreneurs, incorporating daily movement doesn't have to feel like another task on an already overflowing to-do list. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to infuse your day with activities that bring you joy and, in turn, fuel your business success. Regular joyful movement can help you:

Sharpen Focus and Boost Productivity: When you move your body, you increase blood flow to your brain, which is essential for clear thinking and effective problem-solving. Stepping away from your work for a few minutes of enjoyable activity can actually enhance your focus when you return.

Elevate Energy Levels Naturally: While it might seem counterintuitive, spending energy through movement actually creates more energy in the long run. Engaging in activities you enjoy can combat fatigue and keep you feeling more vibrant throughout your workday.

Alleviate Stress and Enhance Well-being: Joyful movement is a fantastic stress reliever. It allows you to release tension, improve your mood, and approach the pressures of business with greater resilience and a more positive outlook.

Spark Creativity and Innovation: Engaging in activities you love can also open up new pathways in your brain, fostering creativity and helping you approach business challenges from fresh perspectives.

The Simple Power of Walking and Playful Activity

The importance of movement, especially in forms that bring you joy, cannot be overstated for entrepreneurs. Walking, can be incredibly grounding and sensory-rich, providing both physical and mental benefits. But movement doesn't have to be limited to structured exercise. Think about incorporating playful activities that you genuinely enjoy.

Easy and Joyful Ways to Move Your Body Throughout Your Day

For busy entrepreneurs, the key is to find easy and enjoyable ways to weave movement into your daily routine:

Schedule Short Bursts of Fun: Instead of long workouts, aim for several short breaks throughout the day for activities you find enjoyable. This could be dancing to your favorite song, doing a few stretches, or even playing a quick game.

Walk and Talk: Take phone calls while walking around your home, office, or neighborhood. This combines a necessary task with physical activity.

Embrace Active Hobbies: Dedicate time to hobbies that involve movement, such as gardening, playing a musical instrument that requires physical engagement, or even just pacing while you brainstorm ideas.

Make Errands Active: Walk or bike for short errands instead of driving. This is a practical way to incorporate movement into your day.

Incorporate Play: If you have children or pets, engage in active play with them. This is a fun way to move your body and connect with loved ones.

Dance Like No One's Watching: Put on some music and dance! It's a fantastic way to release energy and boost your mood.

Explore Gentle Movement Practices: Try activities like yoga or Tai Chi, which can be both calming and energizing. (Use my link for a free month of Calm to explore their gentle movement options)

Investing in Your Well-being, Investing in Your Business

By consciously incorporating joyful movement into your daily life, you're not just taking care of your physical and mental health; you're making a strategic investment in the success and sustainability of your business. When you feel energized, focused, and less stressed, you're better equipped to make sound decisions, navigate challenges with resilience, and ultimately enjoy the journey of entrepreneurship. Make movement a non-negotiable part of your day, and watch how it positively impacts both your well-being and your bottom line.

Mock up of the joyful movement guide with a woman dancing on her couch

The Joyful Movement Guide for Busy Entrepreneurs

This free guide is packed with fun and easy activities designed to help you:

Boost Energy Levels: Combat that afternoon slump and power through your to-do list with natural vitality.

Reduce Stress & Anxiety: Find moments of calm and release tension, leading to clearer thinking and better decision-making.

Enhance Focus & Productivity: Increase blood flow to your brain for sharper concentration and a more productive workday.

Spark Creativity: Break free from mental blocks and tap into new ideas through enjoyable movement.

Reconnect with Joy: Rediscover the pleasure in moving your body, making well-being an enjoyable part of your routine.

References:

“Smile Your Way out of Stress?” 2024. Psychology Today. 2024.

Wiginton, Keri. 2021. “What Is EFT Tapping?” WebMD. April 29, 2021

“Deep Breathing and Relaxation.” 2020. Utoledo.edu. 2020.

Candlin, Rachel. 2024. “‘Yoga Laughter Could Change Your Life and Keep Your Heart Healthy.’” Bbc.com. BBC News. July 6, 2024.

Wielgosz, Joseph. 2024. “Change Your Posture, Change Your Mood.” Meditatehappier.com. Happier App. May 3, 2024.

Gerritsen, Roderik J. S., and Guido P. H. Band. 2018. “Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 12 (October).