How Physical And Mental Wellness Impacts Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are known for their mental toughness, grit, perseverance, and ability to get back up time after time after being knocked down. But that doesn’t mean they’re superhuman. Entrepreneurs are human beings who can get sick, face mental health challenges, and spiral into substance use disorder. Entrepreneurs are more likely than others to face mental health challenges than non-entrepreneurs, experiencing increased risks of depression (30%), ADHD (29%), substance use (12%), and bipolar disorder (11%), according to a recent study.

Because their business’s success rests on their shoulders, having a focus on entrepreneurial health and supporting the people working for them is important. It’s suitable for people, good for the economy, and good for business.

Enhancing Productivity And Performance

A founder’s capability and drive are at the core of any successful venture. When those are lacking due to a health condition, lack of self-care, or substance use disorder, the entire organization suffers. “Entrepreneurs are known for their relentless work ethic, often at the expense of their health. Chronic stress, malnutrition, and poor lifestyle choices, including using substances, can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and impaired decision-making. By promoting health and wellness as a core value, business leaders can ensure their entrepreneurs operate at peak efficiency or have access to help when they don’t,” says Richard Taite from Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa, a luxury drug and alcohol rehabilitation center specifically catering to CEOs and executives who demand discretion and luxury alongside effective treatment.

In addition to benefiting individuals, supporting entrepreneurial health has tangible performance outcomes. Every dollar put into scaled-up treatment for common mental disorders delivers a return of four dollars in improved health and productivity, according to a study from the World Health Organization (WHO). Applying this to entrepreneurial contexts, healthier entrepreneurs can enhance their cognitive functions, creativity, and stamina, leading to better business performance and innovation. He explains, “In a challenging environment where many in my field struggle, I focus intensely on my work. This commitment gives me a distinct business advantage, as it allows me to dedicate all my time to the needs of the business while others may not have that same focus.”

Fostering Innovation and Resilience

Entrepreneurial ventures require innovation; a healthy mind is a cornerstone of creative thinking and problem-solving. “Rehabilitation and wellbeing programs that include mental health support, stress management training, and strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance contribute to a more resilient and innovative business structure,” says Taite.

Additionally, healthy entrepreneurs are better equipped to handle the ups and downs of business cycles. Their enhanced resilience can lead to better crisis management, more sustainable business practices, and a vital ability to pivot and adapt in fast-changing markets. It also contributes to their ability to keep going when others would quit. “By conventional standards, choosing an entrepreneur is an exercise in bad judgment. However, entrepreneurs are not dissuaded by knowing that many are called, but few are chosen. Optimistic and confident by nature, entrepreneurs who close their firms, whether by choice or due to business failure, repeatedly create new ones – often at the same time as abandoning their last business,” says Michael Freeman, M.D. from The University of California, San Fransisco.

Supporting Long-Term Business Success

It’s hard to overstate the link between entrepreneurial health and the long-term success of their ventures. “Healthy entrepreneurs can sustain high levels of energy and commitment over the long haul, which is crucial for seeing projects through and for long-term strategic thinking. This sustained engagement and vitality can be the difference between a company that thrives and one that fails,” says Taite. Moreover, businesses that advocate for and implement health-supportive environments tend to foster deeper loyalty and commitment from their teams. Employees who recognize that their well-being is valued are more likely to invest fully in their work and contribute to the company’s success.

Supporting entrepreneurial health is not just a matter of corporate responsibility but also an imperative for strategic business. Promoting wellness extends beyond the individual entrepreneur to the entire fabric of their business operations, enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and fostering a positive corporate culture. Stakeholders at all levels—investors, board members, and business partners—must encourage and facilitate health and wellness initiatives. This shift not only ensures entrepreneurs’ well-being but also secures their ventures’ future success and sustainability. Supporting entrepreneurial health is, unequivocally a sound business strategy with wide-reaching benefits for all involved.