I’m a first-time founder, and I’ve managed to find a good balance between working hard, spending quality time with my wife, and maintaining my health through a consistent diet and workout routine.
It wasn’t always like this—I used to be unhealthy, and my relationships suffered as a result. But I made a conscious decision to prioritize what matters most in my life, and it went like this:
- Health
- Relationships
- Financial Success (my startup)
I’m curious to know how all of you, my fellow founders, are managing outside of just your business. Where do you stand when it comes to your own health and relationships—whether that’s mental, physical, or emotional?
I’d love to hear some stories so we can understand what’s possible and learn from each other on topics beyond software and business.
exercise every day during the week
a balanced diet and fasting
Productivity starts with good health.
It’s difficult to find time to workout when you have two small children. I work a full-time job, so I definitely need to set aside 1-2 hours each day for startup, relaxation, or exercise. For me, the allotment varies every day. There’s more chill when I’m weary, more startup when I’m driven, and exercise when I feel like the other two are taken care of.
I wonder whether anyone else has such a restricted amount of time. It’s a grind right now, but I know it will get easier when my kids become older.
Although I don’t currently have children, setting aside an hour each day to concentrate on your health is a smart place to start. Mark it as a recurring event on your calendar and modify your plans accordingly.
While I agree that having a schedule is a good starting point, it might not work for everyone. For instance, I try to fit in a couple of one-hour meetings for my startup during the two free hours I have at night. But plans often change—like when my 2-year-old decides to stay up two extra hours and mess up the house. In those cases, I rely on my wife to take over so I can attend the meetings. We both prioritize the startup, and I’m extremely grateful to her for that support.
With these commitments, I don’t want to ask too much of her by scheduling even more. So, I use exercise and “me time” to fill in the gaps whenever possible. I think that’s the only way for now unless we rearrange our lives—changing work hours, hiring a babysitter, or other options.
It’s definitely a challenging phase, but one I’m willing to grind through over the next few years, checking in regularly with my wife and myself to assess our mental health and adjust as needed.
I follow a certain schedule and try not to take breaks while work because I usually end up cutting them short. My job hours are 9 to 6, and my day begins at 7 and concludes at 11:30. After work, I set aside time for my family and fitness. I find that going through things step-by-step helps me concentrate and avoid thinking about my family when working or working with them.
No, I don’t laugh. Though I currently spend a lot of time working on a project, I used to have a much healthier lifestyle. Once I get better at it, I intend to resume my previous way of living.
Indeed. similar to you, it required an enormous amount of labor, but I was able to create a healthy life that coexists with a successful business. Even just tactically, leading a healthy lifestyle is an immensely underappreciated lever for being a good operator.
A healthy lifestyle does, regrettably, not include working too many hours a day, except from making time for exercise and maintaining a balanced diet.