"Averaging 2 hours of sleep a night, hadn’t been to the gym in a year, and had gained 10 pounds in the last 8 weeks..."
Does this sound familiar? Does it sound like you? If it does, something is wrong. Something is seriously wrong.
The death of Jody Sherman has sparked conversations among founders about their "roller coaster" lifestyles, and whether that is a good example to set for their employees, and for the startup community.
Rustin Banks, CEO and co-founder of TapInfluence, recently wrote an article for Wired on this very topic with some tips for founders that he hopes will save lives:
- Never leave your phone by your bed while you sleep. If you wake up in the night the temptation is too strong to check it and then the stress will keep you awake.
- Get completely off the grid at least 2 days a month. Go into the mountains or a remote beach and bring ZERO technology. One suggestion involved going to the beach without even a watch, just a kitchen timer set to 60 minutes.
- Take 30 minutes first thing, just for you. Before you pick up that phone and press that email button, take 30 minutes to exercise, journal, or meditate. Anything to get your mind “higher” for 30 minutes before you dive into the challenges of the day.
- Take sleeping aids. Stressed Entrepreneurs having trouble sleeping recommended Ambien and Melatonin, along with other herbal supplements. They also recommended no screens after 10PM and before then install flux to tone down the color of your screen as the sun goes down.
This post was originally featured on Foundercode.com We would love to hear your thoughts and tips on managing stress at your startups.
"What helps me the most is to take time each day to reaffirm that I am more than my startup. I tell myself that I am going to accomplish lots of great things in my life, and this company is just one of them. Or it may not be. But either way, my self worth isn’t tied to the success of my company."
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