Business ownership tanked my health, wellness, and fitness.

This might be a really shocking truth bomb, but between stressful times at home raising a large family, and adding entrepreneurship on top of that… Yeah, making time to work out and be health conscious just didn’t fit in my schedule. Being a boss also means having the pressure to do right by your employees, so putting the happiness of my team (and the happiness of the guests we serve from my community) at the top of my list became second nature.

If you’re a business owner yourself — and especially if you’ve been reading my blogs up to now — you know the question then becomes… Where's the balance?

To be honest, I think all of our journeys juggling our loved ones, our businesses, and ourselves are different. Just like when it comes to parenting, there isn’t a one size fits all approach. We’re always adapting. 

But if you’re stuck in a rut and ready to level up, getting your booty in gear (literally) could be the answer you’ve been looking for.

I'm going to share the three big, SURPRISING pieces of wisdom that I’ve learned when it comes to connecting your fitness to your success.

1. Jugs.

Jugs are essential. 

I'm talking about jugs of water, and getting huge amounts of hydration (for fun, I like to have mine with some kind of citrus in it. Cut limes, lemons, or oranges have been a big game changer for me.) I often fill my belly to a level of obscenity thanks to the jug I keep with me all day, every day. 

To be honest, having a jug — or water bottle, if you like a different term — on hand has been life changing. I am a very picky water drinker, so I’m one of those people who picks up spring water from the grocery store, and uses that to fill up my jug of choice. Whether that is the new favorite stainless steel jug that has a gorgeous handle on it, or a big thermos, depending on  the season and the activity. Whatever it is, I know this is gonna sound really silly, but… Love. Your. Jug. Make sure that it fits into your car drink holder, that you like the design, the weight of it, that it seals properly, and that you’d be comfortable being seen with it in any number of settings. All of these factors will impact whether or not you reach for it daily, so they matter.

Now for a cautionary jug tale… Years ago, I had a favorite jug. I was in a busy phase of life, so I would refill it multiple times a day. I’d just pop the top off and pour more water into it like clockwork without a second thought. 

Well, all of that go-go-going and not looking down at what I was putting into my body caught up to me. I gave myself a bacterial infection of my throat. (Oh my gosh, can you believe I'm telling you that?) 

Do not be like me, friends.

I was refilling my jug and wasn't washing it in between! I came down with a horrible sore throat, got feverish and weak-feeling, but was still trying to  grind through the days of long work hours and then running my kids around. Of course, despite feeling incredibly ill, I kept on being a ridiculous martyr-mom. I was popping ibuprofen to try and heal myself, but my throat was so horrible that I eventually had to go to urgent care, and could barely even open my mouth because my throat was so sore. The doctor looked at my throat and audibly gasped, and ultimately I had to go on super strong antibiotics. Yikes.

During my recovery from being ill, I warily took a look inside my jug… I kid you not, it was like a jelly liner was inside the lid of that thing. Pure bacteria. Disgusting. I should have known better. 

So word to the wise: take care of your jugs! Boil those straws and wash your water bottles thoroughly. Keep ‘em clean — especially if you like to have cut citrus in them like me — so they can continue to serve you well. 

2. Keep it social.

Ask yourself this: are you someone who likes exercise and movement, or are you not? 

I am someone that doesn't. 

If I have a to-do list that still has things on it, I will postpone my enjoyment of any kind of fitness and movement for the sake of crossing everything off my list. Yep. There's another one of those martyr moments. It's terrible.

What I’ve learned is that in order for me to feel an obligation to get moving, it has to be social. 

Having other people involved keeps me accountable, and helps my movement routine stay “sustainable.” (Even though I don’t like the word sustainable, it does apply here, because otherwise I'm kind of that diehard person who dives in super deep, who decides she can run a marathon with only a few months of training. Oh, Lord have mercy! This is the silliness that goes on in my head.) 

This can look like having a weekly walk with your bestie, a weekly bike ride with your spouse, taking your kids to the beach and bringing a frisbee or volleyball, or parking down the road from the restaurant you’re eating at so that you have a healthy walk there and on the way back after dining. Try parking a mile away! You’ll be surprised at how good it feels to walk after sitting down to a big meal.

If your days are full of meetings and you can’t seem to find time to get moving, charge up your Airpods or headphones and walk while chatting with your teams. This can also help clear your head and bring a new perspective to your work.

If, even with your loved ones involved and trying to multitask during the work day, that accountability still isn’t clicking into place, a personal trainer can be that piece that’s missing. This has worked for me because yes, I am paying a decent amount of money for this service, and also that person is waiting on me and that kills me. So I have to show up. 

I really encourage you to just take a second and consider what social movement looks like for you. 

3. Eat like a princess or a three year old.

This can be a tricky subject to discuss, but I want to share my raw journey with you, because I know I’m not the only one with these struggles. Throughout my ups and downs with wellness and fitness, I’ve noticed that I need to have a couple tricks up my sleeve in order to help myself with portion control, and to keep myself from eating past the point of fullness.

So what does eating like a princess mean? Simply put, it’s all about what you’re eating, and how you’re eating it.

Of course, having beautiful food — fruits and vegetables like buttery crisp lettuce, gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, and ripe blueberries and strawberries, for example — is one thing, but have you considered what you’re serving them in?

You are the princess, my friend, so prep that food like a princess. When you’re putting it on your plate, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack, I want you to eat like a princess. If that is with a gorgeous golden spoon or a marble, handled fork — whatever it is — eat like the princess. If you pay a visit to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or thrift store, you’ll see shelves of glassware and fine cutlery that they’re practically giving away. Explore your creativity, have fun with collecting pieces that bring you excitement and joy.

I'm telling you, it's difficult to over eat or to stuff yourself silly when adopting the princess mindset. Putting care into your meals like this adds a layer of mindfulness and intention. It gives you a moment, while setting the table or just your own place setting, to slow down and appreciate the moment. 

So at times I will put my dinner or my lunch on the pink crystal bowls or plates that I’ve collected, and eat my meal like royalty. My family really could care less. They’re more concerned with filling their own bellies rather than looking at the plate that I choose for myself.

But like I mentioned before, I’ve had ups and downs in this space of my life, so when I can’t get myself to eat like a princess, I instead eat like a three year old.

Meaning that I will put my meals onto plates with little dividers on them to help watch my portion control. And additionally (okay, you guys might gag) when I know that my belly has eaten its fill, I will pour salt, water, ketchup, or whatever is on-hand over the rest of the food. 

Long sigh. 

It's true, though! (There might be a little bit too much honesty on this blog this time, I don't know!) This is a trick that works for me, when all else fails. If you find yourself thinking “I should not finish this burger because my belly is already full” or “I know that I've reached that point of satisfaction” in that instantaneous moment, this trick might help you, too.

4. My booty = a promotion.

When I fill my belly with water, when I am social and my movement is consistent, and when I find ways to watch my portions… My bank account benefits.

Why? 

Because when my booty is in better shape, it’s because there’s a shift that has happened in my mind, and in my heart. Healthy body, healthy work, and therefore, healthy paychecks. 

It all works together. Your communication is better when you’ve cared for yourself first, because you don’t have a subconscious need to be validated by others' responses. You’re able to listen to understand vs. only being able to react. Your mind is clearer when it’s not on a roller coaster of sugar crashes. Your soul is filled with intentional social outings that nurture your heart. These seemingly small changes, when made, increase your productivity, allow for quicker, thoughtful decision making, and bring overall satisfaction. 

Bottom line: this leads to better performance at work every time. Which supports your joy in life while creating a pathway to great results at work. 

I hope that this has given you a different way of looking at wellness and how your career and your money is connected to your booty. I'm giving you some of my best stuff even to the detriment of my reputation! I wish I’d known these insights years ago, but I’m so happy to share them with you all now, after earning them through trial and error. 

I love to hear your comments and feedback, so always feel like you can find me on Instagram and shoot me a DM. I'd love to hear if you are able to put any of these into practice. 

Until then, I hope that your booty earns you a promotion, and I'm cheering you on, friends.

Love,

🤍 Quinn