Becoming a successful entrepreneur in Singapore is no easy-to-achieve goal. You’re surrounded by equally hard-working, talented, creative men and women whose ideas are as powerful as yours happen to be. Then, there’s that business about working so many hours, it’s impossible to find time to breathe much less exercise.

Is this a conundrum that’s impossible to resolve? Don’t be foolish. You’ve already done the hard part—creating a successful business. Now, it’s time to give yourself permission to expand your universe by doing as much for your body as you do for your bottom line.

What’s up with Singapore’s entrepreneurial mindset?

Ask “TG Daily” writer Jimmy Pham what separates a Singapore entrepreneur from counterparts elsewhere in the world and he’ll explain why former entrepreneurial Meccas like Switzerland, Monaco, Luxembourg and the Bahamas have been usurped by Singaporeans where the GDP, prosperity and quality of life dominate.

Why is Singapore at the top of its game? Because the nation’s collective mindset stresses “balance in all things.” Thus, the dynamics of doing business are efficient and hospitable, weather is cooperative year-round, the city-state has a first-rate infrastructure and the nation doesn’t just respect entrepreneurs; it nurtures them. Can you say that about another nation? Probably not.

Photo Credit: 123RF

Why Singapore is unique

Credit goes to both the people and the government for doing more than most to promote health and fitness. Obviously, officials can’t force people to take up running, cycling and other pursuits, but you won’t find a nation more dedicated to promoting wellness at every stage of life.

Established in 2001, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) is tenacious about endorsing healthy living by using “evidence-based health knowledge to formulate and implement health policies and programmes.”

From developing more green space to serve outdoor enthusiasts to “meaningful partnerships with individuals, private and community sectors, and schools and healthcare providers," HPB intends to complete work on its landmark "Healthy Living Master Plan” by the year 2020.

As a result of all of this effort, fitness isn’t so much an idea as it is a movement in which every citizen is incentivized to stay active, and that includes the nation’s burgeoning community of entrepreneurs, many of whom may not understand how critical it is to get some form of exercise in order to properly care for their brains.

Entrepreneurs need healthy mind and body synergy

Researchers at the Harvard Medical School agree with other internationally-respected institutions: No successful entrepreneur can afford to ignore his or her physical health if they hope to keep performing at the highest levels over time.

Dr. Scott McGinnis, a neurologist, does research on how exercise boosts thinking skills, enhances memory and data retention. In his opinion, even rudimentary workouts prompt the growth, survival and density of blood vessels in the brain. For those who exercise, the size of their brains grow larger and the tissue that drives thinking and analysis becomes denser.

We see you shaking your head; you’re inundated by stress-producing demands, deadlines and the weight of responsibility. But there’s overwhelming evidence that daily exercise counteracts symptoms plaguing busy people. It improves memory and thinking capacity, promotes quality sleep, boosts moods and improves one’s ability to mediate anxiety and stress.

Worried about the time commitment? Don’t be. Just 150 minutes of exercise weekly (that’s a total of 2.5 hours) is enough to revolutionise the way your mind performs tasks that require high-functioning thinking to tackle challenges entrepreneurs run into every day.

Photo Credit: 123RF

8 Ways to get on the fitness train

Talk is cheap. Action is priceless. Make up your mind to enhance your brain capacity through exercise by scheduling regular workouts. But the hardest step is making the commitment, which is why we offer you the following tips. These 8 ideas can get you started. As a creative thinker, you may come up with more on your own—-isn’t that how you became so successful in the first place?

1. Get up earlier in the morning and exercise, run or cycle for just 15 minutes if you’re an early bird.
2. Schedule activity time for after work by getting a friend to exercise with you so you don’t cancel.
3. Join a team, a gym or both. Play basketball, soccer or dance. Dancing offers amazing aerobic benefits if your playlist is dynamic enough.
4. Request a fitness tracker for your next birthday. Use it to keep tabs the amount of time you spend being active.
5. Push your work “team” into taking collective walking breaks so your peers hold you accountable and stay fit, too.
6. Stop asking your partner to walk the dog. You do it. Don’t have a dog? Get one.
7. Turn to respected publications like RunSociety to join Asia's tight-knit running community. Start here.
8. Bookmark websites like Spacebib, to find out about upcoming offline running events and online challenges/races, you’ll save valuable time and effort.

Would you like to share with readers the confluence of mind and body lifestyle changes you’ve made that have contributed to your success as an entrepreneur?