Business owners rarely remember to take time out from work to relax, and as a result many become ill. But when you run your own business, illness is rarely a good enough excuse to stop working, and so health can quickly take a turn for the worse.

While you may not feel you can afford to take time off to get better, or even as a prevention measure when you are feeling fine, you cannot work effectively unless you are healthy. A healthy entrepreneur most definitely makes for a healthy business.

Top tips for keeping on top of your health and your business:

Get the full 8 hours
We all know that sleep is important but business owners still often find they are working late into the night and making an early start. While it's good for your business to be motivated, it is also good for business to be alert during working hours. The importance of sleep really cannot be overestimated. Your mental capacity will suffer if you don't get enough sleep, and you are likely to find yourself becoming significantly less productive. Just as importantly, your immune system repairs itself while you are asleep. The less sleep you get, the more likely you are to get ill.

Many business owners complain that they can't sleep because they can't stop thinking about that list of jobs to be done the next day. If this sounds familiar, there are a number of remedies you might try. In particular, you should make some time between stopping work and sleeping. Many small business owners work right up until the moment they go to bed. This gives you no time to clear your mind or to relax mentally.

Try to take at least half an hour before bed for yourself: read a book, listen to some music, or do something else to help you wind down. This can help ensure that you get to sleep more easily.

No desk potatoes
Exercise is hugely important, both for your immune system and your mental wellbeing. Many business owners often work all hours of the day, and find it difficult to fit in regular exercise.

Cardio-vascular exercise is great for helping you to remain fit and alert. There are a number of ways in which you might fit cardio-vascular activity into your daily schedule. For example, if you work in an office you might consider cycling or walking to work rather than driving or taking public transport. Alternatively, if you work from home, schedule a regular 20-minute walk. This has the dual benefit of forcing you away from the computer for a much-needed break.

Eat well
A good diet is fundamental to good health and feeling sluggish at work because of unhealthy meals and snacking won't do your business any good. But it can be difficult to eat well at work - particularly if you are grabbing a bite to eat at your desk, or between meetings.

Consider making something healthy in advance and taking it to work with you. Try to include a good balance of quick and slow-release energy proteins to give you a quick pick-up and carbohydrates to see you through the day. A vitamin supplement is sometimes a good option if you are aware you aren't getting enough of certain vitamins. If you work long hours, for example, you probably aren't getting any vitamin D from sunlight so taking a supplement can help.

Healthy you = healthy business
It is worryingly easy to forget the importance of your personal health when engaged in the all-consuming task of running a business. But even if you don't consider your wellbeing to be more important than your work, it is true that your business will suffer if you are not healthy. As such, take some time to consider ways in which you can remain physically active, eat well, and stave off bugs.

If you are an employer you may also wish to consider ways that you can encourage healthy practices amongst your staff. Placing health and wellbeing at the heart of your organisation will help to ensure a happy, productive workforce and a successful business.

For more information on buying insurance for your business, visit www.SimplyBusiness.co.uk/insurance [1]