Entrepreneurs are good for the economy. Startups that bring new products and services to market stimulate the job economy, introducing new entry-level roles, and eventually delivering experienced workers to larger industries. As a general rule, competition is positive, and entrepreneurship also improves existing enterprises, often driving their industries forward at large.
Equipped with this understanding, most strong economies strive to offer a strong infrastructure to attract entrepreneurial talent. Before the COVID-pandemic, there were 804,398 ‘new’ businesses—startups that were less than one year old (Statista, 2019). That number represented a high after a long and steady rise; after the global financial crisis, the number of new businesses fell to a fifteen year low of 560,588.
Facing the recessive economy brought on by COVID-19, and looking forward toward the task of a global recovery, there’s a shared sentiment around the need to protect the world’s entrepreneurs. On a policy level, that has important implications. But for an entrepreneur, ‘protection’ also has a health element—one that’s less understood and equally important to startup-friendly policy.
The Physical Health Side of Support
The financial implications of injuries are well known in the workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for 33% of workplace related injury and illness cases. That number was derived in 2013, and over the last 50 years, sedentary professions in the US have increased by 20%. So, while active work like heavy lifting or reaching overhead can lead to MSDs, so can improper postures, small repetitive actions (like toggling a mouse), and prolonged inactivity.
Employers everywhere started doing the math, and MSDs turned out to be a huge economic drain on employers. The direct costs of MSDs, globally, can be estimated at around $20 billion; the indirect costs—training replacement, lost productivity, accident investigation—can be up to five times greater than the direct.
But the math is different for entrepreneurs—and not in their favor. First, entrepreneurship is a labor of love, especially at the beginning, and founders often work longer hours than the average worker. A poll by Gallup found that 39% of business owners reported working 60 hours every week. Beyond the increase in hours, the cost of any time lost due to their own injury falls directly on their shoulders. Not only does time off from work directly impact their venture, but Gallop also found that almost 25% of entrepreneurs don’t have health insurance, much higher than the workplace average of 10%.
Pain Costs—Health as a Non-Renewable Resource
In order for entrepreneurs to do what they do best, they need to take their health into their own hands. Active and preventative measures, including an ergonomic office set-up and daily healthy habits, can go a long way in staving off chronic injury and curing existing aches and pains. Solo entrepreneurs and founders with small teams who invest in health solutions will have more time on their hands, more focused hours in their day, and greater returns in the long run. Success isn’t success if it comes at the cost of your health; below are a few ways to get started.
Ergonomics: Small Change, Big Gain
It’s long been the story of industry giants that they started in a cramped living room, or in a cold garage. Now, under the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic, even more founders and small teams are committed to working from home. Wherever a founder spends his or her time, it’s crucial that the workstation is fitted to the specific dimensions, reminding and enforcing good posture habits throughout the day.
Ergotron has a workspace planner that can help professionals make targeted adjustments. Entrepreneurs can enter their height and see the optimal measurements for their set-up; the specific height of their chair, desk, and monitor, as well as the space between their eyes and their screen. A simple change like tilting a monitor upwards can promote a more natural gaze, which in turns leads to relaxed shoulders and a healthy neck position.
A few more changes will go a long way. When seated, professionals should pay attention to the foundation of their posture: their feet, their back, and their shoulders. Their feet should be supported by a foot rest or another firm surface, promoting a strong core and relieving seated load from their lower back and their legs. The curve of their lumbar back should be supported, whether by a small pillow or a towel tucked in the back of the seat. Shoulders should be relaxed and pulled back—a task that’s harder said than done. Proper elbow placement and adequate screen distance helps stave off the temptation of hunching forward.
A Healthy, Happy Mind
Chronic aches, pains, and general workplace stressors also have mental health outcomes—another unfortunate reality of launching a business. But again, a few proactive solutions can work wonders for hard workers.
Lighting is a too-often neglected component of a healthy work set-up. Light triggers circadian rhythms, and the body is easily confused after long nights spent in front of a bright monitor. As a result, even if a founder is able to pull away from the screen early, they’re often unable to get to sleep. Natural lighting through the day, when possible, is a great way to offer your body more cues regarding your environment. Working by a window or a natural light source helps you stay more in tune with the rhythms of the day. When the sun goes down, it’s best to dim the lighting of the work environment to match; if a founder has a few more hours to log, turning on Night Mode or using an app that turns a computer screen more red can help mitigate that negative blue-light effect.
Just as bad habits can be cultivated, good habits stick; founders who are feeling the long hours they’ve been putting in can see quick results with a few easy changes. Entrepreneurs are known for their strength, resilience, and sacrifice, but they also know when to invest and how to think ahead. And while an investment made toward their health might not be the most exciting item on the list, smart entrepreneurs understand that they can’t afford to wait. Good health gives compounding returns, and entrepreneurship is a long, long game.
