Why Taking Care of Your Body Is Just as Important as Building Your Business
Nov 09, 2026
As women entrepreneurs, we're really good at taking care of things.
Our businesses, our clients, our kids, our families. We build routines, manage schedules, solve problems, and somehow keep everything moving.
But how often do we put that same effort into taking care of ourselves?
In this week's episode of This Mother Means Business, I'm joined by my friend and client, Kerri Hallman, a former gym owner and personal trainer who now works with women on hormone health, particularly through perimenopause.
And let me tell you, as a woman approaching 40, I was taking notes.
We talked about sleep, stress, hormones, nutrition, and why so many women spend years feeling exhausted, bloated, or just generally off, assuming that's simply part of getting older.
But what if we didn't have to accept feeling that way?
We've Got to Stop Putting Ourselves Last
One thing Kerri said really stuck with me.
As mothers and business owners, we'll put an incredible amount of effort into making sure our kids eat properly, get enough sleep, and have consistent routines.
We'll spend hours building systems and strategies to make our businesses run better.
And then, when it comes to ourselves?
We'll get to it later.
Except later turns into months, and then years.
And suddenly we're wondering why we're exhausted, struggling to sleep, or don't feel like ourselves anymore.
Kerri's message was simple: Put as much effort into taking care of your body as you put into building your business.
Because what good is a successful business if you're too exhausted to enjoy the life you're building?
Your Body Might Be Telling You Something
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was talking about the things women have come to accept as normal.
Waking up exhausted. Hitting a wall at 3 p.m. Brain fog. Bloating. Poor sleep. Feeling like your body isn't responding the way it used to.
Especially as we approach perimenopause, it's easy to assume these things are just part of life.
Kerri explained that these can be signals worth paying attention to rather than simply pushing through.
And here's something I found particularly interesting: we spend so much time looking at data in our businesses, but how often do we take the same approach to our health?
We track revenue, analyze marketing performance, and measure results. Yet when it comes to our bodies, we often rely on how we think we're doing.
Kerri shared how looking more closely at her own health helped her recognize that she needed to change her approach to exercise and recovery.
It's a reminder that understanding what's happening in our bodies matters, and that persistent symptoms deserve proper attention rather than another generic wellness plan.
Sometimes the Basics Really Are the Answer
Here's where our backgrounds in fitness and business mentorship overlap.
Everyone wants the exciting solution.
The new workout. The perfect meal plan. The magic strategy that's going to change everything.
But the foundations? They're not particularly sexy.
And they're often exactly where we need to start.
Kerri shared a few practical habits she encourages women to focus on:
- Eating consistently: Making time for regular, balanced meals instead of skipping lunch because your calendar is packed.
- Prioritizing sleep: Building a consistent sleep routine and giving yourself enough opportunity to rest.
- Staying hydrated: Actually drinking water throughout the day instead of surviving on coffee.
- Paying attention to stress: Recognizing how much we're asking of ourselves, both physically and mentally.
Of course, everyone's health needs are different, and these habits aren't a substitute for individualized medical care.
But they're a useful reminder that taking care of ourselves doesn't always require some massive lifestyle overhaul.
Sometimes it's making sure we actually eat lunch.
And yes, I felt personally called out by that one.
Feeling Good Is About More Than Weight Loss
Something else I really appreciated about this conversation was Kerri's approach to health.
It's not just about losing weight or changing how your body looks.
It's about having energy. Sleeping better. Feeling strong. Being comfortable in your own skin.
And for women who are running businesses, raising families, and managing a million responsibilities, those things matter.
Because when you're constantly running on empty, it affects everything else you're trying to do.
You can't keep treating your health like something you'll get around to once everything else is taken care of.
There will always be another client, another deadline, another thing that needs your attention.
You deserve some of that attention, too.
Your Health Deserves a Place in Your Business Plan
I've always believed that we should build businesses that support the lives we actually want to live.
And a big part of that is taking care of the person running the business.
You don't have to do everything perfectly. You don't need another complicated routine or a hundred new rules to follow.
But you do need to recognize that your health is worth prioritizing now, not someday when things slow down.
Because if there's one thing I've learned about entrepreneurship, it's that things rarely slow down on their own.
This week's conversation with Kerri is full of practical insights, honest moments, and a few reminders I think a lot of women need to hear.
Listen to the full episode of This Mother Means Business to hear our conversation about hormones, perimenopause, sleep, stress, and taking better care of ourselves.
