Stress is reaching new heights with deadlines and corporate politics’ ever-increasing pressure. Though you might feel an intense sense of accomplishment when you get a proposal accepted or a project deadline met, the work doesn’t stop there.

There will always be one more thought to tweak for tomorrow’s meeting and another mountain of tasks to conquer. There are so many tasks in front of us that we lose focus on ourselves – our well-being.

Missing out on self-care can have disastrous effects on your health, affecting your ability to do your job well and keep up with the demands while on the clock or outside office hours. Think again when you can push through your exhaustion and grumble through the pain. You’re only hurting yourself and those around you, both physically and professionally. Your ability to be productive at work is directly related to your mental health.

Though stress is a vague term, it is the body’s physical and psychological response to perceived pressure. We’re creatures of habit and tend to do what we know best in stressful situations. This can lead us into bad habits, such as smoking or consuming too much alcohol. These habits can lead to long-term health issues like high blood pressure, heart attacks, and an increased risk for certain types of cancer.

Sleep Issues

If you feel like the pulling power of insomnia has you in a tight grip, chances are you’re suffering from chronic stress. While many business leaders ask themselves “do I have insomnia?”, most never prioritize seeking the help they need. Over time, poor sleep patterns will lead to poor work performance. While many business leaders wear their lack of sleep as a badge of honor, its negative impact on one’s abilities and decision-making skills makes it more like earning a Purple Heart.

Don’t make the mistake of letting lack of sleep hurt your bottom line. See a sleep specialist and find out what’s keeping you from getting the rest you need to be your best during the day.

Chronic Fatigue

When you’ve worked your way up to upper management, it is easy to treat yourself like a machine that never needs a break. However, working non-stop without taking time for yourself is like running a marathon without stretching first. It can strain your physical health and cause chronic fatigue issues beyond mere sleep deprivation.

Aches & Pains

It’s easy to shrug aches and pains off as an unavoidable side effect of the daily grind. But it can lead to serious health issues when you don’t get those aches and pains checked out because you’ve resigned yourself to thinking they’ll go away.

High Blood Pressure

Unhealthy or unchecked responses to stress like increased heart rate, anxiety or anger can lead to a higher blood pressure best treated with medication. You need to take care of yourself first before trying to succeed at work.

Heart Attacks

High-stress levels have been linked to heart attacks and other life-threatening conditions. Hospitalization would keep you from running your business, while the condition itself could mean far worse. With this in mind, business leaders must be mindful of their stress levels and find healthy ways to mitigate its effects on their mental health and personal wellbeing.

Mental Health Also Affects Decision-making

When your mental health isn’t at optimal levels, your performance will also suffer. Stress makes it hard to focus on the task at hand and is a widespread cause of workplace accidents.

When you’re feeling depressed or anxious, you will have a much harder time managing stressful situations. Your focus will be diverted to negative thoughts, leading to discouragement or even depression. You may make simple mistakes that add up and cause severe problems for your business. This can be avoided if you take care of not just your physical health but also your mental health as well.

Mental health is also key to practical decision-making skills. When you’re running on little to no sleep and suffering from stress, you’re more likely to make bad decisions that will harm your business overall.

Stress can be a significant problem for those who work long hours. And it’s not just the big guys on campus, either. A study that involved 282 white-collar workers at a major U.S. company revealed that many were suffering from stress-related symptoms, ranging from hypertension to headaches or trouble sleeping.

Getting in a workout is the easiest way to relieve stress. You’ll enjoy the benefits of physical exercise, even if it’s only for 15-20 minutes each day. And it can be a great mood booster when you’re under stress. Here are some tips to help you start your morning off with a healthy dose of exercise:

Take short walks during your break to relieve fatigue and boost your mood. Walking is an easy activity that everyone can do, so take advantage of the time and improve your health at the same time. If you don’t have enough time to walk, try stretching instead.