In 2014, I walked away from what many would consider a dream career. I had a strong role in investment banking at HSBC, reporting one level below the CFO, with work spread across Bengaluru, London, and Gurgaon. It was stable, predictable, and financially rewarding. But I chose to step out and try building a startup instead.
My first venture, an edtech startup, failed miserably. The financial stress, uncertainty, and constant comparison with peers hit hard. I remember looking at classmates’ LinkedIn posts and wondering if I had made a mistake in my career choice. During that time, a friend suggested something simple: start exercising to manage the stress. That advice was a game changer, in more ways than one.
What began as a basic way to cope slowly became the one routine that kept me mentally balanced. Whenever I felt angry, confused, or low, I trained. It was not about aesthetics or fitness goals. Exercise helped me not spiral during difficult phases. Even when I pivoted from edtech to health-tech and later to lifestyle disorders management, this habit remained the most reliable support system.
Mental load of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship removes all structure from life. There are no defined working hours, no guaranteed results, and no steady path. Everything depends on decisions you make, and those decisions come with financial risks, people management issues, and constant problem-solving. This pressure builds quietly, affecting focus, sleep, and emotional stability.
What makes it harder is that the challenges keep changing. One day it’s cash flow, another day it’s product delays or people problems…on certain other days, it is further exacerbated by personal problems!! There’s always something demanding attention. This ongoing pressure can easily lead to frustration, self-doubt, and emotional fatigue if there is no reliable way to manage it.
The “Happy Hormone” Effect
Exercise helped because it triggered changes in my brain and body that improved how I handled pressure. Some of the key chemicals released during physical activity include:
- Endorphins – Reduce discomfort and create a sense of relief
- Serotonin – Helps stabilise mood and reduces irritability
- Dopamine – Supports motivation and the drive to continue
- Norepinephrine – Improves alertness and sharpness during stressful tasks
These aren’t abstract concepts. I felt the difference clearly after every workout. My mood improved, my mind became lighter, and problems felt less overwhelming.
How Exercise Changed My Brain!
When I started exercising, I had no idea that it also increased BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor). This protein supports learning, memory, and overall brain flexibility. In entrepreneurship, where situations change quickly and decisions need to be adapted on the go, this flexibility matters. Looking back, I realise that regular workouts helped me stay sharper at times when the workload was at its peak.
Exercise also helped bring daily stress down to a manageable level. Running a company means constant mental activity – revenue, people, operations, new ideas, and failures. Stress rarely shows up as one big event; it builds slowly through the day. Training gave me a way to reset. Even if I entered the gym frustrated, I would leave with a clearer head. Short workouts were enough to break the stress cycle and prevent it from carrying into the next day.
Over the years, these effects combined to create stability. Clear thinking and reduced stress helped me communicate better, analyse situations more calmly, and handle setbacks without losing control emotionally. It wasn’t about inspiration – it was a practical way to stay functional during tough phases.
After a decade of being an entrepreneur, I can say that exercise contributed more to my stability than any strategy book or productivity tool. It improved my mood, sharpened my thinking, and gave me emotional control on days that were otherwise chaotic. Entrepreneurship demands constant switching between decisions, disagreements, uncertainties, and responsibilities. Without a strong mental base, these pressures can wear you down quickly. Regular training helped me stay steady enough to move through them.
This is why I believe exercise should be a basic requirement for people in high-stress roles – especially founders and leaders. You don’t need long or complicated workouts. Even simple, consistent activity can support better decisions, emotional resilience, and long-term clarity. A clear mind is a major advantage in business, and movement directly supports that.
Over time, I adopted a simple principle: move first, think later. On difficult days, a workout came before any major decisions. It gave me the clarity and calmness needed to handle whatever was waiting. Exercise didn’t just keep me healthy; it kept me sane. And in entrepreneurship, staying mentally steady often becomes the deciding factor between burning out and building something worthwhile.
