I once heard motivational expert Brian Tracy say that when you've found your true calling, you'll get annoyed by the fact that you have to stop to eat and sleep. Since shifting my focus from medicine to a new, multi-pronged career as an author, speaker, wellness expert, coach and flamenco dancer, my biggest challenge has been knowing when to stop, and pacing myself so I don't burn out.

Entrepreneurs are a unique species: We have more drive, passion and energy than almost anyone else. But if we don't learn to manage that energy, we can easily drive our body, our life and our beloved business into the ground. On the other hand, if you learn how to harness, nurture and feed both your energy and your life, you--and your business--will be unstoppable.

Here are eight ways for you to stay healthy and full of energy so you can maximize your chances of success:

1. Make time for people. Healthy relationships protect your health more effectively than any diet or exercise program. In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell tells the story of Roseto, a small Pennsylvania town in which the heavy-smoking, fat-eating, largely overweight population miraculously enjoys half the national rate of heart disease. The town's secret? A tightly knit community with bonds and traditions that span and connect generations.
   
   I get so caught up in my work sometimes that it's hard to find time for my husband, friends and family. It's easy to put people off, to make promises of all the things you'll do with them "soon" or "later" or "when I get this off the ground." Making time for them now isn't only good for them; it's essential for you.
    
2. Eat to win. In the early days of my business, I was so excited that I often forgot to eat. I'd check my e-mail as soon as I got out of bed, and it would be noon before I knew it. I'd grab something quick for lunch and then work away, living off microwave popcorn and fruit until my husband came home in the evening. Though I have a degree in nutrition and should know better, I didn't want to miss a second of the action. Daily headaches, exhaustion and a possible diagnosis of multiple sclerosis forced me to realize I couldn't sustain the way I was pushing myself.
   
   Research shows that if you take two students with equal intelligence and give one breakfast while "starving" the other, the well-fed student dramatically outperforms the other on examinations. Whom would you rather have sitting behind your desk?
   
   To achieve our business goals, we need to be able to think clearly and quickly, make tough decisions and finish the important tasks we set for ourselves. You powerfully improve your chances of top performance by:
    
   • Eating breakfast
   • Eating something healthy every two to three hours, including a protein source in every meal, to improve concentration and alertness
   • Avoiding high-sugar or high-carbohydrate foods that ultimately crash your energy and make you sleepy
     
   • Eating complex, high-fiber carbohydrates that provide sustained energy
   • Maintaining a high antioxidant load in your body by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables
   • Having a glass of water on hand at all times to keep you and your brain well-hydrated.
      
3. Sleep smart. The busier we get, the more we cut corners, and usually one of the first things to go is sleep. Many entrepreneurs I know pride themselves on needing almost no sleep, but research shows they'd perform better and enjoy life more if they got at least seven or eight hours a night. Sleeping less than seven hours a night is strongly associated with weight gain and obesity, rapid aging, increased rates of depression and anxiety, poor decision-making, diabetes and decreased immunity.
   
   For deep sleep and optimal melatonin secretion (the pineal gland hormone that keeps you young and helps you wake up rested), start turning your life down well before you hit the sheets. Dim the lights and stay away from your computer, television and even your phone/PDA before you go to bed, as the bright screens make your brain think it's still daytime. Avoid caffeine at least six hours before bedtime, have some tryptophan-rich milk instead of REM-disturbing alcohol as a nightcap, and keep your bedroom work-free and cool to promote deep and easy sleep.
    
4. Get moving in any way that you can. Activity relieves stress, wakes up your brain, renews your energy and boosts your mood. A study from the University of Vermont showed that just 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise at the beginning of your day immediately improves your mood and sustains that good mood for up to 12 hours. I achieve this level of exercise by power-walking my dog every morning. He has to go out anyway, so it's win-win.
    
5. Escape regularly. If you're constantly working inside your business, you deprive yourself of your greatest potential for creatively refining and growing your baby. I've almost never had an "aha" moment in my office--those usually come when I'm sitting on a beach, driving down a country road or in an airplane looking out over fields below. Detaching from your daily routine, even just for a few hours, refreshes your mind and body, makes room for new ideas, and gives you a priceless perspective on your business and life.
    
6. Look for opportunities to laugh. Laughter decreases stress hormone levels and positively stimulates your brain's reward center in the same way that sex and chocolate do. Sex and chocolate aren't always available, but you can usually find something to laugh about. Take breaks to watch funny videos on YouTube, choose comedy movies and television programs instead of dark dramas, and deliberately spend phone, Facebook or face time with the funniest people you know.
    
7. Make the most of music. The right music can boost your energy, improve your mood and even raise your self-esteem. There's a reason the managers of both hockey and sales teams play upbeat, highly charged music before sending their players out to get their goals. When you feel your optimism or energy flagging, put on some music you love, and watch what happens.
    
8. Play passionately. Feeding a personal passion that has nothing to do with work will relieve stress, add a spring to your step and give you something to look forward to, no matter what's happening in your business. I love travel of any length or kind, nature walks with my dog, a great book and delicious hole-in-the-wall authentic ethnic restaurants.

Commit to building a rich, varied, healthy life in and around the day-to-day tasks of your business, and you'll be much more likely to reach your most cherished business goals. And the healthier and happier and more intact your life is when you get there, the more you'll enjoy and celebrate that success when it comes.

Susan Biali, M.D. is a medical doctor, wellness expert, speaker, coach, flamenco dancer and author of Live a Life You Love: 7 Steps to a Healthier, Happier, More Passionate You.