If you want to be taken seriously as a leader, you really need to act like one. Regardless of what it says on your business card, no one will take you seriously if you spend all your time slacking off and have trouble delegating.

Think about it this way. If a captain couldn’t successfully lead a ship, there’s a good chance it would go off course. The same is true for your business. If you can’t successfully lead, you’re going to struggle to meet your goals — even with the best team working for you.

In this post, we’re going to cover six healthy habits any business leader should practice.

Get up early

You may have heard that successful people are up at the crack of dawn. Well, that’s not a myth. If you’re running a business and holding out any hope for personal time, you’re going to have to make the most of the hours you have available (and we all have the same number). Most productivity experts recommend getting up around 5 am to take care of that “me time” that’s so important. You can meditate, set goals, exercise, or do whatever feels right to you. But do try to make the most of the time.

Sleep well

While successful people really do get up earlier than most, they don’t sacrifice sleep to do so. When you figure out when you have to wake up, count backward to determine an adequate bedtime. You should get at least seven hours of shuteye each night. And if it takes you a long time to get to sleep, set your bedtime even earlier. Sleep is crucial for brain function and overall success.

Set personal goals

When you’re leading a team, it’s easy to get caught up in everyone else’s goals. But your own goals are what is going to motivate you to reach new heights. Your goals will keep you pushing through when you want to give up. So go ahead and set some time to set some personal goals for the year ahead.

Read daily

The best leaders know that it’s never time to stop learning. And if you want to be a strong leader, you may want to commit to learning every day. You may want to choose a book every week that you can read and learn from. And here’s the best part it doesn’t have to be work-related. Feel free to mix things up and choose business books and books that spark your interest personally.

Plan ahead

In addition to setting long-term goals, successful leaders plan each day before it happens. So if you also want to get ahead of the game, set aside some time each evening to plan your next day. From what you’ll wear to what you’ll say in an important meeting, it helps to know what your day is going to look like. Flying by the seat of your pants may work at times, but it’s definitely not going to give you the same level of confidence as planning ahead. And if you’re worried about making your days boring, don’t. There are enough surprises on any given day to keep you guessing. Control what you can and look at the rest as an opportunity for some excitement.

Learn healthy coping mechanisms

As a leader, expect to endure your fair share of stress. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory. But you don’t have to let stress make you miserable. Learn stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises to help mitigate the inevitable stress you’ll encounter.

Leadership isn’t always easy, but if you can take care of yourself, you’ll be in a better position to lead your team towards a successful outcome.