Why CEO Health and Wellness is Now a Business Imperative

CEO health has become a strategic variable for optimizing not only personal performance but also the effectiveness of teams and organizations. With higher degrees of uncertainty becoming the norm rather than the exception, leaders must prioritize their physical and mental well-being. In today’s demanding environment, maintaining health is no longer just a personal priority — it’s a business imperative.

Burnout is a Baseline: The Hidden Cost of CEO Health

Emotional exhaustion is no longer the exception; it’s now embedded in the leadership experience. Recent Vistage research shows that more than two-thirds of CEOs have experienced burnout in the past three months at least occasionally, and nearly a quarter feel that way frequently or nearly every day. A recent Vistage survey of small businesses, conducted in partnership with The Wall Street Journal, revealed that over the past year, more than 7 in 10 small business leaders have experienced symptoms of burnout.

Yet, despite the toll on CEO health, leaders continue to show up: resilient, capable and committed. An impressive 81% report feeling physically and mentally equipped for the demands of their role. But that strength often comes at a cost. Many sleep too little, move too fast and rarely give themselves space to reset.

Only 14% of CEOs describe their current work-life balance as excellent, while one in 10 say it’s poor or non-existent. Four in 10 report struggling to get enough sleep. Over half (52%) of CEOs are not able to completely disconnect when they take time off. These CEO health challenges are not just personal issues; they are business risks.

Common Stressors for CEOs

What is creating stress for leaders? An analysis of open-ended responses about primary contributors reveals a spectrum of stressors. Jac Price, CEO of AVS Bio in Norwich, Connecticut, shares, “Total family demands coupled with total business demands.” CEOs manage demands on multiple levels, reflecting the modern leadership reality where the boundary between professional and personal has blurred, and expectations continue to escalate.

Tom Ratliff, President and CEO of Canopy Insurance Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama, puts it simply: “Allowing work stress to affect other parts of my life.”

What’s emerging is a clear paradox: leaders recognize the importance of CEO health, not just personally, but also professionally. Most acknowledge the role that movement, rest and preventative care play in keeping them sharp. But many struggle to prioritize those habits consistently amid the pressure of daily decisions, evolving expectations and the ever-present “always-on” culture of leadership.

As Sam Ditzell, President of Austin Longevity Clinic in Austin, Texas, admits, “I run a longevity and wellness clinic, so I’m around that focus all day. And it is still hard to find balance at times.”

Protecting CEO Health: Strategies to Alleviate Stress

To protect CEO health and maintain performance, leaders employ a variety of approaches, with many focusing on proactive measures to prevent longer-term health impacts.

• More than 70% of CEOs report adjusting their workload when they feel overwhelmed.
• Many are making time for movement, with 83% engaging in some form of regular physical activity, which has a significant impact on their mood, patience and judgment.
• Eight in 10 CEOs stay current with regular physicals, blood work, and other screenings.

Brian Burns, Co-Founder of Cutting Edge Countertops, Inc. in Perrysburg, Ohio, mentioned getting “annual physicals with primary and executive physicals every 3-5 years.”

Wes Brewer, Founder and CEO of ProGrade Digital, Inc. in San Jose, California, shares his minimum standard: “Carve out time — even when traveling — to at least go for a long walk. At a minimum, exercise 40 minutes twice a week.”

Jason Geisz, CEO and Founder of Famiglia Wealth in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, builds structure around wellness by leveraging “accountability programs like RunLife 2025 mileage, friend group text chains with accomplishments/activity, written goals in front of me [and a] calendar filled with races and events to force training and discipline.”

This isn’t just about surface-level perks. It’s about creating the conditions for sustained leadership capacity and optimized performance. While the tactics vary, the goal remains the same: to protect the energy, clarity and presence required to lead effectively. When it comes to CEO health, what’s at stake isn’t just individual well-being; it’s the longevity of the business itself.

Related Resources

CEO Health and Wellness Resource Center

The ROI of CEO Wellness: Why Your Health Is Your Company’s Hidden Asset

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