As an entrepreneur who travels over 200 days a year, I'm all too familiar with the ongoing grind of starting, scaling and sustaining a business, charity or social enterprise – and how overwhelming it can be. Like most entrepreneurs, I find the process exciting, but exhausting at times, and it's a cycle that leaves little room or personal energy for the most important part of being an entrepreneur: innovation.

Steve Jobs said“Innovation is the only way to succeed. You can't stand still.” Most entrepreneurs know intuitively that if you're staying in business, you're essentially going backwards, because we have to assume that our competitors are constantly innovating and pushing forward.

Although we know how essential it is to get time to innovatetaking the time to just think and try to conceive of the next big idea is something we don't prioritize enough in our busy work and personal lives.

As challenging as it can be, I've adopted some practices to make “innovation time” as much a part of my schedule as other key elements of business success like financial reviews, preparing for big meetings, or overseeing human resources.

Related: I've spent 37 years in business – here's how I've beaten the odds and stayed ahead

1. Use the flight time to disconnect and think

From the airport lounge to when I get off the plane, air travel it provides a rare window when I don't have appointments scheduled. The temptation is to use that time to catch up on emails and texts, even while cruising at 30,000 feet. But once we're in the air, I put the phone down and use that time to read, journal, or close my eyes and think.

This intentional disconnection helps me clear my mind and open it to new reflections and ideas that don't often appear during hectic work days or busy evenings and weekends with my family.

2. The mentor walks

One of my favorite practices is to go for a long walk or hike with one of my own mentors – preferably somewhere remote and quiet, away from the distractions of the city. I learned this technique from one of my first mentors, Richard Branson, and have developed it over the years with regular walks with him and other mentors.

Walking in nature calms our minds and gives us time to think and discuss big ideas and challenges. The free flow of outdoor conversation, movement, and stillness can be transformative and has led to some of my greatest breakthroughs in innovation. On one such walk with another mentor, eBay's founding President Jeff Skoll, we developed an entire model for a social enterprise that we later launched and ran for more than a decade.

Given the logistics of carving several hours for both myself and my mentor, it takes work to do these more than twice a year. But the process recharges me and inspires thoughts and ideas that I can return to on my own during the next hours of innovation.

Related: Become a Mentor: 4 Simple Ways to Change a Life

3. Block “innovation hours” into your calendar

Consistently finding time for innovation should be a non-negotiable part of your weekly schedule. This may seem obvious to most, but tracking and using the time as intended is key.

Blocking off innovation time on my calendar also reminds me that innovation is a priority for me and sends a signal to my team that they should too. prioritize innovation on their schedules.

I've learned to be relentless about protecting these hours because something always comes up that can be perceived as more urgent or important.

Related: 7 tips to manage your plan like a pro

4. Fitness time can be innovation time

Most of us know the physical and mental health benefits that come from regular exercise. However, it can also be a tool for unlocking innovation. Exercise gets your heart rate up and endorphins flowing and can often lead to a place of clear, worry-free thinking.

It also teaches us that if we work, we can overcome challenges. Whether it's hitting a new personal best for the bench press, shaving a few seconds off your 3-mile run time, or thinking of a perfect stride for that client, solutions to overcoming physical challenges and business can sometimes overlap. Both require focus and a willingness to deal with discomfort in order to make progress.

I've had a few “eureka” moments in the middle of lifting or in the middle of a yoga flow. When we are fully absorbed in the physical task, our minds are free to wander and intuitively seek to resolve issues that have unconsciously plagued our conscious minds.

So put those workouts on your calendar and protect them as closely as your innovation hours. I'm willing to bet you'll get in better shape and have some “eureka” moments of your own soon.

Once we recognize that innovation is essential to keeping our businesses and organizations moving forward, we must be intentional about regularly carving out time to give our minds the space to innovate.

Your next big innovation is probably not as far away as you think. You just have to be intentional about giving your mind time to unlock it.