Starting your own business is hard work and it takes a lot of time. It isn't everyone that can pull this off successfully, and those that do have often built a number of habits that allow them to be more productive than the average person.
Often people who start their own business end up doing more work before – though some believe that being a business owner will result in less. Because of this, it is vital that you build some habits that will ensure productivity every day. Long hours can take a toll on you over time, and you'll have to figure out how to fit more into less in order to maintain productivity for your business. Staying productive isn't about major changes, it is about maintaining the fundamentals over time – keeping up small things that ensure you get the most work done that you possibly can. For advice on how to stay consistently productive, check out some of the tips below:
1. Go to bed early, get up early
One thing that many productive people have in common is the fact that they wake up early every morning – and often this is achieved by going to bed early as well, according to Daniel DiPiazza, the founder of Rich20Something. At one time in your life you may have been able to stay up all night, catch an hour of sleep, rip off three cups of coffee and be ready to get back on the grind. That's tough to keep going for long though, not to mention unhealthy. At some point it will be time to start going to bed early, and waking up early, if you want to stay productive. And it's not even about the amount of sleep you get. Going to bed at 10 p.m. and getting your eight hours is much different than going to bed at 3 a.m. and sleeping for eight hours. While you may be getting the same amount of sleep either way, you'll feel a lot worse if you're hitting the hay at three in the morning.
2. Save the email for later in the day
While this may seem counterproductive, it is in fact a very helpful way to go about the day. Many of us have trouble even considering skipping out on checking our inboxes or social media feeds, however this can hurt your productivity, according to Sumo Group Inc. If you're checking your email in the morning, then you are setting yourself up to act reactively. When an email comes into your inbox asking you to do something, suddenly you're dedicating your valuable hours to someone else's projects instead of your own responsibilities. Make sure that you're taking care of yourself before spending too much time delving into people's email requests.
3. Stay physical to stay sharp
Maintaining physical activity is one thing that many productive people do in order to stay productive, DiPiazza explained. Staying active will keep you both physically and mentally healthy on a regular basis, which will be a huge boon to your productivity. Staying in the gym longer will ultimately help you stay in the office longer and get everything done on your list of tasks. This will give you a source of strength – you can finish this financial plan, you set a personal record in squats yesterday – while giving you regular goals to hit on.
Use the three tips above to stay productive throughout the day, so that you get the most out of the work that you do.