Startup Tip 35: Get more done – take time off

There’s so much to do and not enough time

Everyone starting or running a business has been in the position where it feels like things are a bit overwhelming. We’ve all wondered how to get more done.

There’s so much to do and not enough time. You have to order new supplies, respond to customer service emails, design new products, book more advertising and get your bookkeeping up to date, let alone doing your tax return, tweeting and updating your Facebook page.

When things are like this (which, let’s be honest, is all the time) it’s easy to stick our heads down and try to plough through. Our only focus is how to get more done.

However, the nose to the grindstone strategy of dealing with the workload is counterproductive.

And why? The simple reason that there will always be more work than we can handle.

So if we just put our head down and try to get more done, we will never have a break.  And because we are humans, not machines, eventually something important will give way: we mess up a big order, botch a key sales presentation, fail to make strategic plans or, even worse, our health gives way or our closest relationships show signs of strain.

Here’s the key to get more done:

We are actually more productive, happier and healthier (and get more done) when we make time for regular downtime in our routine.

Downtime is important because:

• It gives us perspective and an opportunity to realign ourselves with our priorities and goals
• It allows our mind & body to rest which is important in strengthening our immune system. Think of it as an insurance policy to help prevent getting sick, and recovering more quickly when you do.
• Our productivity increases
• We socialise and exercise. Not only is this fun, but it restores for our sense of well being

The idea that we cannot afford to take time off is a dangerous myth. Even Y-Combinator participants take time off.

“We encourage founders to not underestimate the importance of exercise, sleep, and taking breaks to restore energy and creativity,” says Harj Taggar, a partner at Y Combinator in Mountain View, Calif. “It’s better to average eight solid hours of productivity a day than it is to output 12 hours of mediocre ones. [Twitter cofounder] Jack Dorsey is running two $1 billion plus companies and he finds time to take Saturdays off to recharge.”

– from Alina Dizik’s article on 6 Time-Management Tips From Accelerator Programs

Action:

Are you using the head down approach? How can you increase your startup productivity and get more done? What simple routines can you incorporate into your daily and weekly schedule to give yourself some time out?

Things I am personally working on right now include:

• Setting an alarm to go off regularly so I remember to drink water (and breathe!) regularly during the day. (Anyone know of a good alarm app I can put on my computer?)
• Noticing when I feel tired and giving myself a short break instead of pushing it.
• Taking time to connect with my kids each day when they get home from school
• Doing a sport I enjoy on Saturday mornings. (I’m currently having a go at archery.)
• And I am working towards not working at all on Sundays! 🙂

Further Reading:

Book: Toughness Training for Life – James E. Loehr.

This is an amazing book explaining the principles behind getting more out of ourselves while staying healthy. It covers simple strategies, developed through the author’s experience as a sports psychologist, that you can implement to become more effective.

Not the most well-written book I’ve read, but the information is priceless. It’s on my ‘Most personally impacting books I’ve read” list.

Join the Conversation

What do you do that keeps you refreshed and energised?

Have your say in the comments – or use them to create a little bit of extra motivation and accountability to get your action task for today done.

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Image used under Creative Commons license courtesy of  ukslim