What do you do when you aren’t feeling productive, but need to get something important done? We asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council for their best answers that help them get back on track and running their businesses.
The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
1. Go For a Walk
If my brain has turned to sludge but I still have important matters to handle, I force myself to leave my office and go for a walk. It doesn’t matter how heavy my workload is or how tight the deadline. Walking outside provides so many immediate sensory distractions, my head clears within 15 minutes. So, by the time I’m back at my desk, I can handle those pressing issues effectively. –Erica Easley, Gumball Poodle
2. Do a Hot-Cold Circuit
Whenever I’m feeling unproductive, I go to the gym and do a hot-cold circuit, which starts with a trip to the sauna, then the steam room, and then a cold shower. This circuit doesn’t take any physical effort beyond sweating, but it completely changes your state of mind. After the cold shower, you find yourself relaxed, clear-headed, and capable of getting important projects done. – Brian David Crane, Caller Smart Inc.
3. Time Block Your Tasks
I time-block my tasks. In other words, I actually pull up my calendar and schedule time for each step of the important task that must get done. For example, if I need to hire a new employee, I’ll actually schedule appointments with myself to sift through resumes, send follow-up emails, make phone calls, etc. When the task is done, I can be done. – Joshua Dorkin, BiggerPockets
4. Buckle Down
Sometimes the best way to be productive is mind over matter. Whenever I have something I don’t want to do, I try and do that first. Then it’s downhill from there, and everything becomes easier. Sometimes just sitting at your desk and listening to great music helps get you back into a groove. Find a way to enjoy what you have to do and it’ll become effortless. – Lee Salisbury, UnitOneNine
5. Avoid Multitasking
Multitaskers are frequently touted as ultra-productive, but doing multiple things at once has actually been proven to diminish your work quality and attention span for each project you’re trying to juggle. That’s why I prioritize, and then zero in on the most important tasks one-by-one when I feel my productivity waning. – Elle Kaplan, LexION Capital
6. Exercise
Physical exercise is something that instantly ups my productivity. It wakes me up and stimulates creativity and thinking. There’s something about the process of physical movement that sharpens my brain back up to get a project done. Plus, stepping away from the computer helps to improve my focus and interest. – Zach Binder, Ranklab
7. Start a Timer
My desktop timer records all billable time, so when it’s running I know I have to be working. It also captures screenshots to keep me accountable and monitors activity levels so I can check up on my productivity. Once I hit start, I start working even if I’m not feeling productive, because in my head I’m billing for that time. – Dave Nevogt, Hubstaff.com
8. Adjust Your Spotify Playlist Accordingly
I keep track of the effects different songs have on my mood and energy level and use Spotify playlists to enter the correct mindset for the task. When I need to conquer creative tasks and have no inspiration, I use high beat per minute (bpm) music like EDM. When I need to focus on a longer task, I use movie scores. It immediately gets my mind back in gear without needing a break. – Brennan White, Cortex
9. Turn Everything Off
Productivity can be really damaged when there are endless distractions coming at you from every direction. An instant way to take control and retain focus is to turn off your cell phone, log out of every site and switch into incognito mode, so you’re not tempted to stray into a bookmark. Works every time! – Marvin Amberg, Caseable
10. Focus Elsewhere Briefly, Then Return
When I find myself in a less than productive mindset, I will often look for one or two quick items that can be accomplished relatively painlessly, with an aim for generating momentum from their completion. Almost without exception, accomplishing a few smaller items will put my mind back into the zone it needs to be in to handle the more important task at hand. – Jeff Jahn, DynamiX
11. Know Your Inner Motivator
For some, it’s reading a book, listening to music or watching a favorite movie. Whatever it may be, everyone should come to know and nurture their inner motivator. It’s an important, sometimes pivotal tool to have handy when you eventually hit a productivity lull. Don’t think you have time for it? Spending an entire day being unproductive is an even less valuable use of your time. – Blair Thomas, First American Merchant
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Want a more ambitious way to be more productive? Make sure you have these 3 hobbies checked off.
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