The internet is filled with articles about hacking our way to success. That’s understandable. Everyone wants to be told it’s not their fault. That they can take a little pill and all their dreams will come true. In reality, time is always necessary for doing something great. It’s how the universe works. Good results take a time commitment. Good results mean you may need to work more.
What most of us need to do is simply work more hours. Think about it. If we work 80 hours per week as opposed to 40, we’ll get the same work done in 6 months as it takes most people to get done in a year.
That’s pretty cool. Keeping a healthy work/life balance is important but when you have the chance to work a lot – while young, while on a business trip without family – take advantage of it.
The following post details ways you can get more work done in order to bring home more bacon.
1. Diet
The first three ideas I’m listing should be obvious. But they are worth trying to drill into your head one more time. Why? Because seriously. If we aren’t doing these three things right, we have no reason to complain about being tired, having diabetes or having low energy levels.
Eat a healthy diet. Focus on eating lean protein and vegetables. These will give you nutrients while keeping your blood sugar stable. Going longer will be less of an issue.
2. Sleep
Depending on your lifestyle/age, how much sleep you need varies. Find out what works best for you and stick to it. I remember years ago, I’d always get tired in the afternoon. Now, I’ve realized I need 8 hours and 15 minutes per night in order to be at a computer all day and not feel tired. No more. No less.
3. Exercise
We all have to exercise if we want to get the most out of our lives. One great life hack is to get a walking desk. It’s basically a treadmill with a tall desk across it. It’s a great way to log miles while working. Efficient.
4. Listen to Crazy Music
I listen to electronic dance music nearly all day. I’m listening to it right now. It keeps my energy level high and keeps me motivated. Only instead of dancing, I’m freelancing.
5. Drink Water
If my energy level does drop, I always ask myself if I’ve been drinking enough water. The answer = no. Stay hydrated. Use a water bottle instead of a glass if you’re worried about spilling on your new Macbook Pro.
6. Wear the Proper Clothing
Even if you work remote, wear proper clothing. How we feel on the outside is how we feel on the inside. It’s why wearing nice clothing gives us more confidence. Just putting shoes on instead of sandals ups my productivity by probably 30%. It’s crazy. I also never wear a hoody at work since it makes me feel like being lazy.
7. Set Goals
Goals motivate us. It gives us something to shoot for. Without them, why work more? You don’t see any benefit to be gained.
8. Avoid What You Don’t Enjoy
If you don’t naturally want to work a lot of hours, there’s a problem. The work must not be fun. If this is the case, avoid suck tasks or even change careers entirely. For me, I outsource what I don’t enjoy. It’s SO MUCH EASIER going through the day if you enjoy everything you do. This includes non-business activities like mowing your lawn, grocery shopping, etc. Use those hours to work instead.
9. But Don’t Do Only One Thing
Keep a balance to your day. Then your day won’t be boring and you’ll be excited to work longer. Keep adding or subtracting things until you get this balance right.
10. Hang Around Like-Minded People
Some people unfortunately hate their jobs and think you’re crazy for working anything above the minimum. You don’t want these people around you. Hang out with other people who are kicking butt in this world. They will understand your drive. These people are always more fun as well since they really appreciate the free time they have. Instead of going to Buffalo Wild Wings every Tuesday, they decide to jet off to Europe once a month. Which person would you rather know?
11. Have a Good Place to Work
I had one job where I felt like I was an inconvenience if I stayed late. People would stop by my desk and ask me why I hadn’t gone home yet. The cleaning crew would come at 5:15 PM and ask me to lift my feet to they could vacuum. The building got eerily quiet. It made me second guess why I was still there. That’s horrible. Make sure you work in a place that matches your drive. If you have always worked at home, consider signing up for a coworking space.
12. Take Breaks
I used to work straight through the day. That left me feeling pretty crummy at the end of the day. If it’s the same with you, take breaks. 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the afternoon and an hour for lunch is a good place to start. Cut down or increase as necessary.
13. Avoid Illness
You needn’t be a total germaphobe but use common sense. Getting sick can take you from 10 hours per day of productivity to 0. That’s a heck of a hit.
Conclusion
Keep things in perspective. Work hard, play hard.
“There are only two pains in life – the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” – Tony Robbins
