Two Days in One: How to Double Your Output and Recharge Your Startup

The most important part of managing your productivity and your startup is learning to manage yourself. By structuring your day efficiently, maintaining your health, and encouraging others to do the same, you can recharge yourself and your startup.

Taking the time to invest in yourself, your employees, and your co-workers has a measurable return on investment in the form of a more efficient and effective company that accomplishes in one day what others might in two.

Adjust Your Schedule

A work schedule should reflect your social, professional, and personal needs, and in today’s digital and global economy, traditional 9-to-5 workdays are probably not the most optimal strategy. Fortunately, working for a startup offers flexibility that’s hard to find in other fields.

Start by determining how your body works and play to its strengths. If you work best before the sun rises, begin your workday in the early morning and end in the early afternoon. If a mid-afternoon workout gives you an energy boost, schedule time to go each day, and you’ll be able to work later into the evening.

I divide my 24-hour day into three seven-hour shifts and three one-hour breaks. One seven-hour block is reserved for sleep, but I work two seven-hour shifts — with a break in between — to squeeze two workdays into one. The first shift is reserved for meetings with clients and members of my team; the second is spent answering email.

Sticking to a schedule is important, but don’t be afraid to allow some flexibility for unforeseen events, like a last-minute invite to the big game. I like to combine two of my one-hour breaks into a two-hour dinner or social event. If you do make adjustments, take a moment to understand their impact on your day — and the days to come — and be prepared to compensate accordingly to get back on track.

Feed the Machine

After you’ve established a schedule that’s tailored to your needs, take a little time to reflect on your sleep habits and your diet. Being busy is no excuse for skipping sleep or allowing fast food to dominate your diet. Our bodies function best when we take the time to eat healthy, nutritious meals and rest to recharge.

Think about what you’re eating. Foods that are high in carbohydrates or sugars are the leading cause of that infamous 4 o’clock slump, which we tend to cure with more sugar and caffeine. Give serious thought to abandoning these artificial energy boosts and focus on natural ways to regulate your body’s vitality.

To get the most out of your body, you need to invest in it consistently. I abstain from caffeine, sugar, and carbs throughout the day and stick to vegetables and protein to avoid energy highs and lows. Essentials include eating healthy, fulfilling meals — smaller, protein-packed portions more often throughout the day are ideal — and sleeping as much as you need each night. It can be tough to break a cycle of sugar-induced rushes and crashes, but healthier living is its own reward, allowing you to work more productively for the entire day.

Be Open About Your Needs

Transparency about your needs, as well as those of your employees, will go a long way toward achieving company-wide understanding and optimal performance. Speak candidly about what you need to be most productive (e.g., schedule and work environment), and encourage your co-workers to do the same.

Once you know the conditions that allow everyone to perform at their best, work to accommodate their needs. Companies that allow their employees to function with flexibility will have loyal, happier, and more productive workers. For example, if one of your staff members prefers to work from noon until 8 p.m. each day, he’s a more logical candidate to meet with a client who isn’t available until later in the day.

Identifying the best combination of schedules is a challenge and requires compromise and patience. View each day as an experiment as you determine the best approach to managing schedules and encouraging a healthy work environment. With clear communication about your goals and plenty of input from others, you will eventually develop a lifestyle/work routine that allows you and your team to thrive at maximum efficiency.

Recharge Yourself

Ultimately, the key to recharging your startup is recharging yourself and being a role model for those around you. Imagine regaining all the time traditionally lost to post-lunch crashes, caffeine jitters, and the two hours spent in a haze each morning because your brain doesn’t kick in until 10 a.m. A little effort and discipline can yield amazing benefits. It starts with knowing what’s best for your body — and the bodies around you — and treating them well.

Question: What changes can you make to increase your output and recharge yourself? You can leave a comment by clicking here.