By YEC
12 Productivity Habits From Entrepreneurs
What's one habit you adhere to in order to maintain productive, no matter how busy or stressed you are?
In this article, YEC members share how they achieve productivity while running successful businesses.
Avoid "Busy" At All Costs
This might rub many people the wrong way but I think that being busy is a choice. I don't ever want to be busy, even though I'm deeply involved in two businesses at the moment. I avoid "busy" at all costs. Here's how I do it. First, I never let the urgent drag me out of the important, unless it's a life or death situation. Next, I make a clear distinction between needle-moving activities and zero-profit activities - and focus all my attention on those high-leverage tasks. Finally, I block my time for deep work. When someone or something demands my attention in my blocked time, I get it done anyway, but later. I can stay longer hours in the office. I sometimes work on holidays and weekends. There's no secret - just commitment and work.
Solomon Thimothy, President, OneIMS
Stay Curious
One habit I find crucial for maintaining productivity, regardless of stress or workload, is fostering a sense of curiosity in my work. Approaching work with curiosity transforms routine tasks into opportunities for learning and innovation. This mindset keeps engagement levels high and prevents burnout, as each task becomes a chance to explore new ideas or improve existing processes. It turns challenges into puzzles to be solved, making the work itself a source of motivation. These strategies ensure that I remain focused and productive, turning the act of work into a rewarding experience that balances achievement with personal growth and satisfaction.
Travis Schreiber, Director of Operations, Erase Technologies, LLC
Be Flexible
To stay productive even in stressful situations, I advise being flexible. To give your best despite the circumstances, you should cultivate the habit of being adaptive and be able to change your plans as and when needed. Rather than dwelling on the odds not being in your favor, it's best that you have a habit of improvising and coming up with solutions best suited to the situation. This makes it possible for you to be efficient and makes it easier to keep up with the set deliverables.
Chris Klosowski, President, Easy Digital Downloads
Adhere To Meditation
Meditation has a variety of benefits. It is not only a great stress buster but also helps you stay active throughout the day. It helps improve your focus and makes it possible for you to start your day with a clear mind. While meditating, you can channel your creativity and come up with useful ideas. Meditation also helps foster self-awareness and control over one's emotions. It enhances your mental fortitude, making it possible for you to stay calm even in stressful situations, make sound decisions, and focus on keeping the needle moving.
Jared Atchison, Co-Founder, WPForms
Write Down Daily Commitments
Every morning I write down my daily commitments and tasks for the day. Every time I finish a task, I check it off the list. This ensures I hold myself accountable to what I say I will do regardless of my mood and feelings. By doing this, I am setting myself up to celebrate small wins. Seeing my list checked off in completion by the end of the day, is always a great feeling. Doing this everyday, creates a habit of positivity and self acknowledgement. There are always days when feelings, moods, circumstances will get in the way of fulfilling commitments, but allowing my promise to accomplishing tasks to dictate my actions will always make me feel great at the end of the day! Honoring my word vs honoring my mood, is the distinction of consistency.
Ariya Malek, CEO, Educational Awakening Center
Learn To Say No
Learning to say no has been a game-changer for me in maintaining my productivity, particularly during busy periods. It's not always easy, especially when there are constant demands on my time and attention, but I've realized that saying no is crucial for protecting my energy and focus. By being selective about the tasks and commitments I take on, I can ensure that I have enough bandwidth to devote to my essential priorities. It's about setting boundaries and recognizing that my time and energy are finite resources that need to be allocated wisely. While it might feel uncomfortable at first, saying no ultimately allows me to maintain balance and effectiveness in my work and personal life.
Thomas Smale, CEO, FE International
Celebrate Small Wins
One habit that helps me stay energized and happy, even when I'm stressed, is celebrating small wins. I think far too many leaders and marketers are laser-focused on the big picture and don't appreciate the great things they accomplish every day. But we found that celebrating -- with ourselves and team members -- boosts productivity and results in people getting more done. If you start to experience a mid-day slump, consider reflecting on what you've accomplished and take a little break to celebrate!
John Turner, Founder, SeedProd
Use a Cloud-based Calendar
Utilize a cloud based to do list and calendar. I can't keep track of all tasks and schedules without reminders. There are several great apps to do this, such as Any.do, Simplenote, or Evernote. I like these because they back up data automatically, they are simple and straightforward, and they can organize lists and notes into notebooks, just to name a few great features. Some even allow you to include videos and web clippings.
Shu Saito, CEO, All Filters
Sleep, Gym, Plan
There's only one habit that I strongly adhere to no matter the circumstances. I call it the "SGP": Sleep, Gym, Plan. I prioritize 8 hours of sleep nightly, ensuring optimal cognitive function and energy for the day ahead. My sleep time is crucial for maintaining focus and creativity in my work. I go to the gym 5 times a week. Exercising boosts my mood and energy, enhancing my overall productivity, while serving as a vital counterbalance to the sedentary nature of my job. I plan my week before the week starts, usually on Sunday, and I plan each day before the day starts. This keeps me focused on critical tasks and enables me to effectively manage my time.
Ion-Alexandru Secara, Founder, Zen
Wake Up Early
I make it a habit to wake up earlier to start my day. Extra morning time gives me a chance to gain mental clarity and prepare for whatever is on my schedule for the day. This helps me keep my daily schedule in focus to avoid being forgetful or feeling overwhelmed. In addition, focusing on the day’s tasks at hand each morning feels much better than trying to review your entire week at once. While I’m aware of what I have on my schedule for the week, I choose to focus each day on only what’s happening that day. This helps me avoid looking too far ahead and adding unnecessary stress to my plate. Overall, this is a great way to make sure I stay organized to ensure maximum productivity each day.
John Rampton, Founder, Calendar
Time Blocking
One habit I adhere to to maintain productivity, no matter how busy or stressed I am, is the practice of time blocking. I dedicate specific blocks of time to particular tasks throughout my day. By scheduling these blocks, I ensure that I have dedicated time for deep work, meetings, email correspondence, and even breaks. This method helps me stay focused on one task at a time, reduces the overwhelm of a long to-do list, and ensures that I'm making progress without burning out. Time blocking also encourages me to estimate how long tasks will take and to plan my day more realistically, which improves my overall productivity.
Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Founder and Creative Director, Marquet Media, LLC
Eat The Ugly Frog
I always eat the "ugliest frog" first thing in the morning. This tip is found in a book on productivity by Brian Tracey. Basically, it means that the thing I want to do the least is the thing I do first. It might be an email I've been putting off, a huge pile of laundry, or a workout that I've been dreading. The what doesn't matter as much as the when. Once I've tackled it, I'm motivated and can do much more with the rest of my day.
