What are your best productivity tips when you're running on no sleep?
I am currently working my full time job and working on my children's books on the side as much as possible. I've found that I either have the choice to sleep or work on my startup. I am determined to get my work published this year so I often choose to work. Any productivity tips for maximizing the little time you do have to spend on your second job? Or how to power through your work on little sleep? Thanks for any tips! zzzzz
Expert Answers
Sort by Date
Sort by Votes
Dec 5, 2015
I have direct experience with building a business on the side, while working full time. As others have already said, Kunal is absolutely correct when he counsels you to get the sleep you need in order to be fully present and available to the work you are doing. Build a realistic schedule, and be sure to include commute time, time at your full-time job, family time, self-care time (including sleep). Actually schedule these things into your calendar - these are your Big Rocks, everything else should be scheduled around them, including the time you spend on your book. With your Big Rocks in place, you'll see just how much time is available to work on it and you can schedule yourself more realistically without setting yourself up for potential burnout.
Dec 4, 2015
Hi Caitlin,
Time management is the key to success but it includes time for your personal well being and maintenance. 7 to 8 hours of sleep is very important otherwise it will impact the quality of your output and also adversely effect your health.
Try allocating hours for your objectives with due importance to your sleep and family time.And follow that time religiously every day.
Productivity needs energy and being a human being there are certain requirements to retain energy . The most important of them are proper diet,proper sleep and proper relationships.This is the input to fuel your output .Any imbalance will create a negative effect on you or the environment you are living in.
Best Of Luck,
Zafar
647-818-8550
Toronto, Canada
Dec 5, 2015
Hi Caitlin,
While as a coach I absolutely agree with Kunal about self-care and sleep, I'd like to share what I did when I was starting my business in my "spare" time, still working a full-time job with an hour commute each way:
Psychologically, I "let my company go". As a dedicated employee and somewhat Type A, I'd always given it my all, even when the corporate politics were draining my energy. So by mentally releasing the company I'd soon leave (while continuing to turn out stellar work), I free up tremendous energy I'd been pouring into job stress, that was then available to pour into my heart venture. This article http://www.liveyourlight.com/mind/OnceinAB.html discusses what I did in more detail (see Step 2), and suggests other ways to transform your life with grace and joy.
Good luck!
Dec 4, 2015
When you need a boost, my friends in the military and the police force taught me a neat trick:
Chug a cup of coffee or energy drink.... yes, chug it. Then set an alarm for 30 minutes, and take a cat nap. When your alarm goes off, the caffeine will have kicked in.
A lot of the answers here are sound. You NEED sleep, make sure you get the appropriate amount. The other key point I agree with is a solid hour of productivity is worth more than 4-5 hours of distracted work.
Dec 4, 2015
Dear Caitlin, your question is akin to asking "what are the options if my plane runs out of fuel in mid-air?" Without sleep, or little sleep, you run many health risks which can completely stall all your endeavors you've taken up. I'll suggest you first set some achievable goals for each of the areas. Then break them down into daily tasks. Look at all of them together - as one big picture. This will help you plan, prioritize and organize your day more effectively. If you can take in at least 7 hrs of sleep, you'll be more efficient in tackling and completing each of the tasks and step closer to your goals.
Dec 4, 2015
Take 'Cat Naps' - They helped me. Make a check list and maintain focus. Best task jugglers are those who maintain rhythm - hence 'doing things little and often' is important. Build a task list and categorise them into MoSCoW method. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoSCoW_method
Hope this help Caitlin... :)
Dec 4, 2015
An hour of focused concentration and productivity is better than several hours at decreased capacity. Get the sleep you need.
If you can't find even an hour (or 30 minutes) to focus on this it's time to recruit the rest of the family.
I assume you already cut your TV and web/phone surfing time?
What else is getting in the way?
Dec 4, 2015
Howdy Caitlin Kunal put it best. If you do not take care of you first the children's books are not the only thing that is going to fail. Make a commitment to taking care of you first. In this way you will put forth your best work in all endeavors. DO NOT let artificial deadlines dictate your well-being.
Dec 4, 2015
Hi Caitlin,
the outcome of your message is you are clearly going against a wall, if you don't stepchange your business approach. This because the human brain/body is prepared to be overstrecthed (120/130% if its capacity) for a maximum of 3 months, then it burns out (medical stats). Moreover artificial helps can apparently give help in the short term but you have to "payback" them, sooner or later: I saw too many friends going that way. So please, be wise.
That said the biggest mistake you've done is not necessarily in time mangement but in planning upfront your activities: my objectives are always overambitious but I take into consideration the required workflow even if I shrink timing to death.
My recommendation, with no exception, is as follows.
i) Sleep at least 4/5 hours/day (even using medicines).
ii) Decide which of the two objectives you are going to pursue, unless you are able to get a reasonable trade-off between them. This is fundamental if you do not want to fail in both.
iii) the above is even more important beacuse YOU HAVE KIDS to take care of.
If you want any further advice, I'm here: no fees, do not worry.
Two last words: be shrewd.
All My Best,
Emilio
Dec 4, 2015
I agree with Kunal Bhat---get some more sleep, organize, prioritize and do the tougher tasks first and establish a process for them in the future...
Dec 6, 2015
Simple answer is to get some more sleep if at all possible. Productivity levels after more sleep outweigh that of sleep deprivation.
Dec 10, 2015
The best thing I discovered when working in a high powered job and being a single parent with 2 small children was the 80/20 rule. This suggests that we get 80% of our results from 20% of our efforts. So becoming an 80% mother (children turned out fine by the way) and 80% at my job, I succeeded at both and still have time left over for eating, sleeping and occasional socialising with my friends which kept me sane. Have a look at Pam Vacccaro's article about how to find out which activities you should concentrate on. http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2000/0900/p76.html
Dec 10, 2015
believe it or not, drinking lots of water is really important. Your body is working hard and you'll need to keep hydrated. Plus, water has been shown to actually help you "wake up" similar to the effects of coffee
Dec 23, 2015
Sounds like ONE Nrf2 all natural product would be of help in focus, energy and endurance. In my years of consulting, I have always found that people have more time than they think, could you tell me more about weekly professional and personal responsibility schedule?
Dec 27, 2015
Prioritize sleep. Too many health benefits including increased productivity, mental acuity, emotional stability not to. And don't cheat yourself on exercise either (at least 15 minutes a day). When I was in the military and my unit was deployed overseas and engaged in high-tempo operations we went with a 5 2 17 cycle. Minimum 5 hrs of sleep. 2 hrs for meals and exercise and 17 hrs for productive activities. For you I recommend 8-2-14 .
Eliminate all TV watching, Facebook and other non-productive distractions. Limit reading email and returning phone calls to short scheduled periods of time and change your voicemail messages to let folks know when those scheduled hours are and the alternative way to reach you (maybe text) if it is a true emergency.
Try dictating your book, having it transcribed and then editing. Most people can talk a lot faster than they can type. Also with a headset you could even dictate whenever the inspiration hits you including commute time, while doing household chores, fixing your meals etc.. Don't underestimate the increase in true productivity you will achieve by giving your body the right amount of sleep and proper nutrition.
All the Best Caitlin