Why Give a Damn:
When you run a
company, invest in startups, advise other startups and push your
entrepreneur-ing to the limits you are eventually going to burnout. Here are 5
ways to recharge quickly.
The author of this post,
Chris Yeh, has been building internet businesses
since 1995 and currently serves as the VP of Marketing for PBworks, as well as a
General Partner at Wasabi Ventures.
I’m known as a busy guy. That’s what happens when
you help run a company, invest in startups, advise other startups, and write 500
blog posts and articles per year. That doesn’t even take into account being a
husband and father, participating in the school and community, and reading 50
blog posts and articles per day.
While I’m very busy, I’m also very careful to avoid
burnout.
Yet while I’m very
busy, I’m also very careful to avoid burnout. I’m no stranger to burnout–when I
was in college, I exploited an error in Stanford’s original online class
registration system to take double the normal course load, while also writing
for the paper, directing an improv comedy troupe, tutoring freshmen on writing,
teaching public speaking and counseling, and manning a suicide hotline. Now
that was a bit much…my roommate woke up in the middle of the night because I had
a nightmare and was shouting “I resign! I resign!” in my sleep.
Don’t let this happen
to you.
Now that I’m
older and wiser, I’ve worked out a 5-step approach to recharging in a
hurry:
- Cross-training
Cross-training in athletics refers to switching
sports, rather than burning yourself out with the same exercises and drills over
and over. As a corporate athlete, cross-training refers to regularly shifting
activities. I consciously shift from activity to activity. First, I might work
on a blog post. Next, I might answer emails. After that, I might read and
highlight a scholarly article. The idea is to keep changing what you’re doing
so that you don’t have a chance to get bored and burn out.
- Interval
training
Interval training in athletics
refers to alternating high-intensity exercise with conscious rest periods. I do
the same thing in my life. I use the Pomodoro Method (20 minutes of sprinting,
followed by 5 minutes of rest). This keeps me fresh, and also gives me
convenient reminders to shift activities as part of my cross-training.
- Regular
exercise
Everyone knows that exercise is
critical for health, stamina, and happiness. But who has time to go to the
gym? Not me! So I bring the gym to me. During those 5 minute “rest” periods
during my day, I do quick sets of exercises. These can be anything from situps
to running in place to a complete 7-minute calisthenic workout. If you stick to
this routine, you’ll get more than your daily allowance of exercise, and break
up your day.
- Regular meals
and snacks
Exercising willpower
(“executive function”) depletes your bloodstream’s supply of glucose. The best
way to keep your energy levels up is to eat regularly. I often cite a study on
Israeli parole boards, which found that 60% of inmates received parole when they
went before the board immediately after lunch, compared with 5% when they went
before the board immediately before lunch. I snack each morning at 10:30 AM,
eat lunch around 12:30 PM, and have an afternoon snack around 3 or 4 PM.
- Sleep when you
need it
It’s hard for me to get a full 8
hours of sleep at night–I have kids who like to wake up early, and a dog who
tends to wake me up in the middle of the night to play with our insomniac
neighbor’s dog. But rather than wandering around in a zombie-like state of
fatigue, I simply sleep when I need it. Whenever I’m tired, and I don’t have a
pressing emergency, I simply lie down for a 10-15 minute nap. Sometimes I’ll
take two or more naps if I’m feeling run down. It takes far less time than
running to Starbucks, with far greater results. In fact, I took a nap right
before starting this post!
These recharging techniques don’t even mention ways
in which you can use other people to help you recharge–things like catching up
with friends, spending time with loved ones, and participating in regular social
activities. But the beauty of these five techniques is that you can apply them
even if you’re a solo founder working out of your parents’ basement. And if you
follow them, you’ll be able to keep yourself running at top efficiency and
productivity, even if you have a busy schedule.