5 Quick Ways to Recharge in a Hurry

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.

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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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.