9 Strategies for Recovering Quickly From the Side Effects of Starting Up

Fight through those late nights and early mornings with these tips.

Question: What's your No. 1 strategy for recovering quickly from late nights and other startup hazards?

Question: What's your No. 1 strategy for recovering quickly from late nights and other startup hazards?

Question: What's your No. 1 strategy for recovering quickly from late nights and other startup hazards?

Question: What's your No. 1 strategy for recovering quickly from late nights and other startup hazards?

Lead by Example

"We all work extremely hard to get our businesses off the ground. This often means long, hard, stressful days. As a founder, you have to ensure that you and your team are happy and healthy. This starts by demonstrating that the team leader can uphold these company values every day. I strive to bring positivity daily using exercise, friends and family and our company mission as fuel."


Block Out "Make" and "Meet" Times

"Switching costs are high. After conversations with numerous mentors, I've found that structuring times to "make" in the morning (when you're the most creative), "meet" in the afternoon (after the lunch time slog), and "make" again in the evening when your second wind is pivotal. Keep a blocked schedule. It allows you to be flexible with tasks but limits the switching cost of making and meeting."


Form Healthy Habits

"Drink plenty of water, eat healthy and nap regularly. Even though late nights and stress are part of the game at times, I have found that a healthy diet has helped me perform better when I am running low on sleep. After a 15-minute nap, I feel like a new person, and remember to never pull two all-nighters in a row."


Create a Strict but Reasonable Schedule

"I once read that the average employee in corporate spends nearly eight hours a week on the Internet. That's one full work day. Cut out the fluff, and keep yourself on course. Prioritizing your list of to-do's will also help you set reasonable expectations. Remember common sense and practicality during your toughest times. "


Drink Caffeine, and Take Vitamins

"There are late nights in startups; a lot of them. It gives a false sense of productivity and an over-inflated sense of how much work can be done in a day. If it does get bad, start putting sleep, showers and other daily routines into your calendar. Set reminders to get out of the office, and have an emergency supply of Red Bull, vitamins and strong mints on hand. You can't be effective without sleep."


Make Time for Sleep

"Sleep is the most important tool in your startup toolbox. When you're operating on just a few hours of sleep, you're much more likely to make poor decisions that will ultimately cost you down the line."


Resources

9 Strategies for Recovering Quickly From the Side Effects of Starting Up

Fight through those late nights and early mornings with these tips.

Question: What's your No. 1 strategy for recovering quickly from late nights and other startup hazards?

Question: What's your No. 1 strategy for recovering quickly from late nights and other startup hazards?

Question: What's your No. 1 strategy for recovering quickly from late nights and other startup hazards?

Question: What's your No. 1 strategy for recovering quickly from late nights and other startup hazards?

Lead by Example

"We all work extremely hard to get our businesses off the ground. This often means long, hard, stressful days. As a founder, you have to ensure that you and your team are happy and healthy. This starts by demonstrating that the team leader can uphold these company values every day. I strive to bring positivity daily using exercise, friends and family and our company mission as fuel."


Block Out "Make" and "Meet" Times

"Switching costs are high. After conversations with numerous mentors, I've found that structuring times to "make" in the morning (when you're the most creative), "meet" in the afternoon (after the lunch time slog), and "make" again in the evening when your second wind is pivotal. Keep a blocked schedule. It allows you to be flexible with tasks but limits the switching cost of making and meeting."


Form Healthy Habits

"Drink plenty of water, eat healthy and nap regularly. Even though late nights and stress are part of the game at times, I have found that a healthy diet has helped me perform better when I am running low on sleep. After a 15-minute nap, I feel like a new person, and remember to never pull two all-nighters in a row."


Create a Strict but Reasonable Schedule

"I once read that the average employee in corporate spends nearly eight hours a week on the Internet. That's one full work day. Cut out the fluff, and keep yourself on course. Prioritizing your list of to-do's will also help you set reasonable expectations. Remember common sense and practicality during your toughest times. "


Drink Caffeine, and Take Vitamins

"There are late nights in startups; a lot of them. It gives a false sense of productivity and an over-inflated sense of how much work can be done in a day. If it does get bad, start putting sleep, showers and other daily routines into your calendar. Set reminders to get out of the office, and have an emergency supply of Red Bull, vitamins and strong mints on hand. You can't be effective without sleep."


Make Time for Sleep

"Sleep is the most important tool in your startup toolbox. When you're operating on just a few hours of sleep, you're much more likely to make poor decisions that will ultimately cost you down the line."


See Also: 11 Factors to Consider When Hiring Overseas Talent

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