10 Ways to Ensure You Are a Tired Entrepreneur Everyday

Yes. You read that right.

By now, you may have read through sufficient number of lists that inform us of potential ways to keep the energy going, the fire burning and the work happening.

This is NOT that list.

This one is all about ways to ensure that you are a tired entrepreneur, always.

As much as we don’t like to admit it, our brains are hard wired into doing something we strictly should not do and we do it anyways.

We are taking an alternative approach. Compiled a list of ways, sourced from founders themselves who swear by these tactics.

#10 Do NOT sleep!

We are no one to preach about the number of hours we need to function at our optimum best. We are all our own unique person requiring different lengths of time.

Too many studies have been conducted both confirming and refuting the 8-hour, 6-hour, 4-hour rules.

You know best what about does not work in your favour. Keep going and you will be tired.

#9 Dementors for friends

There are people around you, who only seem to make the day go from being shiny and awesome to drab and lifeless.

After a short conversation, you are left behind as nothing but a bundle of nerves, horrible thoughts and a shaken frame of mind.

They zap your energy and tire you, faster than your gym trainer might.

They are your Dementors (Harry Potter reference) in disguise. Keep them around to ensure the constant energy flux.

#8 Comparing social media presence to compete only

Guilty as charged!

Been there, done that, especially when the Followers count suddenly drops.

The crux of the matter is this.

In comparing milestones and the pace of growth of our respective journeys, we miss out on one important element. Us! You! Every StartUp is different at its core.

Even if you are solving the same problem as your next door neighbour who you went to school with and probably worked the same job, the principle remains.

You are NOT them and vice - versa.

Comparing to compete instead of learning, allows you to tire your body and mind.

Win-Win!

#7 Donning the uncomfortable

Our co-founder is a proud self-proclaimed Pyjamapreneur.

Wearing heels when you are a sneaker person, going down the fitted route when flowy and abstract is more you or picking up that handbag with chains when a backpack is more functional for you – you decide.

Based on the number of Startup pitch competitions that we witnessed in 2018 alone, we can say this with authority -

Dress to represent you. You are your StartUp!

There is always the argument for wearing the formal attire is best suited for certain occasions. Sure.

You know what your version of a penguin suit is. Ask yourself, ‘Can I wear this all the time and be tired because of it?’

If the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’, you know what to do.

#6 Loving your comfort zone and staying there

We bring back the Pyjamapreneur into the equation once again.

If you have succeeded at establishing and excelling in your very own comfort zone, you know what moving out of it could feel like.

To some of us, it tastes like pain killer medicine and a glass of water, because you can feel the headache come on.

When you don’t jump out of that zone and explore, our good old friend ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out) shows up and brings along its friends, ‘Thrill’ and ‘Risk’.

In either case, you decide who would you rather hang out with.

#5 Overthinking the future

Two words. Analysis paralysis.

Every person who has served as a mentor in any capacity has warned us of this special quality we as Founders, easily tend to develop.

Thankfully, we can count the number of times, planning for the future has escalated into a full-blown panic attack. It finally stopped when we let go of overthinking.

However, you could choose to go down the other path.

Experience tells us, there is nothing like the feeling of being stressed for events that haven’t happened and are in a time zone that is completely out of your control – the elusive future.

#4 Living in the flashback

Think about the last time you tripped and fell.

Now allow that thought to fill your mind and replay it every single time you want to take the next step.

Can you feel the nerves?

When the flashback of every terrible decision and consequence overtakes your mind’s canvas, you are too tired and caught up to do much else.

If that speaks to you, then this is the one! Exercise your free choice and go for it.

#3 Being Mr. / Ms. 24x7x365

‘Show up everyday for 3 years.’

We agree, StartUp isn’t a 9-5 job, 5 days a week, with 1 month of paid vacation.

(‘What IS a paid vacation’, you ask? We’ll talk about it another time.)

However, being that person who thinks about their StartUp 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year is not going to help your physical well being.

Go ahead! Show up everyday. You get to decide how you want to do it. How many hours do you show up for? Think about taking one day off in a week and show up for your personal self.

Or you could be Mr./Ms. 24x7x365.

#2 No Team! v/s Go Team!

You can achieve the world!

We don’t disagree. Sure you can.

It is unique to Startups, that founders need to be DIY (Do – It Yourself) experts and multi-taskers rolled into one.

However, forgoing to draw a line in the sand, can result in heavy-duty tiredness.

You can know how to do everything. It is a great quality. You WILL end up doing things you don’t enjoy, take up a major chunk of your time and prevent you from doing a great job at doing what you love.

Let us remind you of the the superpower, we know, you know, exists.

Delegation.

For that, you need to be more than one person. Find a team that is as, if not more, motivated than you are. Take your time to build it. Fail and learn quickly.

Or you could be a DIY-er and stressed, for as long as you shall live.

Yaay!?

#1 Watching the news

This involves an exercise. You don’t need to close your eyes for this.

Take a deep breath in and allow the first happy memory that comes to your mind to fill you up with it’s energy and vibes.

Good?

Okay, now thing about the first headline you woke up to.

RSS - Twitter Feed - WhatsApp notification - the morning paper, take your pick.

Do you feel that happiness bubble popping? Congratulations! Mission accomplished.

It is good to be knowledgeable about what is happening around the world.

How much of it can you really take, before it invades every happy memory till you have nothing good to remember?

Your intake decides the day’s outcome.