"Why Am I Always Tired?" 6 Tips to Get More Done Fast So You Can Sleep In and Still Win
In a world where the hustle is glorified, waking up tired every day can feel like a personal fail. But what if the key to doing more isn't about pushing harder, but understanding and optimizing the way we work?
How to Get More Done Fast So You Can Sleep In
This article explores the common reasons behind feeling perpetually tired and how adjusting our approach to productivity can lead to accomplishing more while feeling energized. This approach not only accommodates those cherished extra hours of sleep but also aligns with maximizing efficiency during peak hours. Here's how you can embrace a later start without sacrificing productivity.
This article will cover 6 strategies that specifically cater to those of us who thrive later in the day, ensuring that sleeping in until 10 a.m. or later doesn't have to feel bad.
Why Am I Always Tired? Unlocking the Secret to Get More Done Fast
In the contemporary narrative of success and productivity, there's an almost mythic valorization of the "early riser" - the individual who, by the crack of dawn, is already halfway through their day's tasks.
There’s a lot of attention on successful people and their early morning routines. You hear about Mark Wahlberg waking up at 2:30 a.m. to hit the gym, or Tim Cook starting his day at 4. Oprah Winfrey wakes at 6 a.m. for gratitude journaling. Joe Rogan gets up at 4:30 to jump in his ice bath or whatever. It can feel like that to be productive and achieve success, you have to start your day extremely early, with a butt-load of energy and something to prove.
So, why is waking up early is linked to being more disciplined and successful, and sleeping in is seen as a sign that you lack ambition? This view doesn’t consider individual differences in sleep cycles, productivity patterns, or personal preference. It overlooks those who are more productive at night or those whose best ideas come to them well after sunrise, and it overlooks the many people who choose to reject these assumptions, and still, somehow - magically - find success. People like:
- Aaron Levie: The CEO of the enterprise cloud company Box, starts his workday around 10 AM. He's worth north of $80 million. If money isn't your thing, let's find a few more examples...
- Kathryn Schulz: This Pulitzer Prize winning author has expressed that her most productive writing time starts around 10 PM, leading her to choose between going to bed to wake up functional by nine or staying up for the rest of the night.
- Bill de Blasio: The former New York City mayor has been known for his late starts and midday naps, often leaving him too tired to stay awake at City Hall, where he catches up on sleep by napping on a couch in his office.
- Trevor Noah: Comedian Trevor Noah's "morning" begins at 6 PM! This unique schedule is tailored to his work and lifestyle, demonstrating that success can be achieved with various routines.
- Winston Churchill: Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had a unique daily routine. While he would wake around 7:30 AM, he did not actually get out of bed until 11, spending the first part of his workday in bed.
Not everyone operates best in the early hours. It may be refreshing to learn that many trailblazers and successful individuals don't start their day before the sun comes up. Productivity and success are not tied to a specific time of day. It's time we recognize a more diverse range of work and sleep schedules, and get a more accurate understanding of how different people achieve their goals and maintain well-being. Stop feeling bad for being you.
The notion that one must rise with the sun to capture the day's potential is not just outdated; it's fundamentally flawed.
Embracing Your Own Natural Sleep Cycle
The concept of a 'natural sleep cycle' varies significantly across individuals. Scientists and sleep experts, like those from the Sleep Research Society, have long advocated for aligning work schedules with one's circadian rhythms to enhance well-being and efficiency. By understanding your own body's preferences - perhaps you're most alert and creative in the late morning or even afternoon - you can restructure your workday to capitalize on these peak periods. This might mean scheduling brainstorming sessions, critical thinking tasks, or strategic planning for when you naturally feel most capable, thereby maximizing output and minimizing the strain of working against your body's inclinations.
The notion that you must wake up early to be successful is a myth. By embracing your natural sleep cycle, prioritizing effectively, limiting distractions, using efficiency tools, and taking strategic breaks, you can achieve high levels of productivity while enjoying the benefits of sleeping in. It's not about when you start your day, but how effectively you use your time.
Thriving as a late riser in a world that celebrates the early start is not just possible; it can be a secret weapon. By fine-tuning your internal clock, prioritizing effectively, creating a distraction-free zone, leveraging technology, taking strategic breaks, embracing batch working, and cultivating a pre-work routine, you can master efficiency and productivity on your terms. Remember, it's not about the time you wake up but how you utilize the hours you're awake. The night owl's time to shine is now, with innovation, creativity, and success well within reach, regardless of the hour on the clock.
Let's cover some strategies and practices for us late risers that provide a blueprint for achieving productivity on our own terms.
1. The Art of Prioritization: Expanding on Effective Task Management
The principle of prioritization stands as a cornerstone of productivity, yet its application extends far beyond simple to-do lists. It's about discerning the essential from the merely urgent, a skill exemplified by figures like Alexis Ohanian and Warren Buffett. Ohanian, in navigating the complex demands of co-founding Reddit and managing multiple ventures, has spoken about the importance of focusing on tasks that genuinely drive progress. Buffett's famed 2-list strategy, where he focuses solely on his top five priorities and dismisses the rest, further illustrates the power of such discernment. This method of prioritization isn't just about managing time; it's about managing energy—ensuring that your best hours aren't squandered on tasks that fail to contribute meaningfully to your goals. For those starting their day later, this becomes even more crucial. By identifying the tasks that warrant your peak energy levels, you can ensure that your most productive periods are reserved for work that moves the needle, be it developing new business strategies, writing, or solving complex problems.
Focusing on what truly matters, even with a start time that defies the early riser's creed, can lead to substantial achievements regardless of the hour one starts the day.
2. Time and Space: Strategies to Limit Distractions
In an era where digital distractions are but a click away, safeguarding one's focus becomes paramount.
J.K. Rowling wrote much of the Harry Potter series in cafes, intentionally choosing settings that minimized home distractions. This method allowed her to deeply focus on her writing during her peak creative hours. Cal Newport, author of "Deep Work," emphasizes creating periods of focused work free from the distractions of digital and social media. Newport's principles apply universally, offering a blueprint for those who start their day later and find themselves amidst peak digital activity hours. By fostering deep work environments, late risers can achieve heightened levels of productivity and creativity.
For late risers, creating a distraction-free zone might involve more than just physical space; it could extend to digital boundaries, such as designated hours for email and social media, use of apps that limit website access, or even the simple act of silencing notifications during peak work hours. Implementing these boundaries allows for a sanctuary of productivity, where the late starter can delve into deep work with the same fervor as the early riser.
3. Use Technology: Power Tools to Get More Done Fast
The narrative around efficiency tools often centers on their capacity to organize and manage tasks, yet their true power lies in their ability to transform work habits and liberate time. Time that you could be spending fast asleep.
By automating repetitive tasks, delegating non-essential work, and employing tools that streamline operations, individuals can significantly enhance their productivity. This is especially pertinent for those who begin their day at a later hour, as it allows them to compress work into more efficient periods, leaving room for creativity, strategic thinking, and, importantly, rest.
Tim Ferriss's exploration of automation, delegation, and the strategic use of tools in "The 4-Hour Workweek" provides a framework for this transformation. Tools like Trello for task management, Zapier for automation, and Focus@Will for concentration can be part of a suite that tailors the workday to fit personal rhythms and productivity patterns, enabling late risers to achieve more in less time.
4. Still Tired? The Restorative Power of Strategic Breaks
This one's useful for those days when you already had to get up early, or you just feel extra tired for some reason or another (it happens). If you have to work and you just aren't feeling it, you can get some of the benefits of sleeping in by taking a break for a bit.
In "When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing," Daniel Pink highlights the significance of breaks in enhancing cognitive function and creativity. For individuals starting their workday later, incorporating breaks based on Pink's research can help maintain a high level of energy and focus throughout their working hours. Strategic breaks, such as short walks or meditation sessions, become crucial in sustaining productivity for those whose work extends into the evening.
If you have to work and you're feeling tired, incorporating strategic breaks - like a short walk, a nap, or a mindfulness session - can serve as critical punctuation marks in the workday, moments that offer respite and rejuvenation. These breaks are opportunities to enhance creativity, problem-solving, and sustained focus, ensuring that the later hours of work are as productive as the first.
5. Embrace Batch Working: Time Block Your Life
Batch working involves grouping similar tasks together and tackling them in dedicated time blocks. This method reduces the cognitive load of switching between tasks, making it easier to dive deep into work during your peak hours.
Elon Musk is known for his meticulous time-blocking strategy, dedicating specific days of the week to his various companies. Late risers can apply this by dedicating time blocks to creative work, administrative tasks, or strategic planning based on when they feel most alert and inspired.
6. Cultivate a Pre-Work Routine
A pre-work routine can signal to your brain that it's time to shift into work mode, even if that's later in the day. This routine could include exercise, meditation, or reading - activities that energize and focus the mind.
Oprah Winfrey starts her day with meditation, a practice that could be adapted by us late risers to clear the mind and prepare for a productive work session. Of course, she also gets up at 7:10 every morning, so I'm not sure if we should trust her. I guess we'll let this one slide.
Conclusion
Feeling constantly tired doesn't have to be your norm. By understanding your natural sleep cycle, prioritizing effectively, minimizing distractions, leveraging technology, taking strategic breaks, and adjusting your schedule to fit your peak productivity times, you can combat fatigue and enhance your productivity. Remember, it's not about working harder but smarter, and aligning your work habits with your personal energy patterns is the key to getting more done fast without the constant feeling of tiredness.
Don't try to fit yourself to someone else's idea of who you should be. Life is too short to spend it trying to make other people happy. Let's challenge the one-size-fits-all narrative of productivity. The path to productivity and success is not prescriptive, nor is it bound to the early hours of the morning.
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Sleep FAQs:
Yes, productivity isn't tied to waking up early; it's about finding and optimizing your peak performance times.
Aligning work with your natural sleep cycle can enhance focus, energy, and overall well-being, making tasks feel less strenuous.
Monitor your energy and concentration levels for a week, noting when you feel most alert and engaged to identify your peak periods.
Late risers can prioritize tasks, limit distractions, use technology for efficiency, take strategic breaks, and embrace batch working.
Yes, leaders like Aaron Levie (CEO of Box) and Kathryn Schulz (Pulitzer Prize-winning author) thrive with later start times.
Incorporate short, rejuvenating breaks and light physical activity throughout your day to manage energy slumps effectively.
While slight adjustments are possible, it's generally more effective to work with your natural sleep cycle than against it.
Waking up late can positively affect work-life balance by reducing morning stress and aligning work hours with personal energy levels.
Identify high-impact tasks, use a prioritization method like the Eisenhower Box, and focus on tasks that align with your goals.
Yes, automation tools, productivity apps, and efficient software can streamline tasks and save time for core activities.
Create a dedicated workspace, use website blockers, set phone to do-not-disturb mode, and schedule specific times for email and social media.
Batch working involves grouping similar tasks together to focus deeply on one type of task at a time, enhancing efficiency for late risers.
Strategic breaks can refresh your mind, improve focus, and maintain high energy levels throughout your productive periods.
Not necessarily; what matters is how effectively you use your working hours, not the time you start your day.
Present evidence of your productivity during peak hours and propose a flexible schedule that meets both your needs and the company's.
Begin with a task that aligns with your goals and energy levels, whether it's creative work, strategic planning, or critical thinking.
A pre-work routine can signal the start of the workday, helping transition into a productive mindset, even if it begins later.
A balanced diet can help maintain energy levels throughout the day, especially if breakfast occurs later in the morning.
Communicate your schedule to friends and family, and plan social activities during times that won't disrupt your productivity.
Yes, short naps can rejuvenate your energy and improve cognitive function, especially if you're working into the evening.
It reduces stress and frustration associated with fighting your body's natural rhythms, leading to better overall mental well-being.
Observe and document your natural wake-up times and energy levels to understand your rhythm, then gradually adjust your work schedule.
Absolutely, many successful entrepreneurs thrive on schedules that deviate from the early morning norm.
Set clear goals, maintain open communication with your team, and ensure your work hours align with peak productivity times.
Not if you plan accordingly; you can schedule meetings during overlapping hours and use asynchronous communication tools.
Embrace your natural rhythm, focus on outcomes rather than hours, and remember that productivity is personal and varies from person to person.
Exercise can be flexibly scheduled around peak productivity times, either as a break activity or during less energetic parts of the day.
Seek roles that offer flexibility in work hours or consider careers that naturally align with later start times.
Plan your tasks with your natural productivity peaks in mind, ensuring that crucial work is done when you're most efficient.
Use mornings for lower-energy tasks like planning or administrative work, saving high-energy tasks for your peak hours.
Embracing a later start allows you to work in sync with your natural sleep cycle, potentially increasing your focus and energy levels during your peak productivity hours, which is essential for getting more done fast.
Late risers can maximize efficiency by prioritizing high-impact tasks, utilizing productivity tools to streamline their workflows, and scheduling work during peak energy periods to enhance their output quickly.
Yes, many successful individuals, including CEOs and creatives, have tailored their schedules to start later in the day, focusing on their natural productivity peaks to accomplish significant tasks efficiently.
Aligning work with your natural sleep cycle can significantly improve well-being by reducing stress and burnout, thereby increasing your output as you're working during periods of heightened alertness and creativity.
Absolutely, technology offers a range of tools and applications designed to help late risers streamline tasks, automate repetitive processes, and keep focused on priorities, ultimately enabling them to get more done fast.
Embracing a later start allows you to work in sync with your natural sleep cycle, potentially increasing your focus and energy levels during your peak productivity hours, which is essential for getting more done fast.
Late risers can maximize efficiency by prioritizing high-impact tasks, utilizing productivity tools to streamline their workflows, and scheduling work during peak energy periods to enhance their output quickly.
Yes, many successful individuals, including CEOs and creatives, have tailored their schedules to start later in the day, focusing on their natural productivity peaks to accomplish significant tasks efficiently.
Aligning work with your natural sleep cycle can significantly improve well-being by reducing stress and burnout, thereby increasing your output as you're working during periods of heightened alertness and creativity.
Absolutely, technology offers a range of tools and applications designed to help late risers streamline tasks, automate repetitive processes, and keep focused on priorities, ultimately enabling them to get more done fast.
Strategic breaks, especially when timed to match natural dips in energy, can rejuvenate late risers, enhance cognitive performance, and prevent burnout, making it easier to maintain productivity throughout their work period.
Effectively prioritizing tasks involves evaluating their impact on your goals, assigning them based on urgency and importance, and aligning them with your peak productivity times to ensure you're focusing energy where it's most beneficial.
Waking up early is traditionally associated with discipline and productivity, but late risers can challenge this by showcasing their efficiency and achievements accomplished during their optimized working hours, proving that success is not time-bound.
A balanced diet is crucial for late risers as it provides sustained energy throughout their active hours, supports concentration, and helps in maintaining overall health, contributing to their ability to get more done efficiently.
Late risers can manage energy slumps by incorporating energizing activities, like short walks or exercise, into their routine, and by using these moments for less demanding tasks to ensure a steady productivity flow.
While minor adjustments to sleep habits can be beneficial, working within your natural rhythm is often more sustainable and effective, allowing you to leverage your innate energy patterns for enhanced productivity.
Present evidence of your productivity during your optimal working hours and propose a flexible schedule that meets both your performance peaks and the organization's needs, highlighting the potential for increased output and efficiency.
Adopting a pre-work routine can signal your brain to transition into work mode, help establish a productive mindset, and energize you for the tasks ahead, making it a valuable practice for those starting their day later.
The environment significantly impacts productivity; late risers can enhance their setting by minimizing distractions, optimizing lighting and comfort, and creating a workspace that supports focus and creativity.
Over the long term, aligning your work schedule with your natural sleep cycle can lead to improved mental health, higher job satisfaction, sustained high performance, and a better balance between work and personal life.