iNSPIRE II JULY 2014 | Page 7

Being effective as an entrepreneur is often about hard work, but even more importantly it’s about smart work. Great entrepreneurs know that time is limited and valuable, so they need to make the most of each waking hour. There are many factors that contribute to working smart -- but planning and proper sleep are among the top performance increasers. To maximize your time and efficiency, here are five essential and easy things you should do before bed that will make help transform your waking hours into super productivity. 2. Get the gym bag ready. Whether you go to the gym, run in the neighborhood or walk your dog, have your exercise gear out and ready to throw on for when you wake up. Getting your clean clothes together and ready is a life hack lots of entrepreneurs use to minimize the risk of skipping their workout. It only takes a minute to lay out your gear, but it’s a great shortcut for making sure you get your fitness in every morning. Taking care of your health is an important part of the 1. Take a look at your calendar. entrepreneurial lifestyle. As the saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail. By reviewing your calendar the night before, you’ll know what’s ahead for the day so you can be prepared and plan for the best method to tackle your objectives. You’ll sleep better knowing that you’ve already planned for the day ahead and you’ll rise in the morning knowing that you’ve already taken care of the leg work to get a jump start on the day. 3. Turn off your phone. Sleep is a crucial There’s another old saying, “If you don’t use part of the successful entrepreneur’s healthy your head, you’ll end up using your feet,” and lifestyle. Once you’ve checked your calendar that proverb goes a long way for productivity! and you know what’s ahead for tomorrow, put Come up with a strategy the night before on the phone on silent or turn it off to ensure it how to tackle tomorrow. doesn’t beep, chime or ring and disturb your