Bryn Carden Reveals How an Entrepreneur Can Stay Productive on Days They Feel Off
The reality of being human means that not every day is going to reap sunshine and massive productivity. Everyone has days that feel off right from the get-go.
But as any entrepreneur knows, tasks still need to get completed, no matter how they are feeling that day. Neeley School of Business student and the entrepreneur behind both Styles for Smiles and BF Hats Bryn Carden has a lot on her plate and tries to be productive even on your off days. In this article, she shares several tips on how to brush it off and get things done on your off days.
Tip #1: Begin the Day with a Primary Task
A healthy habit for any entrepreneur to practice is making a daily list of primary and secondary tasks. Primary tasks are those labeled the most important to take care of in a day’s work, while secondary tasks are still vital but can be addressed as time prevails. Starting any morning, whether it is a lazy one or not, addressing the most essential task of the day will help an entrepreneur stay on top of productivity while still in slippers.
Tip #2: Avoid Multitasking
When battling with tired days, entrepreneurs should avoid multitasking. It is hard enough to maintain focus on off days, and multitasking can dampen concentration and lead to mistakes. Work through one task or three on off days, taking each step in the process as they come instead of juggling five steps in an attempt to leap instead.
Tip #3: Track Work Progress
An excellent way to practice time management and productivity is by tracking work progress. Such a process might look different per the individual, as entrepreneurs can track work progress through hours, tasks, accomplishments, or goals.
For example, a business owner may choose to track work progress each day by how many hours were dedicated to addressing business matters. Though the task list for an entrepreneur seems never-ending, some people might set a goal to dedicate forty hours a week towards their entrepreneurial pursuits. If a lazy morning rolls around, an entrepreneur can look back at tracked work progress to determine the flexibility of work hours for that day to measure productivity and keep it going.
Tip #4: Train Your Brain
On the Mondays that would prefer to be Saturdays, entrepreneurs have to dig deep to stay productive. Off days are fantastic platforms for practicing a growth mindset or exercising the brain like a muscle working through complex tasks. Business owners can train the brain to find joy in any challenge with a positive attitude paired with a growth mindset.
Tip #5: Be Aware of Burnout
Burnout can sneak up fast on an entrepreneur constantly on the go while wearing multiple hats. An entrepreneur that recognizes boundaries before burnout and practices sticking to those boundaries where rest is needed will ultimately last longer in the business marathon — setting boundaries means being self-aware of personal and health needs and being productive in rest when burnout is near.
About Bryn Carden
Bryn Carden is a young entrepreneur and philanthropist with a passion for real estate and design. She is currently studying at Neeley School of Business, pursuing a major in Finance with a Real Estate Concentration. Besides working towards her degree, she has already begun her entrepreneurial journey as a co-founder of BF Hats and a creator of Styles for Smiles — a company selling bracelets to help fund cleft palate operations for children in developing countries.
