Entrepreneurs and business owners have a full plate and are constantly being pulled in a million different directions. Even if we had more hours in the day, we still wouldn't get everything accomplished.
Increasing your energy level throughout the day can greatly help improve your productivity. Being an entrepreneur is a constant grind, so I use the six tips to help elevate my energy levels and have more productive days.
1. Experiment until you identify your ideal sleep requirement.
Adequate sleep is a must for healthy functioning. We all need sleep, there is no way around it. Sleep regulates our mood and it's a critical factor in our energy levels. Rather than just going along with the perceived notion that eight hours of sleep is the magic number, I think it's important to experiment until you find out what amount of sleep benefits you specifically.
For example, I function optimally with four hours of sleep, and the closer I get to eight hours, the groggier I am. Sleep is not only important for increasing your energy levels, but it also improves your memory, making it easier to remember newly acquired skills and information.
2. Eat less, more often.
Harvard Medical School suggests eating several small meals every few hours rather than eating three large standard meals a day will help to increase your energy level. Your perception of fatigue is reduced because the brain requires a steady supply of nutrients, yet has little energy in reserve.
If you go a few hours without eating you will typically begin to feel sluggish. A big meal isn't required to fuel your brain -- nuts or some fruit is plenty. I eat six smaller meals a day, which was hard to adjust to at first, but it has definitely increased my energy levels. A piece of advice for those that are going to try 6 meals a day: prep your meals in advance and don't try to attempt to cook 6 meals every single day.
3. Incorporate caffeine into your diet.
There are cons related to almost everything, including caffeine, but there are far too many health benefits in my mind, to abandon the consumption of coffee every morning. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should limit your intake to no more than 400 milligrams per day. For reference, there is 80 mg of caffeine in an 8.4 oz can of Red Bull, which is very similar to what an average cup of coffee contains.
You don't want to rely entirely on caffeine, but you don't have to avoid it like the plaque, either. There is nothing wrong with using it in moderation, such as a morning coffee and a sugar-free energy drink for those times that you need a bit more energy to power through your late afternoon tasks.
4. Use supplementation to increase your energy levels.
There are several supplements that can greatly increase your energy levels, including Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) and NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Kratom is derived from a plant native to Southeast Asia that's part of the coffee family, known to increase concentration and energy levels.
NAD+ is an essential metabolite in all human cells and it plays an important role in cellular metabolism. It has many anti-aging and metabolism benefits, as well as increased endurance, improved mental focus and memory, and increasing muscle endurance.
5. Stand while you work.
I'm a huge fan of standing desks. I switched to one at the end of 2015, and I haven't sat down since. I stand 95 percent of the day and will only sit if I have a meeting. In addition to helping me eliminate back pain, it has contributed to keeping my energy level high all day.
When I stand, I find myself constantly moving. There is never a moment where I am motionless -- and since switching to a standing desk I have seen a massive increase in productivity as a result. There are even models with dry erase board desktops, allowing you to take notes and jot down ideas while you work. I can't encourage you enough to give a standing desk a try.
6. Treat the gym like an important business meeting.
We are constantly told how important daily exercise is, yet so many people avoid the gym and come up with every excuse under the sun as to why they can't make it a regular part of their daily routine.
Would you get out of bed at 6 a.m. if you had an important business meeting? Of course you would, so start treating the gym like a business meeting. I used this strategy when I got serious about my health and fitness last year, and now I never miss a day. I have more energy when I start my morning at the gym.
Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor or health professional. Always consult your physician before starting anything diet, health or exercise related.
Jonathan Long is the Founder & CEO of Market Domination Media®, an online marketing agency that provides SEO coaching and online marketing consulting. Jonathan also created EBOC.co (Entrepreneurs & Business Owners Community), a private business forum. Follow him on Twitter.