Making the Most of Your Peak and Off-peak Times

What is the most essential part of your business? You are!

As small business owners, we think we should be working on our business 24 hours a day. Breaks and quiet time are an increasingly rare event. When that happens, you might want to ask yourself:

• Where does sleep rank in my priorities?
• Am I irritable?
• Is it difficult for me to concentrate on one task?
• How could this affect my success for the next day's activities?

I've recently met business owners that could really benefit from a good night's sleep. It's very easy to notice the signs: tired-looking, nervous, unsure, unable to concentrate, and lacking motivation. All can be very critical to the success of your business.

There are many challenges to maintaining a consistent sleeping schedule. When I first started my business, sleeping was something that got in the way of what I wanted to do. Focusing on my business often meant late nights brainstorming, researching, and working. I'm sure you can relate.

Today, things are very different. I've found a happy medium that allows me to focus on work and stagger my business-related activities as the day progresses. The first half of the day is 100% devoted to work-related activities; the second half of the day fades into downtime activities. This schedule allows me to relax and prepare for a good night's sleep as well as the next day's tasks. I can get to sleep and stay asleep the entire night.

We all sleep more than a third of our lives away. Sleep can solve many health problems. So, why not empower your business by figuring out your work and sleep patterns? With a little time and effort, you will not only outshine the competition, but also add more years to your life.

Resources on getting a good night's sleep:

• http://www.journalsleep.org/
• http://www.aasmnet.org/
• http://www.shuteye.com/sleeploss.asp

Brett Johnson co-owns Data-Scribe(tm) along with his wife, Leila Johnson. The New Mexico-based firm empowers Micro-Businesses through technology, the written word & training. To get more tips like this, visit their Micro-Business E-Library or sign up for their Micro-Business Gazette at http://www.datascribe.biz.