From the desk of Victor Pride
Subj: How to kick butt from home
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“Wow, you're so lucky“.
That's what I always hear when I tell people I work from home.
As if it was random luck that did all the work for me.
I wear the same 7 cotton blended XL t-shirts every week. It's not luck that puts the t-shirts on my back. I went out to the store and bought the damn things and I put them on in the morning. It was a decision I made. The shirts are nice and comfortable and stylish so I wear them. If I didn't like them I would stop wearing them.
I never liked working in an office, so what did I do? I stopped working in one.
I made the decision to work from home. Luck never came into the picture. I took the necessary steps and got it done.
I've been working from home for 6 years and I've faced all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the slumps and boons and I'm going to give you a bunch of tips and tricks to maximize your work time.
Today we will talk about how to get into that working groove and get all your business accomplished.
Getting in the mood to work is all a mindset. All you have to do is change your mindset a little and you can go from working sporadically, here and there, and getting little accomplished, to working like a pro and getting everything accomplished.
1) Be a pro
Just because you work from home, with nobody looking over your shoulder, doesn't mean you need to goof off. Entrepreneurship is no place for amateurs. A pro gets in and gets the damn job done, no ifs or buts.
Since you now work from home (or aspire to) you need to think of yourself as a professional.
Getting the work done is the most important thing in your day. It's more important than eating lunch with your friends, it's more important than catching an afternoon matinee, it's more important than shopping on Ebay, it's more important that catching up on your zzzz's.
Do the work first, get it done, then you have all night to do whatever you want.
Do the work, get things done, then play! But never play before work is finished!
Book recommendation: If you want to turn your art into a professional career you should read the book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. He does a great job of explaining what it takes to go pro. However, I really only recommend the first half of the book, you can skip the second half when it gets a little too “spiritual”.
2) Early morning work
Remember, now you're a pro. Pros don't wake up at noon!
Early morning is the absolute best time of day to get work done. Before your competition is even awake you're already up and kickin' butt.
If you want to be a champion you've got to wake up like a champion.
Waking up in the morning and getting things done should be your routine. Good routine = good results. No routine = no results.
3) You need a dedicated working space
You definitely need a dedicated working space. I've been on the road traveling and trying to work. You know what happens when you don't have a dedicated work space and dedicated routine? You don't get any work done!
A dedicated office is the best option, but not everyone has a spare bedroom that can be turned into an office. No problem, just make the best with whatever space you have available. I started off on the corner of the bedroom making cold calls and getting deals done.
I've had a bunch of different home offices. I've had a dedicated office in a 3 bedroom house, I've turned a one bedroom apartment into an office by turning the bedroom into an office and turning the living room into a bedroom, and now I've turned my living room into an office. Anything can work, you just need to improvise with what you have available.
You need a desk!
What not to do – cluttered desk, facing a wall, back to an open door. This is not the power position, this is the powerless position and will cause anxiety. Your back should be to the wall so you can see everything going on in the room.
Desks were invented for a reason, to GTD (get things done). There's a big anti-desk movement going around which is just silly. You don't need a beanbag chair, you don't need a standing desk, you need a regular damn desk and a chair. A table will work fine as well. When you've got yourself a table or a desk you've got an office and you're in business.
The design of your home office plays a big role in how well you work from home. Great setup, great results. Poor setup, poor results.
Some tips for desk placement:
- Don't sit facing a wall, like a mental patient.
- Don't have your back to a door or window – This causes anxiety, always looking over your shoulder. Not to mention you'll get a glare from the sun if you've got your back towards a window.
Your desk should be in the power position or command position, which is typically the middle of the room with your back to a wall and your front towards a door or window. You want to see everything that's happening in the room, as any police officer knows you never want your back to an open door.
Keep a clean desk! Clutter is the enemy.
Remember: It's one thing to have a desk at home to play around on and it's another to work from home. If you work from home you will be spending a lot of time there so you need to turn your work space into the best space possible.
4) Plan your workday in advance
The biggest mistake an entrepreneur can make is to not plan his workday in advance. If you don't have a plan, you don't have a blueprint to follow. Without a plan you're just winging it.
Failing to plan is planning to fail!
To make sure you get your business done each and every day you need to have a plan for each and every day. You need to visualize, in advance, everything you are going to do and what you are going to get taken care of.
Visualization is key for success.
How do you plan your day?
5) Keep and follow a to-do list
The best way to plan your workday is to keep a to-do list of everything you need to accomplish, right down to the smallest thing. Going into your workday without a to-do list is like going to a gunfight with no gun!
What are you going to work on if you have no plan or list of things to work on? You're going to “work on” watching YouTube videos or playing around on social networking sites. I've been there a million times.
Have a plan and stick to it!
6) Outlaw any time consuming and negative habits
If you're supposed to be working then keep things like TV, YouTube, and social media OFF LIMITS! until you have accomplished what you need accomplished.
Keep business time for business and pleasure time for pleasure.
7) Get yourself in a great mood
When you're an entrepreneur working from home one of your greatest enemies is not being in the mood to work, or “not feeling like working”.
Not being in the mood to work can cause a real problem because if you don't work, you don't eat.
There are a few ways to get into a good mood and start your day off right.
When you do cardiovascular exercise your body releases ‘feel good' hormones called endorphins.
- Go for a 30-45 minute power walk
- Go swim some laps
- Hit the treadmill, stairmaster, or bike and do some low intensity cardio (pop some motivational podcasts on your phone and listen to them while you prepare for the day ahead)
You don't need to sprint or run 10 miles, just get your heart pumping.
Years ago I'd wake up just before sunrise and take the dog out for a long walk and watch the sun come up.
Always take a shower before it's time to work!
Never go to work dirty.
Cold showers
It's impossible to not be pumped up and energized after a cold shower. To start taking cold showers, take your hot shower as normal but at the end of the shower gradually turn the water from cool, to cold, to ice cold! By the time you are out you will be pumped up and energized and definitely in the mood to get some work done.
Even if you don't take a cold shower you still need to bathe and groom yourself in the morning. Sure, you work from home, but you don't need to live like a dirty bum.
Act as if. In this case, act as if you're going to work. Even if you're just walking 15 feet to your living room.
8) Dress for success
Even if you work from home, always wear clothes that make you want to work and achieve. If you dress like a bum (sweats, pajamas etc..) you won't have the same motivation as you would if you were wearing your business attire.
A man dressed like a policeman feels like a policeman, a man dressed like a businessman feels like a businessman, and a man dressed like a lazy bum feels like a lazy bum. That's not psychology, it's common sense.
Always dress the way you wish to be seen. That doesn't necessarily mean a suit and tie but it probably doesn't mean pajamas and a dirty shirt.
Always wear clean clothes and always be clean.
I personally never wear business attire, it's too hot where I live, but I always put on fresh, clean clothes in the morning.
9) Give yourself a deadline
Deadline is a dirty word but deadlines light a fire and make you finish your work.
Allow only a certain amount of time to get ALL of your work done. This way, you will be racing against the clock and will not have time to stop and think about how much you don't want to work. All you know is that it's a race to the finish and you want to win!
Racing against the clock produces results, that's a guarantee.
10) Drink lots of Coffee or tea
Whatever gets your adrenaline going is what you should drink. Get on a pot of coffee and get to work, keep yourself hopped up on caffeine until you are finished with the days work schedule.
I don't like to eat much food in the morning because it slows you down while your gut digests it. When I do eat breakfast I eat a simple meal of 4-5 scrambled eggs. Stay away from bread, oatmeal, or pancakes in the morning. Those things will slow you down and you don't want to be slow! You want to be alert and ready to go.
When you're ready to take your focus to the next level you can try modafinil.
11) Focus on the end result
It's not about the journey! It's about getting the work done. Period.
Get your work done and keep your eye on the prize. Keep reminders of what your end goal is all around you, that way they remind you of what you're working for.
Print out and paste your goal all over your work-station. Print out pictures of what you want. This will help you visualize your end-goal and keep you in the mood to work.
12) Go to the gym at night
I've been to the gym at nearly every conceivable time and I've learned one very important thing: If you work your ass off in the gym you are going to be tired and drained when you leave the gym.
What does that mean for the entrepreneur?
It means you should work out at night, after your work day is finished.
If you go to the gym in mid afternoon, and you lift hard, you are going to be drained for the rest of the day. I've been there and done that a million times and it's no fun to get home at noon and be drained of energy and then be useless for the rest of the day.
Gym time is a must but it should be done after you finish your work day.
You've got a couple of bonuses hitting the gym at night…
Even if you work from home you will still get stressed at certain things and you'll need an outlet for that stress. When you enter the gym in the evening you'll have more strength and aggression than if you go to the gym in the morning or afternoon.
Since you're going to the gym at night, after your work is finished, you'll be able to relax a little bit when you get home and not worry about getting more work done.
EZ summary of how to work from home: Do the work. Then play. Then have a nice day.
Until next time.
Your man,
-Victor Pride
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Victor,
This post comes just as I start working as a web developer from home. You have telepathic powers!!
Oh, and did I mention I started going to the gym after picking up your ebooks?
Great Article!
War of Art boosted my work ethics to the next level!
When I first started to work from home, I thought I don`t need deadlines. “I am something special, I do creative work….deadlines are for office slaves”
The result? I was pissing away valuable time. Facebook here, and YouTube there.
Whenever I need to get shit done today, I set myself a deadline. To further steer my ass in the right direction is use leverage. I give a good friend 2,000$. Money he`ll piss away if I can`t hold my deadline. Whenever my ass is on the line, I work like hell. Never failed a deadline with this method!
“I give a good friend 2,000$. Money he`ll piss away if I can`t hold my deadline. Whenever my ass is on the line, I work like hell. Never failed a deadline with this method!”
GREAT idea!
And when money is not working, I use the big gun. I leave my normal environment!
“A small town in a third world country is the perfect destination to close your project. Your mother’s basement comes second best. To close my first book project I went to Rumania. It was fucking cold. And there were gypsies everywhere. I had nothing else to do than editing sixteen hours a day. After months of struggling, I finished my book within a couple of days.”
http://lifestylelikeaboss.com/productivity-hacks/
Great post Victor. I work from home occasionally and have implemented most of these into that routine and agree it sets you up for success. I have a home gym, and getting the workout in early sets you up for success early in the day. It is something I do regardless of if I work at home or in the office, but is easier at home since once you’re out of the shower and dressed you can be working with no commute. Your advice is perfect for those that work from home, or one day want to work from home. It’s not for everyone though (extroverts or those who get their energy from working with others in person beware), and takes discipline (for awhile) to establish the routine.
Yes, good point. It can become monotonous. All the more reason to work harder so you can afford frequent vacations – like me. When I come back I always come back energized and ready to kick some butt.
Yes, working from home can lead to boredom in the long run. That being said, there’s no reason why you can’t work outside of the house on occasion. Today I took the laptop to the local library, read some great books and started working on the next blog post and site design. Mixing it up where you work inspires more creative thinking.
These tips have helped me a lot. I also have tried to step thing up a gear, purchased a proper domain and imagge rights. Pro from the get go is good advice.
About working from home, I have a month off every time i come off the rig. Without any doubt the biggest enemy is boredom. Everybody else is at work! I have my hobbies and interests, but damn it’s boring.
How do you combat this Victor? Do you make yourself go out of your home at certain times of day, eg to eat and interact? I’ve found myself joining a Thai boxing class and taking up Chinese lessons just to put the time to good use and get out and about.
Great post!
Now I need to move the desk so I can watch out what’s going on around!
Hi Victor,
Another outstanding article.
Getting up early and getting shit done is the way to go. In fact, I just got back from the grocery store and while everyone was heading off to work in congested traffic, I practically had the whole grocery store to myself. Talk about not feeling rushed.
Each of us is different, of course, and I totally agree with the power position of the desk, but I personally don’t like my back to the wall. It makes me feel like I am cramped. I like to lean back and stretch and relax. Also, even though my back is to the door, I love being able to look outside my window (I am blessed with a nice view). The picture above is pretty much like I have it, but without the clutter. By the way, I built my desk out of hardwood (the design is simple and functional, as it should be) many years ago and it still looks great. Everyone who sees it always gives me compliments about it.
Planning is the key here. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It’s that simple. Every morning I write a to-do list. When I complete a task, I will strike it off and move on to the next one. Only when my checklist is completed, I will allow myself to go out and play.
As far as distractions go, I will not allow them in my life while I am working. That means no radio, no television, no music, no nothing. I want to have a laser-like focus at the task at hand if I expect to do my best.
I used to drink coffee (or tea) while I worked but it usually made me fatigued (I know, it’s supposed to make one alert, not the other way around.) Nowadays, I drink distilled water and for some reason I have more energy than I used to.
Am I boring as I work? Of course I am. Work is not supposed to be fun or it wouldn’t be called work! Like you said, after the work is done then you can go out and play and have some fun.
Sincerely.
Bob
Outstanding comment, Bob.
“Am I boring as I work? Of course I am. Work is not supposed to be fun or it wouldn’t be called work! Like you said, after the work is done then you can go out and play and have some fun.”
Bingo!
Great article Victor. After reading your posts I’ve striven to become PRO FROM THE GET GO. Using all your advice I’ve even started my own Pro Blog
http://alphamalemakeover.com/
Just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the motivation. Without your input the blog would have probably been a crappy blogger template.
No problem, Adam. And I’ll give you my personal opinion on your home page – I counted 13 advertisements on your home page. That’s a HUGE amount for a new site. I’d cut that down at least 50% and promote the most relevant ones. Its too much clutter for the eyeballs.
Thanks for the VALUED feedback, I will keep 30DoD and BOS and remove some of the other advertisement. Gotta think long term.
I get the impression your site is geared toward men, so I hope a comment from a woman isn’t too unwelcome, but I REALLY appreciate your writing and posture of encouragement. I’ve had to rearrange my work life due to an injury, and your strategies and systematic approach to working from home have helped me with a necessary hard reset.
I had a terrific first boss/mentor who was full to the brim of all sorts of good advice, and I remember in particular his saying something to the effect of people will only take your work as seriously as you do. I find that VERY true, and have only recently re-established my “territory”, work wise, after nearly 20 years of officing primarily from home, but with no real boundaries. Now, no kids on my computer, no coloring at my desk, no Latin lessons left on my printer, etc. That simple change, even though I had to go through the (only self-imposed) mean mommy guilt, has meant a complete shift in how they view what I do when they’re not around, and I’ve found they are increasingly inquisitive and helpful, wanting to jump in and help where they can. They have a full understanding now, in just a couple of months, of where money REALLY comes from, and what is necessary to earn it, and how to do so thoughtfully and deliberately.
Sorry for the ramble, thanks again for this terrific resource.
Whether you’re working at home or “at work,” unproductive people always like to interfere with productive people. I think it’s partly an attention-getting behavior. To some extent, at least among peers, it’s also an attempt to keep anyone from behaving too differently (and possibly disrupting the status quo).
Lousy workers want to drag down productive people. If you’re a lazy bum, you need make sure everyone else is a lazy bum that way you don’t look as bad, reducing you chance of being fired. As a manager, the hardest job of all is firing lazy bums. You may have to go through many bums before you find a solid worker, but that’s what leadership takes if you’re going to be an employer.
Vic,
Last week I moved my office desk to the center of the room so I could see the entire room. The minute I say down, it just felt right, I felt as if I was in a position of power. I got to work, and I shit you not, I felt more productive JUST by moving my desk. My work-ethic was seriously boosted, fellas, try it.
The best ways for me to get things done.
1. Ample sleep (so I’m up early in the morning)
2. Coffee for breakfast (at least 3 cups)
3. Written down goals from the night before (a list will make things MUCH easier)
4. A 15-minute pump-session (push ups, squats, pull ups, etc)
5. Music. I have a dedicated “work” playlist
6. Not stopping until I am 100% satisfied and finished
7. Reward myself afterwards (Can be a steak, a cigar, glass of scotch, wet piece of pussy, anything that makes me happy), just make sure to reward yourself after you have gotten the job done.
-Mack
I’m going to try this desk moving technique today.
I pretty much to everything on your list, my only Achilles heel is sleep, I cant get my mind to stop thinking which pretty much keeps me awake all night.
Great list.
Me too bud, the exact same. Last night I was up ’til 1am (super late for me) just lost in thought. Still managed to get out of bed before 8. I like 200mg 5htp before sleep, it helps to calm me. Melatonin puts me to sleep but I feel like a zombie the next day so I can’t recommend it.
I’m going to check out 5HTP.
It’s shockingly easy to get lost in your own thoughts, going to hit the IRON hard so my body forces my brain to fall asleep. Only thing that works.
There is some mild concern regarding using 5-HTP long term, so maybe you guys would be interested in trying L-Theanine sometime. It’s an amino acid and works to calm people down.
I was wanting also to comment on the orientation of your desk point. I never thought about it, but there is a very slight psychological change associated with it. The CEO is always facing the door, whereas his workers are in their cubicles, facing the plain wall, and vulnerable.
A heavy workout at peak noon will resolve the sleep problem. Midday sun exposure with also reset your melatonin cycle.
Try Endep. I bought 10ml tablets for when I get lost in a train of thoughts that don’t appeal to me and they put me to sleep almost instantly. Only on the odd occasion have I felt a drowsiness after waking up which dies down pretty quick after training or a nice coldie in the shower.
Look into buying some Kratom for sleep (specfically the strain Sleepy Hippo). If you don’t know about it, go to goodlookingloser.com and read up on it.
I’m going to be doing a review on my experiences with Kratom (various strains I’ve tried) it’s been pretty good stuff. But you have to take it properly.
Kratom is illegal in Thailand, they classify it as a narcotic. You don’t want to mess around with drugs in Asia.
Edit: Oh, I see the comment was not directed towards me.
Vic-
Whenever you have a chance to try some, do so. Chris at GLL has Happy Hippy Herbals, which is legit. Chris is a cool guy and I trust his product 100%.
Is Phenibut illegal as well in Thailand?
Phenibut is legal. I was actually talking to Chris the other day about both Phenibut and Kratom. I’ll be in the States soon so I may just see what the fuss is about Kratom.
Thanks Mack. Two recommendations is the space of 5 minutes, this is what I like about B&D, everyone is willing to help each other.
to Vic & Mack – Lets Make 2014 GREAT – F What everyone else thinks, I know what I want to do and I Know how to get there and I wont let ANYONE stop me anymore.
Adam-
Look into Kramtom not only for sleep, but for productivity and relaxation (amoungst other things), it makes talking to people easier. Make sure you do your homework and enjoy. I don’t wanna say the stuff has been life changing, but it has definitely had some positive effects on my life.
Happy 2014 to you as well. Keep up the good work on your site. I have to start working more on mine, I’ve been going on a lot of trips lately!
What’s up Vic!, you don’t seem yourself like you used to be when I would regularly read you pristine content, I think your companion is softing you up you big teddy bear you. P.S I love you.
Funny you should say this, I wrote a post yesterday (unpublished) describing how get involved with the RIGHT girl (not just any girl, the right one) will give you some much needed stability and help you to accomplish more. In fact I can look at my balance sheet and see an increase in income the very month after I brought this one home from the puppy pound.
You should publish it. That is something I would really like to hear.
I’ll publish it when I get it right. This very article I started writing two years ago.
I can definitely respect that.
Hey Victor, did you ever finish writing that article?
Right on man, that’s what’s up,whatever works to keep the readers coming back for more and more it’s always good with me and helps you in the process, also if won’t post it, I wouldn’t mind reading/receiving it through your friendly email. An thank you for what you do Vic I’m grateful for you blog, “best content on the internet”
“hands down” also any newbies reading this check out “why you should be a builder” there’s gold in that article.
Scooter
I completely agree. I’ve been in a stable relationship with a great girl for the past year, and I’ve never progressed so much in my life before.
Looking forward to that post Victor.
POST IT! I found the right girl, and I’d been very focus lazer…. no need for porn, party or distractions…just werk and girl
The best of women will sense a man yearning for a life of fulfillment and meaning, then do their best to use positive feminine energy to get him to fulfill his goals. A woman who is happy to be her man’s muse for whatever his endeavors are is worth her weight in gold.
I’d add, since I’ve also been using a spare room for my office at home for years that:
1- A nice office chair is a HUGE plus. Since you will spend hours working on it, it should not be less comfortable than your sofa on the next room. “damn back pains” are much likely to be a call for spending hours on your nice sofa. It should be a chair you enjoy sitting on. Take time to arrange your desk, it’s like your private sanctuary when your power is unleashed.
2- Appropriate lighting. I rarely use the plain light, I prefer use a smooth light that gives an “ambiance” – sometimes I lit a candle – I feel more inspired and can spend hours writing.
3- Unclutter, like the man said. Dirty desk is a good call for procrastination and mental mess.
4- I used to wake up, jump, check “urgent” emails, and find myself at 11.00 AM, nothing done but YouTube and Facebook. Wake up and have a morning routine. I’ve been following for months the 30DoD-inspired routine. 15 mn workout, cold shower, coffee and voila.
5- Take some time to shave, take care of your skin, and don’t dive until you are ready.
6- I feel more productive since I only check my emails two times a day (morning and for closing the work day)
7- Unclutter also your mailling lists. Otherwise you find yourself to either thinking about buying this 50% off set-limitet-set-what-have-you of the “last cool announcement”. 30 mn later, you are still checking your emails
8- It shouldn’t be an excuse to eat crap. Take an hour off to prepare you a decent meal
9- Disable “notifications” as much as you can, take some time to do it now, it’ll save you hours!
Excellent tips. I used to have a high dollar ergonomic chair, it was great. In re: lighting, I like natural sunlight. I always open my curtains and balcony door very first thing in the morning.
Why “used to” ? Anyway I think chairs are important. IMO a chair should be comfortable for prolonged ass cruising, and adjustable to your individual bodily proportions, but it should be a Sit The Fuck Up chair, not a sloucher or recliner of any sort. Automotive bucket seats are (mostly) a good example of good chair design. You should be just as alert when working as you are when driving, and just as able to endure a 19 hour spell behind the controls if you need to.
‘Cuz I hit the road, Jack. And didn’t want to drag an office chair around with me. A good chair is of utmost importance if! you are stable in your location.
1. Right on the money regarding a quality office chair. I work from home a lot, and the $400 I spent on an ergonomic chair is well worth the coin. One of the themes I’ve decided to hit upon on my site is that men should buy items of high quality that they use frequently. Buying low-quality items that you use infrequently is a waste of money. Get a great chair fellas.
2. Natural lighting is the best, incandescent lighting is a distant second, florescent lighting should be avoided whenever possible. Light temperatures affect mood and eyestrain. Getlemen, I suggest you try F.lux which is a free software program for Windows and Mac to help ease eyestrain on your screen. You can get it here: http://justgetflux.com
3. Ditto.
4. My rule is no social media until after all work is completed. Check your email first thing in the morning and only open those headers which pertain to items on your daily to-do list. Everything else can wait.
5. Good point. You never know when work may call you outside of the house and you don’t want to look like a bum when you leave. Be ready for anything, at any time.
9. Yes, excellent idea. If your phone is buzzing all the time, you need to uninstall apps. All those distractions are for junior high girls, not a man who is trying to kick butt and take on the day.
Either I’m seeing things, you are experimenting with your style or this article was (partially) written by someone else. Nothing wrong with that – I enjoyed the article – but its just an observation.
I liked the tips from tip #3 (a dedicated workspace) the most.
Idea for a new post sometime:”amplify the importance of having a good work space – what that looks like etc.
I dunno wot u fukkrz r cn as a diffrnt style. Just cuz a guy use a ! doan’ mean he went gotta sex change. I cd teach ya punks a thang or 2 bout illiterary styles.
haha!
Funny Derrek, I noticed this as well.
Brb moving my desk… !
Exclamation points. Remove them and tell me how different it is. Small changes can make a big difference.
Exclamation points! Remove them and tell me how different it is! Small changes can make a big difference!
Every point in this article I have made into a habit. It took months, but now I am on a whole different level. Doing this stuff will make you an ass-kicker everyday as opposed to just some days. I can kick ass on Sunday now. I can’t understate the importance of dress. When I play loud music in a t-shirt I feel pumped, but when I play it while wearing a well-fitted shirt and tie I feel like a kingpin.
Victor,
I really like the intro of this post.
I already fixed my chair and desktop to be in a power position a few weeks ago as per your advice, and I think it’s made a slight difference in terms of not losing mental focus on unnecessary things.
What I will be taking away from this post is to experiment with going to the gym at night. I currently go at noon and then break my fast 30-60 minutes post workout by eating a massive buffet. This occassionally slows me down more than I’d like.
Thanks for the tips.
It became abundantly clear to me a few months ago. For 6 weeks I went to the gym at 11am and hit a very hard, bodybuilding workout 4-5 days per week. I was just plain exhausted when I got home and didn’t have much energy to create. It’s not worth it, just go at night and give the most important part of your day the best of your energy.
Victor,
Indeed.
This is a highly individual topic, sure. But for people like you and me who already have good physiques and have 80/20-ied those parts of our lives already it makes more sense to invest our focus in 80/20-ing a new area. An area such as business and creating value for example.
Abgrund,
For me all days (with very few exceptions) are high energy, given that my sleep schedule is on point, and that I take powernaps/meditative breaks to remain focused.
Another reason why I like going to the gym early is because I usually do it while I am still high on stimulants (coffee/raw cocoa). And I can’t take those things later in the day and not expect it to mess with my sleep.
Ludwig I think it is highly circumstantial. I’m sure you have noticed that some days are high energy days and some days inevitably are not, unless you’re a tweeker. I’ve found that when I do a hard workout early on a low energy day, I’m done for the day. However if I do it it in the evening on a high energy day, I may be up all night Getting Shit Done, which fucks hell out of all schedules and rhythms.
No
‘Loser says, “no”‘. Can I get this on a t-shirt?
Great Post!
What helps me focus on my work-at-home dynamic is morning mediation. It clears my mind and keeps me focus throughout the day. In addition, I’ve been working out through my hybrid “Insanity/P90X” schedule which serves as a stress crusher after the day is done.
Dressing for work is one of the most underrated pieces of advice for anyone working from home. It makes the world of difference. When I started, I would type work in pajamas, then slowly digress to my bed for a nap that would last the rest of the afternoon. You don’t get results like that! You sleep in your pajamas, you work in your “work” clothes.
Keep it up with the great entries!
Cheers!
Will do, Michael.
Hey Vic!
Great Article! Thanks for that.
I´d recommend you to be very careful with Phenibut, i messed up with that stuff just some months ago. After 1 day it´s starts building up tolerance and if you continue you will end up with really nasty anxiety because of some GABA-Receptors in the brain. 5-HTP is great, far better than Tryptophan, i also recommend Theanine it´s very mild and it will help you to calm down and have a good sleep. Modafinil is great i recommend it to everyone. Maybe you give Piracetam a try, it has incredible effects on Memory.
Wish you a successful week!
Constantin
Constantin,
My experience with Phenibut is you should NEVER take it more than once every three or four days. I’ve read you can build up a tolerance pretty quickly.
I’ve taken it three times (around 2.5 grams each time) and have felt awesome.
However, each time I have taken it, was on a weekend. So I have spaced out servings a week apart.
Hello Mack!
i´ve never felt better than on high-dose Phenibut! It´s an incredible feeling! I´ve never had anxiety before, but the week after i ran out of that stuff i was thinking that i´d go crazy, so i had to buy some more and then tapered it. You really have to be very carefull with that stuff as it is a russian psychic drug.
Best is to stay away of such shit and better experiment with Nootropics like aniracetam, piracetam, modafinil, noopept. This drugs will help you to be more productive and thats what we all want in the end.
What do you suggest that yields the same affects as Phenibut?
I´m not into drugs, and i just tried Phenibut because it´s always linked to Nootropics, to be sincere i´ve never felt again something similar to Phenibut, that feeling is just overwhelming. Some people who suffer from Anxiety take Picamilon but what i´ve heard it´s not very effective. Kava may be similar to Phenibut. But again, all that stuff WILL mess up your brain, and you will feel shitty afterwards contrary to drugs like Piracetam which have no sides. What i do recommend to every guy is to go for Testosterone 500mg/W for about 3 Months, that won´t do any harm and it will have a great effect on mood, stamina and it will help the body to overcome those negative effects of modern life which have summed up. I for example was skinny, very defined with sixpack and so on, but skinny. Since i started T i got up from 73KG to now 84KG and i feel much better. I know Vic recommends Dematazine, and i tried it, but IMHO nothing is better than good old Testosterone specially for Roidbeginners.
But i don´t take T just because of BodyBuilding but also because it has helped me a lot with my business, if you want to get started with a business T may be a good idea to get that extra energy and motivation, afterall today many guys are completely unmotivated because of their T levels being on the floor.
The clue is to find the drugs that help you to be more productive but don´t drain you.
Constantin,
I’m in the same boat as you concerning nootropics. I only try things that will better my life. I will look into testosterone, I have been contemplating it for a while. I should at very least get my levels checked. What steps do you reccomend me taking in terms of obtaining it? You said 3 months, what about after? Interested….feel free to email me.
I’ve got some theanine powder, I never use it though. What’s your dosage strategy?
Theanine is a very mild compund, last time i took it my dosage was at 5 grams. Theanine won´t make you sleepy, but it will calm you down. Just try it, then you can figure out what dosage fits best for you.
Great post.
The desk placement thing is a new for me thanks for that.
BTW another benefit of training at night is = MORE GROWTH
Basically you have more energy at night since you would have had more meals by then..
More energy surplus = more growth potential.
Another thing is since you are about to sleep at night after training then it will result in bettre recovery.
There is an actual research proving that but it actually is common sense and I dont have that paper with me right now.
Thanks for the nice post
“BTW another benefit of training at night is = MORE GROWTH
Basically you have more energy at night since you would have had more meals by then..
More energy surplus = more growth potential.”
Absolutely, 100% correct.
Russians say: Сделал дело, гуляй смело. That means: All job has been done? Now it’s time for some fun. (Tried to keep it rythmed, too).
By the way, it sounds like a contradiction when you say one should hate office work in one passage and then that one should have his room organised as an office, i.e. in the form of a cage. Why not using some other term for one’s work space? More inspiring one, the one to the point, e.g. the sanctum.
Cages are in the mind, and an office is a place where work is done.
Cages ARE in offices, not minds, man. Office = slavery, whatever one’s mind is. Even when accepted as part of one’s plan, to achieve one’s goal. I know this, I have been a whitecollar over the past 13 years…
Germans say:
Tomorrow, tomorrow just not today is what lazy people say.
“By the way, it sounds like a contradiction when you say one should hate office work in one passage and then that one should have his room organised as an office, i.e. in the form of a cage.”
I never said either of those things, that’s your interpretation. I use the word office because everybody understands the word. I privately think of my office as the command center.
Going to the gym in the morning and doing a badass workout sort of gives me the confidence that I can kick the day in the ass as well. Imagining doing 10 sets of squats in the morning. You can do anything after that. At least mentally ;)
The desk tip was the one that stood out the most. Hmmm. Never thought about it.
When I start my day off with some type of physical activity, I always end up kicking ass. When I don’t, usually I’m lazy. Amazing how things like that work.
I see why you say that, It’s almost like, You’re not doing any living unless you get the mega pump out of the way
Good post. Having 2 small boys killing each other at home made my work difficult with the laptop. After setting up a more powerful wireless modem and bought a small desk for the corner of my bedroom with just enough space for a stool and keeping the door shut, my productivity went up 300%.
Add two jugs of coffee and it’s unstoppable.
I LOVE working late but trying to get up for the gym when my mind is doing the ton is pretty difficult. I now DEDICATE set days and times to do nothing but work.
Oh. And never underestimate the power of a cold shower guys. One of the most important daily rituals I perform thanks to Victors ’30 days of discipline’.
Yes, they are a nasty kick in the gut, but the mental clarity that comes afterwards is second to none.
Victor, What are your thoughts on music while working, I note from another article that after years of working out in silence once you made the change to listening to a playlist/podcast you received great improvements in enjoyment while lifting weights. Could this be the same for working. a small radio perhaps in the background or a iPod on shuffle?? , PS will be waiting on the ‘right girl’ post. females are a great and mostly positive drive for men I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this subject.
Ed, the right music helps and the wrong music distracts. Lately I’ve been playing Bob Seger Turn the Page a lot while I work.
I’ve always found music without words best to work with.
I also sometimes listen to music in a language that I don’t understand, depending on my mood.
What’s up Victor, I’ve had positive feedback from my new blog at http://www.leaderofthefree.net I’m not the type to seek approval from others but I’ve been a fan of your blog for a while so I’d like to know what you make of my content if you get the chance.
Get rid of that “Meta” widget, it’s useless and ugly. Change the category from the ugly sounding “Uncategorized” to something better. Never let a post go into the uncategorized section.
How about “Other Shit Ya Gotta Know” ?
Tip #3, change your author’s name from “Admin” to something real.
Cheers for the tips bud.
Victor,
After You hit the gym in the evening, do You consume any post-workout meal? Or get all of them before training?
Yes, of course. Dinner.
I don’t suppose your dinner is made up of bananas and whey protein shakes, is it Vic?
That’d be a laugh.
Vic, do you still workout daily while on holiday? In fact, how many days a week do you normally lift the steel, and how long do your workout sessions tend to last?
I’ve been trying to stick to 1 hr max, but it doesn’t always end up that way. Sometimes I need longer than 1 m rest between those sets!…
Sure do. At the moment I lift approx. 4 days per week approx. 30 mins per session.
Dam. I’ve been doing a lot of these lately by accident (putting my desk in a power position, started doing work in the morning without breakfast, planned my workday in advance with a todo list) and I’ve notice a huge increase in productivity.
I’ll have to try the cardio trick when I’m not in the mood to work (the worst feeling).
I would add it would probably be best done outside. Sunlight doesn’t just make your body produce Vitamin D. It also releases NO2 from your skin. NO2 of course dilates the arteries which should get some more blood flowing to the ol’ noggin.
im a photographer/cinematographer… I agree with VP totally… Though i normally wake up at 10am, sleep from 3am to 10am… and start working at 11am thru to usually 6-8pm (depending on editing load), then some client meetings here and there, dinner and then I hit the gym around 9 or 10pm.
The best thing about working out at night is the availability of the bench press and some important free lifting weights/bars, and stairmasters (my gym only has 2). I cant stress the importance of having a bench at your disposal without a dude constantly lurking to get in on it during peak hours like early evening, or morning time. I absolutely love working out at night. I feel way more focused on what needs to get done on that day. Otherwise I have usually found myself settling for compromises on what machines/equipment i can use…
Get yourself in great mood. Like Duke Nukem, Looking Good. It’s time to kick ass and chew bubblegum and I’m all outta gum HEHE !!!
Solid post Vic.
Definitely agree on work being #1 priority as well as having a desk, its a lot harder to get work done lying on your bed.
Victor I bought all of your books. Great job. You mentioned on a earlier comment that you lift 4 days a week approximately 30 minutes each workout. Can you tell us the routine that you do on those 4 days? You mentioned on another post that you had to stop working out legs because they were getting to big. How many times a week were you training them and what exercises were you doing?
Hey Vic,
Cool post. Good tips about the gym at night. Totally agreeable. I always try to schedule my exercise AFTER I have finished all my mental work for the day. I find that I can become very sleepy and drained after a big long work out!
Great tips,
Keep em’ coming!
Jordan Flynn
Thanks Vic for the important instruction.
I am organized like nobody’s business. I have to be. I run two companies and have employees. Not outsourced people. Actual employees I pay a salary for. David Allen Getting things done is hands down the best organizing book(s) in the game. Just get the audio book. I LOATH reading. I don’t have time. Audio books are the way to go!
http://www.audible.com/pd/Business/Getting-Things-Done-Audiobook/B002V0PPRU?source_code=GO1GB909GSH102413&gclid=CKmQ8ozZnbwCFeV_Qgod7S4Apw&mkwid=s2gKKmcZY_dc&bp_ua=yes&pkw=getting+things+done+audiobook&pmt=b&pcrid=35525480889
Nobody does it better.
http://www.davidco.com/
http://zenhabits.net/simplifying-david-allens-complicated-gtd-setup/
http://ais.informatik.uni-freiburg.de/teaching/ws10/praktikum/gtd-basics.pdf
I follow a modified version. If you don’t know David Allen Getting things done. Stop what your doing and learn. Follow his system.
“Containment and compartmentalization is the name of the game” —- Me
Italian G,
Always love your comments.
Thanks. I didn’t know anyone even gave a shit. lol
victor see http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2014/01/21/warren-buffett-offers-1-billion-for-perfect-march-madness-bracket/
Hey Victor, i’m doing your 30 days of discipline and i’m currently on Day 1. I pretty much got the gist of everything but I had one question. I’m a collegiate athlete and we do some heavy lifts in winter including some killer leg stuff like pushing prowlers and slideboards. I know my schedule pretty well and I was curious as to if a midday nap is allowed on days where I have workouts like the ones aforementioned above.
Thanks
-Dean
Absolutely, Dean.
Gym at night? That is going to be a hard.
Great post. But I’ve noticed that since I stopped going to the gym due to my injury, I am not pumped and excited as before. There is something that puts a spring into my feet, I don’t feel tired. So I am trying to implement a workout session in my morning to get me pumped and moving, some of you might want to try it out. Don’t just tire yourselves out. 2 sets of pushups to failure might be enough
I really like you idea of a proper chair, I have an alright one but I never quite thought of it like that. I also find that stretching before I start for the day, it makes the day a little better as well. My other tip I use to rock my day is by using a Virtual Assistant, since there are tasks that I really don’t like to do so I get my VA to do it. If any one is interested go to vaplacements.com the girls through there are pretty good.
This is the kick in the ass article I’ve needed. Lately been feeling burned out at work (from home). I feel the urge just to go out and distract my self, but fact is just like you laid out you don’t work you don’t eat. Time to get in gear. Especially starting the year, I think it must be the fact that its technically summer where I’m residing.
I’ve been working from home for the past 20 years. I like working from home, because I can watch YouTube, take a nap, go to a coffeehouse, take a long bath, read a book, research the Internet and read articles like this one. Essentially, I can do whatever I want. I just have to make sure I get my orders in the mail.
I don’t have a lot of money, because my latest online retail business is less than two years old, and I started with very little. I enjoy my freedom more than I enjoy having a lot of money. I have such a business that it has a very small footprint, can be done anywhere there’s Internet and a post office, and in time can make me good money averaging around 4 hours of work per day.
Granted, in the beginning there was a lot of work setting up my online store, researching my product and vendors, learning about social media, etc.
I’ve done the “bigger is better” with a 7500 sq. ft. warehouse and employees, working 8 to 10 hours per day, every day. No thanks. Small works for me.
I’ll continue enjoying a life that allows me to get up when I want, wear what I want, and work when I want. And the best part is that I love my business.
Cheers!
I have been working at home as a content writer for various websites for a bit more than 5 years now. I can honestly say that these tips are spot-on, unfortunately, my room is quite small, and I don’t have the option to put my desk near a window (it faces the wall at the moment). Still, it works out fine for me.
P.S. I bought 30 Days of Discipline, excellent book.
Great post
Great no nonsense advice. Probably read this post several times but it crystalises how to work from home effectively. Desk placement is very important and by placing my desk in the centre my productivity has definitely risen. Great work Vic, an inspiration to everyone.
You are a great deal, i write down ideas from you. Sometimes i forget how life is, how to get results and then i come to your blog and get a reality check.
This is EXACTLY the article I wanted to read on here, it’s going to come in handy.
Very soon(by August 1st, but maybe sooner) I’m going to quit my job and become an entrepreneur.(not blogging or lil steffy related) and I’m pretty nervous but excited as hell.
I keep asking myself if I’m ready and if it’s going to work out or if I’m just delusional, but fuck it, I’ll do my best and at least try.
Anyway thanks for the site and article Victor, you were one of my inspirations to do take this leap of faith.
Mr. Pride,
Thank you for this post. The biggest takeaways I got from this, and will apply immediately are racing against the clock, dressing like a businessman while I work from home, and going to the gym at night. Everything in this article is valuable, but these are the things that rally sang to me.
Thanks for the advice.