Don’t Sabotage Yourself With All-Nighters
Archives: Self Improvement
When you are writing on deadline (or creating a marketing plan, redesigning your website, etc.) and your energy is starting to falter… do not rely on coffee or “power” drinks to stay alert.
If you’re really tired, take a nap. It’s a tactic all top writers know about. Stuff your brain with info, then go sleep for 20 minutes and let your subconscious synthesize and data-mine everything. When you wake up (don’t sleep longer than 20 minutes or you’ll get groggy), you will often be amazed at what’s suddenly ready to be written.
I’ve done my headlines this way for most of my career.
I never force myself to stay awake. If you do, you’ll spend three hours grinding out crap you’ll have to toss anyway. By grabbing some brain-satisfying shut-eye when you require it, you can be more productive in half an hour than you could hope to manage in three bleary-eyed hours of trying to coerce results.
[Ed. Note: Get more unconventional tips for supercharging your career at John Carlton's blog www.john-carlton.com.
Power napping is a technique that works for John Carlton. But there are hundreds of other "secrets" you can use to get out of tough spots in Early to Rise's Unscrew Your Life newsletter. Sign up today.]
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