12 Micro-Productive Tips That Will Help You Get in the Creative Zone and Stay Focused

Irritated and not sure why? Drink water. It might seem simplistic, but consider these two facts from a study published in The Journal of Nutrition: 1) Even mild dehydration — 1.5% loss in normal water volume in the body — can degrade how we are feeling, and 2) Our thirst sensation doesn’t really appear until we are 1 or 2% dehydrated. In other words, Klein is on to something: if you feel irritated and don’t know why, you’re probably dehydrated.

To break up my writing sessions, I change into running shorts, throw AirPods into my ears, and turn on the latest episode of my favorite podcast How I Built This with

. As I run around a nearby lake, this duo combination of increased blood-flow and entrepreneurial inspiration resets my creativity and rejuvenates my brain like a chia pet. It’s amazing what happens when you do something that gets your heart rate up while listening to someone you admire.

Immersing yourself in water or taking a shower often leads to fresh ideas and a positive mood afterwards.

There’s a difference between talking to someone you want to be like versus someone you don’t want to be like. If you like the person, you’re receptive, open, and sponge-like. As a result, you learn. You advance. This “mentor” is like a model of the future you. Call them, keep it short, and ask just one question. In a few minutes, you’ll get a vision of yourself that motivates you for the rest of the day.

I’m not sure what activity you do to free your mind and let it wander on its own, but for me, it’s doing the dishes. I love washing the dishes. When I dry my hands afterwards, my head is full of exciting new ideas, similar to a shower. What little thing can you do that’s both freeing and productive?

I gain energy around people. To channel this social-based energy into my work, I get up early to go to a coffeeshop. I watch people flow in and out of the shop throughout the morning and afternoon rushes. I overhear tidbits of conversation. Each person has a unique story and interesting quirks. Musing on this through speculation generates mini-waves of creativity for me, especially when 

Taking out my minimalist leather journal, I wrote about my purpose in life. This broadening of perspective lifted me out of my seat on the plane and helped me see how the conference fit in with the bigger trajectory of my life. Rather than putting in my earphones and watching a movie, this moment of personal reflection anchored me and produced a stronger sense of confidence by the time I landed.

Whether it’s for outlandish fun or crushing a last-minute project, a special occasion requires extra energy. One founder friend of mine said he regularly pulls all-nighters once a week to work on his startup. It helps that his startup is a coffee brand, but still, for him, he accesses a huge block of untapped time to be productive that he normally wouldn’t have if he slept. For the rest of us who enjoy a heavy eight hours, we can still crack open a Red Bull or make a pot of joe to find focus gaps from time to time (instead of napping or watching TV) and not die.

My friend told me that she likes to pour herself a glass of red wine and keep it around her while she works at home. She doesn’t drink it, but the thought of it—its availability, ease of access, and promise of reward—motivates her to earn it. I’m not sure if it’s positive or negative reinforcement (honestly, it seems like an odd mix of both), but this tactic of self-discipline and reward helps keep my friend in the zone while strengthening her willpower

I had an ambitious college roommate. In the mornings, whenever he needed to gear up his mind for a test or presentation, he would get out his guitar and strum wildly. It wasn’t erratic chaos, but rather a quick rhythm with a high BPM count. For example, he wouldn’t fingerpick What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, rather he would shred something active by Mumford and Sons. From under the warm covers of the top bunk, I cried out to him why he does this. He told me it helps speed his brain up and think at a faster rate. He had top grades.