You want to be productive in your business but when you get home from work, you're exhausted.
Let's talk about that.
If you're like most part-time entrepreneurs, you work all day your J-O-B and then try to get to work on your DREAM – your home business.
Your mind says GO, but you're body says, NO!
You deserve to relax after your hard day, right?
Welcome to one of the biggest dilemmas facing Part Time Marketers…
How can I be productive when I just wanna be a couch potato?
The fact is that most Home Business newbies need to continue working a full time job to pay the bills while they launch their business.
While having a day job can certainly take the pressure off the need to make money in your new business, it can be really difficult to find the time — and energy — to do both.
It's a challenge to get into “work mode” after a hard day at the office!
You get home, have some dinner, flip on the TV and then…. your eyes start to close, you get really comfortable on the couch and want nothing more than to curl up to a good movie or your favorite sitcom for the night.
That might be okay for some, but not for you!
After all, you're not just building a home business, you're building a legacy!
But still… you're tired!
How do you motivate yourself to get off the couch and get to work?
Here are some tips to get you going…
1. Allow Yourself To Transition
The first step is to acknowledge what's happening.
Understand that you need to transition from your “day job” to working on your business at night.
Allow yourself a short time to do just that — transition.
- When I used to get home from work around 5:30pm, I'd generally give myself until 7 pm to have dinner and relax before I started working on my business.
- During that time, I would relax, flip on the TV and occasionally take a 20-minute power nap. This was my “transition time”.
- At that point, it's game on!
It's okay to be a couch potato if that's how you best transition from work to business. Others prefer to listen to music or read a good book.
Whatever you do to transition is fine, but just remember that it's a tradition and not an excuse.
2. Change Your Self Talk
I found that changing my self-talk would help get me moving in the right direction when I was tired from a day at the job.
Simply changing my self-talk from “I'm so tired, I just want to crash on the couch all night”, to…
“I'm tired from my day, but after a short period of relaxation I will feel rejuvenated and ready to work on my business” …
would help me reframe my time and made it easier to transition into business mode.
Try it and see if it helps you!
3. Get Motivated
Do you have something that motivates you?
Preparing your mind for working on your business is important.
- Maybe you prefer to listen to some fast-paced music.
- Or perhaps you get inspiration from reading some powerful mindset pieces from Jim Rohn.
- Maybe a video clip from Rocky floats your boat.
Whatever gets you revved up and full of energy, use it… leverage it to help you get motivated to work on your business.
4. Let's Get Physical
Listening to music, watching videos, and reading a book are all passive ways to motivate your mind.
What about the physical?
Sometimes going for a brisk walk or run does the trick to get you moving and less lethargic.
So get off the couch, go for a walk or grab your bike and get some physical exercise.
You may be surprised how much it will energize you!
5. Start Small
Nothing can keep you on the couch and away from your business more than the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Overwhelm is rampant nowadays and it's a powerful inhibitor to taking action.
My advice? — start small.
If you have big projects like starting a blog or a new marketing campaign, try breaking them into smaller tasks that can be completed on the same day.
Psychologically it will be much easier for you to get off the couch and excited to work on your business if you can work on and complete small pieces of a project at one or two sittings.
As a Part-Time Marketer, you must master the ability to transition from your day job to working on your business at night.
When you find your special way(s) to make this transition, you should find yourself full of energy and excited, ready to build your legacy.
And the results will follow that much faster.
BONUS TIP: Know Your High-Impact Activities
Once you make the transition from job to business, it's important to prioritize those activities that are most impactful in your business.
You know… the tasks that can get you RESULTS.
It's important to know those activities ahead of time so you don't waste valuable business time working on things that don't really matter.
If you need help with identifying your high-impact activities, I highly recommend you download this free Daily Action Guide.
It's Your Time to SHINE!
Dr. Bob Clarke
Email: Bob@BobandRosemary.com
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This post may contain affiliate links to products or services that I trust. This means that if you make a purchase using the links included in this post, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for the support!
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40 replies to "5 Tips For Being Productive In Your Business… When You Just Wanna Be a Couch Potato"
hi bob … your this post is very amazing ,being potato is very fun 🙂
Great perspective, great insights and great advice as well with lots of lessons to learn. The way people thinks is really matters, you are actually right Bob that listening music, watching different kinds of videos and a lot more helps you to motivate your mind. Thanks Bob for this great advice.
This is exactly what people who have a part-time home business go through. What you gave are some beautiful pieces of advice. A lot of people are really having a hard time transitioning from being a couch potato to going into work mode. What you said about motivation is a home run. This is what separates the productive from the unproductive. It may be important to remind oneself of why they’re doing what they’re doing. Is it for their children’s education? Their legacy? Their family? To be able to build a business empire? These are powerful motivators and it’s important to have constant reminders (a sticky note on every wall, maybe? LOL) around the house. This way, we won’t forget. This should help keep our eyes on the price.
Hey Bob, I made that mistake when I first got began my network marketing career years ago of thinking I should do it full time – a job would hold me back. I was young and knew a job wasn’t the answer, but I didn’t realize that while it wasn’t perfect it was better than having zero income in and virtually no influence (I was a freshman in college). I heartily agree with you that someone just beginning a network marketing business or business from home needs to keep their day time job (to earn a living) and work their evenings to build their fortune, as Jim Rohn says. Having done that initially would have removed a lot of the extra pressure I felt and given me more resources to invest into marketing and get my business moving much faster in the beginning.
You are solving all my problems today! Love this article too… Over the weekend, I really wanted to get some stuff done, but I just didn’t want to get up and be productive. I spent all my “lazy” time feeling guilty so I never got to fully enjoy it and then I never ended up getting anything done. I like your approach to this problem and will definitely try to implement it!
Hey Karen, glad you liked this post, it was fun to write.
I am a reformed couch potato so I know of what I write! 🙂
I’ve tried the “self-talk”, but quickly turns into me convincing myself OUT of doing something productive. LOL. Thanks for these tips. I’ll try them out and see what happens. Maybe I’ll see if the kids will join me on a walk.
Hi Renee,
Absolutely get your kids involved in your business, Renee. Make it a family affair!
Thanks for the comment, Renee!
This is me written all over it. I love to just lounge on the couch after a hard day’s work and soak into whatever is playing on the “tube”. I get so exhausted from the long drive home from work that I just want to relax before doing anything productive. A quick walk around the block with my dog normally does the trick to get me going again. I’ll try your other tips-thanks!
Welcome back, Paige.
I laughed when I read your comment because it’s true of MOST people. Everyone is a couch potato at some point, but you seem to have worked out some great strategies for getting yourself out of the “potato mode” and into action. Kudos to you for finding what works for you!
Thanks for stopping by, Paige!
I am also trying to find the right balance between my day job and my personal projects. It really is not easy to find the will to be persistent on something that consumes so much time beside jour job. Sometimes it is really difficult for me. I must say that your advices really changed the way I look at some things and I see now that I have to change them.
Keep up the good work
Cheers Alex
Hi Alex… welcome!
It ISN’T easy for Part Time Business owners… that’s why the failure rate is high. It take a very special kind of person to break through the urges to give up and relax. It takes an intense desire to change your life, and it appears you have found it!
I’m glad you found the information useful. Keep coming back because there will be lots more on this subject in the coming weeks.
Hi Bob,
It is so nice to read your post. You gave me the idea how to manage my time even though I have a very hectic schedule. You are right that we need to relax and perhaps meditate for a while so that we can regain our energy and start with a new task. That’s what I need. 🙂
I’m so glad you found the information helpful to your business!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Dr Clarke,
Once again, sound advice. So true, we need to become aware of what’s going on in our minds. We should be able to change our decisions by changing our self-talk.
If you’re aware and in control of your habits, you can change them. It’s all about changing your mindset.
Thanks for sharing your advice – loved the tips! 🙂
All the best,
Mavis
Hey Mavis,
I’ve always found that 90% of the battle when it comes to bad habits is right between our ears. The first step is awareness. We must be aware of our habits if we wish to create change. Self-talk is a huge part of that.
Thanks again for visiting, Mavis. As always, its a pleasure having you here!
Thankfully, I don’t have a couch or a TV here in my tiny apartment, so it kind of works out that I only have my computer. My challenge is in making sure that I’m being productive rather than wasting my time.
I loved all your tips, Bob, especially about changing self-talk. It’s easy to get in the habit of negative thinking, like: “I’m never productive by 8pm” or “I can never get back to work once I get started on YouTube videos.” Instead of falling into that trap, I love your strategy to shift my mindset. I’m in control of my habits and I know that I can change them!
I also love the idea of getting myself motivated. Chocolate helps me get into the mood! =) Or hot chocolate as an alternative. =)
Thanks for this excellent post, Bob!
Hey Sam,
Chocolate! I love it! You and Rosemary could certainly get motivated together with a great big box!
Self talk is so important in everything related to our lives, Sam. The process of reframing is a skill that will take you a while to master but the benefits will last a lifetime. To take the usual negative self talk that we all use in our thoughts (or even verbally) and reframe them into positive affirmations is crucial to your success in business and life.
Thanks for the great comment (and making me laugh!)
See you again soon, Sam!
Bob,
Great tip on breaking larger tasks into smaller and more manageable pieces.
Motivation is tough to come by if you’ve been running around all day. There are always more enticing things to do with your spare time than work. But maybe that’s when we need to reassess the reason we want to work online in the first place?
If it’s easy to put off your side hustle then maybe the venture isn’t backed by the proper motivator?
Aside from that I know it’s tough no matter what. You can love your cause or mission but fatigue is fatigue. Sometimes you just don’t have the energy to keep on trucking.
Whenever I feel the urge to veg out I do what you suggested and set a time frame to do it. Also, if it isn’t tv (which I try to limit viewing) I grab the workout weights and get the blood pumping. Nothing crazy, just enough to fire up the engine.
Jon
Hi Jon,
Motivation in my mind is one of the most important yet least understood factors that drive your business forward. It’s something I should write about…hmmmmm. 🙂
I love your idea of “vegging out” with physical activity. This is such a great way to not only wind down but keep yourself healthy. You can only be more productive after a short workout.
Thanks for stopping by, Jon. It’s always great to see you here!
Hi Bob,
At the age of 62, I HAVE to be a couch potato at times. I’ve developed a method to combine it with work. My recliner is set in front of the TV. However, TV is only occasionally interesting to me, and there’s so many commercials, that I don’t get distracted enough to bother what I’m doing. So, if I need a pause, the TV is there and I’m semi- aware of what is happening on the program. Probably not a reccomended method, but it works for me. I wouldn’t reccomend Jim Furyk’s golf swing either, but it works for him.
Lou Barba
Hi Lou, oh your comments always make me smile!
And you bring up a great point. You need to find what works for you! What works for Lou may not work at all for Bob or Jane, but so what. The important thing is it works for you!
Thanks for your comment, Lou…. I always enjoy seeing you here!
Hey Bob,
I really like the way you outline your posts and make it so easy to read.
And what a topic you’ve chosen. Oh how so tired we can sometimes be.
Sometimes I feel so tired and stressed out after a long day that I feel like simply doing nothing but sleep.
It was even more difficult when I was not getting results and nothing seemed to work. I would ask myself why I was doing what I was doing. I felt like quitting altogether and wishing all my online contacts good luck.
But I all of a sudden remember my ‘Big picture’ and know that since I can always quit tomorrow, then I should wait till tomorrow. But tomorrow has not appeared till today.
What am I saying, Bob? It is our desire, true desire, that keeps us up at night and make us fight our battles till we eventually see that light at the end of the tunnel.
We gotta give it what we gotta give it.
If we hold the reason we are doing what we’re doing in focus we’ll always find a way to get pass anything that tend to knock us down.
Thanks for the opportunity to share this, Bob!
Tosin
Hi Tosin…. I love your philosophies. Thanks for sharing them with us! Your desire to achieve your dreams are undoubtedly why you are seeing the success you are, but it is the work you did every night when things weren’t going so well that provided the foundation you needed to succeed. It’s a shame, but most people don’t get through that part, get frustrated and stop trying.
Thank you for your insights, Tosin. I always look forward to your comments!
I tell myself that am here to succeed and this is the best plan to achieving my dream faster. Working full time is draining and the earnings inhibit you from achieving your life’s dreams dreams fast.
Those of us who work full time share your dilemma. It can be physically, mentally and emotionally draining to try and come home and work your “second job” – your business. But as I said on the post, one of the crucial elements is to break things down into manageable pieces, so that the overwhelm is minimized. That way, if you are super tired one night, you can complete one of your small tasks and still feel that you’ve accomplished something and moved forward towards your dreams.
Thanks again for stopping by, Catherine!
Hi Bob,
Love it. Awesome Post. Thanks for sharing these tips. I really like your tip about “Couch Potato”, taking some relax and then doing the work.
I think I’m luck enough that I’m still a high school student and don’t have any day job 😀 !
Thanks for sharing this great article, mate.
~Dev
Hey Dev!
Perhaps your schooling during the day is similar to the time require for a job. You may experience many of the same frustrations that us Old Folks do! 🙂
Appreciate the kind words and great feedback, Dev.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Bob,
These are wonderful tips! I don’t have a day job but I take care of my kids and what with that and doing the household chores, it’s really hard to focus on starting a home business when the body is not willing to cooperate. What I do is I allow myself a short nap first. I just need to remember to switch on the alarm.
I like your advice for getting motivated by listening to fast paced music. I used to do that and I remember it keeps me going. Thanks for reminding me.
Hi Theresa, welcome!
A short nap is a wonderful way to de-stress and get prepared to work on your business. In fact, I can’t think of a better way to refresh yourself! Great idea!
And having 2 kids of my own, I agree that caring for the kids all day is as difficult, if not more so than a full time job. Congratulations on your perseverance in building your business. You are a rockstar!
I look forward to seeing you here again, Theresa!
Bob
Bob, aloha. What a Great Post! So many people need to hear the advice you give in it.
People do need to give themselves permission to take a break and then know they are going to start building for their futures. If they remain on the couch and they truly want to change their lives, they will not be happy with themselves that they wasted the time. If they then start beating themselves up over it, that can start a negative spiral.
They also need to ask themselves while they are reluctant to head off to make calls. Maybe they are not as tired as they are fearful of the rejection that you recently discussed in a post.
Even though you are the doctor, here is a bit of “medical” advice I would give them:
“Develop attitudinal dyslexia; see “no” as “on” –FOCUS!”
What do you think, Bob?
Thx so much for these actionable steps. Until next time, aloha. Janet
I love that, Janet! Reframe “no” to “on” as in on focus…. beautiful! I agree that many times the reasons for inactivity or avoidance are due to a fear of rejection or a fear of failure. Either one can be all consuming if allowed to go unchecked. That’s why I wrote the post on rejection, because it’s important to take steps to counter these fears.
As always, I love your comments and insights! Thanks for being a loyal visitor, Janet!
Great tips. One of the things I find personally hard in my job and I’m sure for others is that 9-5 doesn’t really exist in many professions these days. I find myself working closer to 12 hour days on a regular basis so time management can become very difficult. I’m a firm believer that time needs to be made for family and friends, as well as for a good amount of sleep and regular exercise. Sometimes you just can’t find enough hours in the day, or else you might have to trade off sleep or time with family for the business venture. It’s difficult but not impossible and trying to run another business on top of that can certainly feel overwhelming. For that reason, the tip “Start Small” is some of the best advice I can take away from this. I really need to start breaking things down into smaller tasks and just getting through them.
Thanks for the great insights.
Hey Matt,
Welcome to our blog. Your comment really rings true with me. Although I hope to leave my job after 8-9 hrs, there are times when it stretches to 10,11, or even 12 hour shifts. During these time, you need to give yourself a break and, like you said, just try to accomplish 1 or 2 small tasks each night, knowing that at least you’re moving FORWARD and not stagnating. One tip you might find useful is that I do try to leverage some time DURING my work day to get some business done. I arrive at work before most others, so I can spend 10-15 mins catching up on answering blog comments or on my social media accounts building relationships. At lunch, I usually break away to do some personal development reading or even make some calls to people applying to work with me.
It’s about making the most out of our time. Thanks for the comment, Matt.
Now I’m off to check out your blog… your latest blog post title intrigues me! 🙂
Thank you Bob for sharing these remarkably simple tips.
It never ceases to amaze me how even people like me, who “teach” this stuff regularly, (my coaching program is called “12 Baby Steps…”), can use a little reminder that honoring our need to take a time out between projects, changing they way we speak and think in a moment, and doing a little dance very once in a while can really make a difference in our productivity.
And of course, I couldn’t agree more, that starting small is the secret to avoiding overwhelm.
Looking forward to your future posts.
Wishing you well-
Nanette
Hi Nanette, great to see you!
We ALL need nudges from time to time, little reminders in what we should be doing but have somehow veered off path. Even us teachers!
Thanks for your insights, Nanette!
Hi Bob,
Love your practical tips here.
I have to admit that I go through phases where I’d like to be a couch potato and sometimes I allow myself to do this and I achieve more afterwards.
The thing to realise is that if you are only ever a couch potato then that is all you will ever be.
When we are truly passionate about what we do then we will be naturally encouraged to do what it takes to reach our goals.
~Marcus
Hi Marcus,
We all go through our “couch potato moments” from time to time. But it’s only a problem if we allow them to take over and become prolonged. And, of course we must come out of those moments inspired and ready to work!
As you said, passion is the key!
Thanks for your insights, Marcus!
HI Bob,
thanks for sharing your advice. I love it – especially the idea of becoming aware of what’s going on in our mind. Feeling tired is a decision. If I am really tired, I need to go to bed and I shouldn’t sit on my coach in front of TV. We can change that decision by changing our self-talk, as you note.
You are very disciplined as you really switch off the TV. For those less disciplined not switching it on at all is probably easier than switching it off after a certain period of time.
Take care
Oliver
Hi Oliver,
YES! Becoming aware of ones thoughts and subsequent actions is the very first step towards moving forward in your business and your life. I find I am fairly well disciplined when it comes to my business, because I understand what a huge upside it will have in my future.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Bob