Entrepreneurship & insominia

Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes

Running a buisness is most definitely one of the most challenging journeys of my life so far. Along with the responsibility comes.. the stress! Maybe it is just me, but i find myself having trouble turning my brain off before bed. I know by consuming real estate all day, it is almost inevitable that this is what i will be thinking about before bed. Its even in my dreams! Does anyone else have this propblem? Tips for placing my mind elsewhere when trying to rest?

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Mike Dymski

Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes

I believe it is important to win the first few hours of the morning and the last hour of each day.

No visual electronics...wind down with something unrelated to work.

Sounds silly but give yourself permission to sleep. Restless sleep = poor work.

Practice gratitude...for the things you accomplished during the day. Daily progress is the real goal...the end result is never fulfilling as we constantly move the goal line.

If my mind is spinning and I can't sleep, I listen to a podcast to distract me. It helps me doze off...or I learn stuff.

Get up early. When I hit the gym early in the morning, I'm pretty tired at the end of the night.

A cold one and/or some fun between the sheets doesn't hurt either...

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Shelley F.
Real Estate Investor · Plumas county, CA · Member since 2011 · 150 posts · 88 votes
7y
Ive been through this too...it never goes totally away. Once I decided that I had my best ideas come to me in the middle of the night so decided to write them down immediately to review later. When I looked at them the next day they were all gibberish...
6 Reply
Christopher Lombardi
Developer · Point Pleasant Beach, NJ · Member since 2015 · 303 posts · 216 votes
7y
@Joshua Levasseur I'm in the same boat. Not so much stress but I'm always up at night thinking of what I'm going to do the next day. I wouldnt trade it for anything though. It definitely helps to put your to do lists on paper before bed because you dont need to think about it once its written. If its not written down, I tend to think about it non stop so I dont forget when I wake up.
4 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Christopher Lombardi Thats the thing! Its a good problem in a way haha. I keep a to-do list written daily. Its the worst when i am excited about the next day. Sometimes i just say forget it and get back to the grind in the early a.m.
1 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Shelley F. Haha i am waiting for the day we can record our dreams!
0 Reply
Shelley F.
Real Estate Investor · Plumas county, CA · Member since 2011 · 150 posts · 88 votes
7y
I recently added a vintage home, a HUGE one, to my inventory........already have a very qualified tenant. State of California. I was looking at old issues of magazines before bed and in my dreams went through each and every room of this big old house picking out paint etc. Woke up exhausted.
0 Reply
Mike Dymski
Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
7y
I believe it is important to win the first few hours of the morning and the last hour of each day.
No visual electronics...wind down with something unrelated to work.
Sounds silly but give yourself permission to sleep. Restless sleep = poor work.
Practice gratitude...for the things you accomplished during the day. Daily progress is the real goal...the end result is never fulfilling as we constantly move the goal line.
If my mind is spinning and I can't sleep, I listen to a podcast to distract me. It helps me doze off...or I learn stuff.
Get up early. When I hit the gym early in the morning, I'm pretty tired at the end of the night.
A cold one and/or some fun between the sheets doesn't hurt either...
11 Reply
Aaron Stuiber
Real Estate Consultant · Milwaukee - WI · Member since 2018 · 142 posts · 73 votes
7y
@Joshua Levasseur
Taking your mind off work is a struggle that many of us deal with everyday. Try your best to not get down about it and take as much advise from others as possible.
Here's something I use to help sleep and get my mind off work.
Keeping your goals written down on a white board or somewhere you can see helps to keep me focused and also to not forget what I thought of and did that day.
This may seem like a round about way of slowing down and sleeping but it helps me see all of the work I've done and feel accomplished. You can only control so much during the day, and worrying can never solve an issue.
Realize how much you truly get done no matter if it was 1 task or 10 throughout the day and feel accomplished for the hard work you've done and put your name on the day!
1 Reply
Steve Vaughan
Rental Property Investor · East Wenatchee, WA · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
7y
With a vigorous napping schedule, I'm sometimes not that tired at bed time. Say I take my first nap at 10am, then my regular one at 2pm. See? I know what you mean!
Seriously, writing things down helps get them out of your head. I like 5 things I'm grateful for and to plan my next nap, I mean day. Good luck. We've all been there!
4 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Mike Dymski I am all about the Mornings. Been Implementing "The Miracle Morning" for awhile now. Workout, visualizations, affirmations and meditation followed by journaling what i am greatful for. However, i have not tried this before bed. I usualy grab a book and a cup of tea. I'll put a coldone one tonights agenda haha!
1 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Aaron Stuiber The white board is up in my office! Great point though. Even though i accomplish alot during the day, it nevers seems to be enough. I will practice becoming more aware of what i have accomplished during the day! Thanks.
0 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Steve Vaughan lol sounds like you have a solid routine going! A few more months and i'll try leveling up to your routine haha. Thank you!
1 Reply
Earl Hatmaker
Specialist · Dayton, OH · Member since 2018 · 59 posts · 41 votes
7y
@Joshua Levasseur meditation, meditation, meditation!!! I own the yoga studio where my wife teaches and that is her focus. It’s amazing because meditation can not only silence the mind but you can also utilize it in the mornings to picture where you want to take your real estate game. Try 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes at night. There are plenty of free apps out there! Also getting your goals on paper and creating focus for what you want to do long term can calm the mind to help you complete the smaller task in between! Hope this helps, good luck!
1 Reply
Thomas S.
Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
7y
Over the counter sleeping pills....work wonders. With a medicated good nights sleep you wake up refreshed and ready to start a new day. If you allow your business to be a 24hr a day operation you will never be able to produce at 100%. You need a good nights sleep.
2 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Earl Hatmaker Yes! It is a skill i have been sharpening over the last 6 months. I used to use the Head Space app, then went onto my own practice. Back in Virginia, i lived on the beach and would meditate to the sunrise. Absolutely amazing! I will definitely gave thw 2 min practice a try! Thank you.
0 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Thomas S. Unfortunately they didnt help! Zzzquil, benadryl, melatonin... i was wide awake haha. It will likely be a slow process of allowing myself to relax through the practices you guys are mentioning.
0 Reply
Brian Ellis
Rental Property Investor · South shore, MA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
I sort of just got used to being tired and stressed over time, I don't even associate it as being stress anymore. Its just life.. I have always had a hard time staying asleep, not because im thinking too much, but because im a terrible sleeper. And between my girlfriend and my dog, about 90% of the bed is taken.
What has been a huge help for me, is meditation. And I mean, laying down, put on the earbuds and listening to guided meditation apps. Im not sitting there with my legs crossed levitating. I take 10-20 minutes laying down, in silence.
Id also suggest not neglecting all your other responsibilities completely, you don't have to spend 10 hours out of your week with buddys, but a simple 10 min conversation on the phone goes a long way. Find some time to be around your loved ones, no matter how hard it is (im really independent, and I like my space). These people are the ones who are going to support you in a positive way and help lesson the burden of responsibilities associated with your business.
1 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Brian Ellis I know what you mean. For awhile i just excepted it to be normal.. the lack of rest that is. Its a problem i would much rather have over other problems. I cant relate on the dog or girlfriend problems though haha!
Very good point on neglecting other important parts of my life. For months, i dropped everyone in my life who wasnt contributing to my sucess.. friends that is. At 22 years old, most people my age have quite the different outlook on responsibility and "fun". That is something i may have been turing an eye to, due to being consumed by the grind.
Thank you. I think this will help.
1 Reply
Karina S.
Investor · Berwyn, IL · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 3 votes
7y
Most of the time I am the same way, my brain won't shut off, and i will stay awake at night thinking about ideas. I think that is very normal for an entrepreneur but working out and staying healthy helps me with my sleep.
0 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Karina S. I agree. Its the nature of the beast! Working out is a must for.. could imagine my energy if i didnt haha.
1 Reply
Brian Ellis
Rental Property Investor · South shore, MA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
@Joshua Levasseur Your friends may not be on the same path, but it doesn't mean all of them need to be dropped out of your life. That can get lonely. Not everyone is going to be passionate about Real estate.
I find myself feeling the same way at times, but its not them, its me and my obsession with RE. I have found that forcing myself to get out with friends and doing something other than my passion always makes me feel better, but its hard.
For example, a few weeks back me and a couple buddies went to VT for the weekend, spent a couple days up there hiking the Adirondacks, going to the shooting range, and eating some really nice meals. At first, I didn't want to go because I was comfortable going to the rental, working on it, coming home, going to bed, getting up for work, and repeating the process all over again. But I went, and had a blast. And I felt refreshed afterwards.
2 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Brian Ellis Understandable. I guess it was my choice of friends that wasnt the best. I was still stuck in college mode last year. Between house parties and smoking weed, i decided it was best to find a better circle of friends. I took on "you are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with". Probably one tof the best decisions i ever made. I have a much better peer group now, i just dont spend as much time as should outside of RE. Obsessed is acurate haha. Balance is something i have been working on for awhile. I did go sky diving a few months ago and have a snowboard trip planned for the winter. Most definitely throwing in a hike or 2 as well. I appreciate the different perspective on things!
1 Reply
Brian Ellis
Rental Property Investor · South shore, MA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
@Joshua Levasseur well you made some important decisions, and they will pay off for you. The ones who are out partying every night, and sleeping till noon, can definitely go!
1 Reply
Karina S.
Investor · Berwyn, IL · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 3 votes
7y
@Joshua Levasseur I can relate to you. I'm on the same page, being only 24 I was the only one in my circle of friends that was always very motivated and very much the only entrepreneur. While everyone else was out partying, getting drunk, high all the time, I was putting in the work in both school and business. I found it that every time I hung out with that crowd, my values just went down. I'm still dealing with finding the right crowd, but networking has helped a lot!
1 Reply
Joshua Levasseur
OP
Specialist · Clearwater, FL · Member since 2018 · 69 posts · 33 votes
7y
@Karina S. Local REI meet ups were gold for me. Although there were not a whole lot of people my age, i did find a few who were very like minded. I tend to hang with people older than me now, just becaue of the mindset difference. Not really a bad thing haha. I would much rather have a small, like minded, motivated peer group than one that brings my true desires down!
0 Reply
JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
7y
Originally posted by @Mike Dymski:

I believe it is important to win the first few hours of the morning and the last hour of each day.
No visual electronics...wind down with something unrelated to work.
Sounds silly but give yourself permission to sleep. Restless sleep = poor work.
Practice gratitude...for the things you accomplished during the day. Daily progress is the real goal...the end result is never fulfilling as we constantly move the goal line.
If my mind is spinning and I can't sleep, I listen to a podcast to distract me. It helps me doze off...or I learn stuff.
Get up early. When I hit the gym early in the morning, I'm pretty tired at the end of the night.
A cold one and/or some fun between the sheets doesn't hurt either...
Ha! This is what I was going to suggest - instead of thinking about baseball you can think about rehabs - unless that also excites you prematurely! :D
I think Mike's suggestion: do physical work. When you are always stuck in your brain you can really screw up your rhythms.
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