Make Hay When The Sun Shines

August 1st, 2009

by John R. Sedivy

iStock_000007532185XSmall One of the most difficult adjustments I had to make when I first started my own business concerned my work schedule. Prior to striking out on my own I had a pretty rigid schedule which was mostly dictated by others. Be at work between 7 AM and 8 AM (depending on the project) with a workday ending between 4 PM and whenever (sometimes the next day – again depending on the project). Generally production was an afterthought – as long as the desk was occupied. This occurred for years.

When I first started working for myself I tried forcing myself into a steady routine. My rationale was that what contributed to my success in the past should continue to do so in my situation and well into the future. Wake up at the same time, work a set of regular hours, and even dress like I was going to the office. For some reason it just never seemed to take, I just kept trying things to get into the groove. It would last for a short time, but then fizzle out after a few days or a couple weeks. I was missing one important point – I needed to make hay when the sun shines.

The True Meaning
I have heard this saying many times throughout my life and you have likely as well. But what exactly does it mean? I thought I knew, but I was actually mistaken. Based on my experience in the entrepreneurial sandbox it has come to mean the following – Work hard when you are inspired and able, play hard when you are not. Seems obvious and simple – however it’s easier said than done.

If you are working, really work. Give all your energy to making the most progress and the highest quality product. Do not be thinking of anything else while you are working – really work until you have accomplished the task you set out to do. Most understand this, I even had – what most are missing is the other part. When you are not inspired and not able to work, relax or involve yourself in some other recreational activity that you enjoy.

Just like when you commit to working and you really work – when you relax you should really relax. This means not a half work, half relaxing sort of activity. Decouple yourself from working – just relax. If you have a hobby, such as movies, reading, or hiking, whatever – completely disconnect from work – turn off your computer, turn off your phone, just relax and immerse yourself in whatever hobby you are partaking. This allows you to refresh yourself – and when you do get back to work, your productivity will likely be much higher than what it was before.

Challenge
The tough part is that this may not occur at a set schedule. Your sun may begin to shine at 1 AM one day, so your haymaking may occur from 1 AM to 7 AM on that day, between noon and 8 PM another day, or between bankers hours yet another day. It may even occur over a multi-day stretch without sleep. Many seem intent on forcing themselves and the rest of the world to conform to a set schedule without regard to what is being produced. Why should it matter when you work? What you produce really is what matters. What you should take away is that your peak productivity may occur at different times, once you begin to know yourself you will sense these peak periods and maximize your productivity accordingly.

Initially I had fought this. I had felt lazy for not working set hours. However, what I had learned was that by fighting my natural tendencies towards work and rest times I was actually making myself less productive. The more I fought, the less I would accomplish. When I let go and gravitated towards a natural rhythm that is when my productivity really began to spike. Creative types such as artists and writers understand this. Personally I have seem to hit a good rhythm by working for extended periods of time and then sleeping when I hit exhaustion. This may work for you or it may not.

Try it yourself sometime. Begin to remove structure imposed by others from your life and follow your feelings. This will make you uncomfortable at first. However given enough time and practice your comfort level will increase and along with it your productivity. You can try this gradually – similar to dipping your toe into a pool of water, or you can jump right in. The important thing is that you experiment and try some different approaches and monitor their affects on your life.

Make hay when the sun shines!

-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding