Make a Positive Change Now With These 5 Life Shortcuts Save time and conserve energy with these simple but powerful changes in your daily actions and thinking.

By Adam Toren

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

We're always looking for shortcuts that can make life a little more efficient. As an entrepreneur, these shortcuts can mean a big jump in productivity with just a few minor adjustments.

Related: The Productivity and Life Hack That Almost Always Works

Here are five shortcuts that are easy to start doing now:

1. Keep an idea log. Most entrepreneurs have a lot of ideas. Some are great, most probably are not, but even the bad ones can lead to some good brainstorming and questions. Keeping track of your ideas in one central place is a great way to organize your thoughts while maintaining your focus. Having this centralized log when inspiration randomly strikes will be a great resource down the line when you're ready for a new project. It will also free up mental space.

2. Only work with positive people. Maybe the next great app innovation will be a time tracker for how much wasted energy goes into bad relationships. The side effect of negative, unhappy and/or unhealthy people is a whole heap of effort that goes into trying to deal with the drama. While all-important relationships in your life will have their ups and downs, you know in your heart the ones that are energy suckers and constant downers. Consider this a "friendervention" -- work and surround yourself with positive people. It will save you a lot of time, stress and frustration and will bring about a lot of happy collaboration and fun.

Related: The 4 Mantras of Successful Entrepreneurs

3. Block out personal time. There's advice about working like a dog and advice about relaxing more, this shortcut is about balance. You're going to work yourself hard as an entrepreneur, especially in the first years of your business. But everyone has a burnout point. Try not to discover yours by taking some time for yourself each day. Many successful people make this their meditation or exercise time, but whatever time it is for you -- be sure you keep this appointment. Skip it and you're going to have problems, guaranteed.

4. Use failure to move forward. Failing is a good thing. You've heard it before, so why do you continue to beat yourself up? You learn a lot more about yourself, your business and product in failing than you do in succeeding most times. Remember shortcut number two about avoiding negative people? That includes the voices in your head that are mean, negative and berating. Speak and think to yourself and others in a way that fosters opportunity, not condemns failure.

5. Take action. As Jillian Michaels says, "Transformation is not a future event, it is a present activity." Decide right now to take action in some area of your life and business. Entrepreneurs who skip analysis paralysis and take action will see momentum sooner.

Related: 10 Simple Things Productive People Do Better (And So Can You)

Wavy Line
Adam Toren

Serial entrepreneur, mentor, advisor and co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com

Adam Toren is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor and co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com. He is co-author, with his brother Matthew, of Kidpreneurs and Small Business, BIG Vision: Lessons on How to Dominate Your Market from Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Did it Right (Wiley). He's based in Phoenix, Ariz.

Editor's Pick

She's Been Coding Since Age 7 and Presented Her Life-Saving App to Tim Cook Last Year. Now 17, She's on Track to Solve Even Bigger Problems.
Lock
I Helped Grow 4 Unicorns Over 10 Years That Generated $18 Billion in Online Revenues. Here's What I've Learned.
Lock
Want to Break Bad Habits and Supercharge Your Business? Use This Technique.
Lock
Don't Have Any Clients But Need Customer Testimonials? Follow These 3 Tricks To Boost Your Rep.
Why Are Some Wines More Expensive Than Others? A Top Winemaker Gives a Full-Bodied Explanation.

Related Topics

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Business News

Apple Just Unveiled Its VR Headset. What You Need to Know.

The Vision Pro is Apple's first major product launch since AirPods.

Business News

California Woman Arrested For $60 Million Postal Service Scam

Lijuan "Angela" Chen faces two charges that each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Marketing

5 Things You Can Do Now to Improve Email Marketing

Abide by these simple tricks to help your campaigns gain more visibility and generate revenue in the process.