5 Things Smart Entrepreneurs Do After Work

Succeeding as an entrepreneur means going above and beyond. Often that means daring to do what other people won't, or creating a disruptive product. However, success in business can result from doing the most mundane things. Chart Westcott, the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Ikarian Capital, LLC, stated: “Success is sometimes less about what is done in the office and more about what you do after work.” Here are a few things you should add to your post-office habits.

1. Exercise

Your mind's effectiveness is subject to your body. Few people can perform at their finest, or even function well, when sick or injured. Even if people could miraculously command 100 percent of their mental faculties while sick, that sickness will limit the amount of time they can spend working.

A little exercise can do a lot of good. Fifteen minutes of walking or a light weight-lifting regimen can keep you healthy and strong. You don't need to get "ripped," you just need to reverse the damage done to your body which results from a mostly sedentary lifestyle.

2. Do Something Just for Fun

There's a lot to be said about hobbies. Hobbies can lead you to a "creek moment," when you realize how you can get the paddle you need for the start-up. They can expand your horizons and make you smarter. However, putting that kind of pressure or expectation on your hobbies can make them less relaxing. In particularly desperate situations, it may even make your once relaxing activity into a stressful one.

Have a hobby that's just for fun. It could be something as simple as learning to play an instrument or as mentally challenging as a difficult video game. The significance is to expect nothing from your hobby but enjoyment. You're not looking to improve yourself when you do this; you're looking to give yourself a break so you can enjoy life.

3. Read a Lot

Your mind is your greatest weapon as an entrepreneur. It's responsible for decision making and idea generation. It's in your best interests to keep it as strong as possible. To achieve this, you must feed it well and keep it exercised. Fortunately, you can do both by reading.

Chart Westcott recommends that “Reading is the best way to keep your brain healthy. Consume everything you can get your hands on related to your industry. Read up on current trends, news, and even old developments. This will set you apart from others.” Reading keeps your mind active and can even serve a third purpose: relaxation. Staying informed also keeps you from making impulsive decisions. With more to consider, you're less likely to pull the trigger on a whim.

4. Play Games That Require Patience

Patience is a virtue, especially for entrepreneurs. Much of your success in entrepreneurship can boil down to timing. If you get impatient and go to market with an incomplete product, you risk damaging your product and alienating your core market. Try to demand an answer from a potential investor before they're ready, and they'll probably say no. Without patience, you'll never succeed.

Games, by nature, have little in the way of real-life consequences. However, you can develop timing and patience by playing a game that requires it. The game could be in any medium, such as strategy games, whether they're card-based, board-based, or video.

5. Give Back

When you're wealthy, it's easy to spend. Purchases deemed unthinkable before now seem entirely reasonable. When you have more, you start feeling powerful, and your perspective changes. It may seem trivial, but it could quickly become a wasteful habit.

Instead of pouring your money into things just because you can, think about giving back to the world. You don't need to give millions—philanthropy isn't a contest—but you should consider giving what you can. It could be as simple as visiting a homeless shelter and volunteering for a day.

You should spend on things you love and enjoy. It's your money, you worked hard for it, and you have control over your spending. However, when you have excess, it doesn't hurt to think about those who have less.

What you do after work can be just as important as what you do at the office. Optimization is a key part of succeeding as an entrepreneur. Furthermore, every part of your life must influence your role as an entrepreneur. This type of commitment is necessary if you want to create a successful start-up.