• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

New York City women are making up to $30,000 per month by renting out their closets to strangers

2

Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?

3

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'

1

New York City women are making up to $30,000 per month by renting out their closets to strangers

2

Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?

3

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
Commentary

How Daydreaming for 10 Minutes a Day Can Help You Work Better

By
Tai Lopez
Tai Lopez
and
Bethany Cianciolo
Bethany Cianciolo
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tai Lopez
Tai Lopez
and
Bethany Cianciolo
Bethany Cianciolo
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 28, 2017, 6:59 PM ET
Businessman leaning back in chair in office
Hero Images—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The Entrepreneur Insiders network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in America’s startup scene contribute answers to timely questions about entrepreneurship and careers. Today’s answer to the question, “How do you stay sane with little to no free time?” is written by Tai Lopez, business advisor and investor.

We all have 24 hours a day, but the difference between ordinary and extraordinary success lies in how we use those hours.

Many business leaders and entrepreneurs often say to me, “Tai, I’ve got no free time. How do I stay sane?” It’s like saying, “Tai, how can you be happy in a bad marriage?” You might have glimpses of happiness, but it won’t last long term. Likewise, you might have glimpses of sanity with no free time, but eventually you’ll go insane.

You don’t want to create a life of no free time. Just look at Warren Buffett, who runs Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) with his business partner, Charlie Munger. Buffett spends much of his day reading, and once explained how proud he was to show Bill Gates his daily planner: For weeks and even months, Buffett prided himself on it being empty. He famously said, “Lethargy bordering on sloth remains the cornerstone of our investment style.”

Since the 1960s, Buffett has made only a handful of investments with Munger via Berkshire—it currently holds 46 publicly traded U.S. stocks. But 15 of Berkshire’s common stock investments had a market valuation of over $122 billion at the end of 2016.

The lesson: If you have no free time and are always distracted with emails, social media, instant messaging, and meetings, you’re not going to build the life you want. And the stress will take its toll, leading you to be overwhelmed, miss deadlines, and make less money from producing poor-quality work. If you don’t take charge of your life, someone else will.

Here are four ways to stay sane by creating more free time:

Daydream
Most of your biggest innovations in business will come from sitting in a chair daydreaming—even if it’s boring. Make sure you sit in a chair for 10 to 15 minutes a day with just a yellow notepad. I call it a deep-thinking session. Just brainstorm and diagram. Don’t create another to-do list—that just creates more activity and distraction.

Think about what drives you. Map out your vision. Set some targets; otherwise, your vision is just a dream. The targets could relate to the direction of your business. It might be what skills you want to master like chess, piano, or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. (The problem-solving skills these disciplines develop absolutely carry over into business.) It might be how to give back to others through mentoring or charity. Or it might be what kind of legacy you want to leave. Start with the big stuff and see where it takes you.

Ask the right questions
In The One Thing, Gary Keller says that if disproportionate results come from one activity, dedicate disproportionate time to it. Ask yourself, “What’s the one thing I can do that will make everything else easier?” Ask this question for your health, personal life, relationships, career or business, finances, and spiritual life. You’ll begin to focus on what truly matters—which will give you more time—rather than trying to major in minor things. Remember the Russian proverb: “If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.”

Take business meditation road trips
It’s scientifically proven that international travel triggers creativity and boosts brain power. I’ve found that even traveling 150 to 200 miles from home at least once a month has similar benefits. Rotate the locations and stay in a cheap hotel or Airbnb. Bring a stack of books and a notepad. Catch up on reading and strategize your life like an army general. Create some contingency plans for when you return home.

For example, if you know you’ll be busy with your kids during a certain period, plan to wake up earlier or say no to more obligations. Even if you can only be away for two days because of other obligations, a short road trip is enough time to impact the direction of your life.

 

Don’t forget the fun
Most entrepreneurs reward themselves too infrequently and experience a false sense of efficiency by working 12 to 16 hours a day. A neuroscientist who works for me said, “The brain needs frequent small rewards to keep going and not procrastinate.”

For me, the small reward is socializing at night five or six days a week. It might be visiting the comedy club, catching a movie, or going out to dinner. Toward the end of the week, I’ll go to a bar or club or travel out of town with a small group of friends. I tell myself, “Tai, work hard now. Because in a few hours, you’ll be having fun.”

Lopez is an investor of Berkshire Hathaway.

About the Authors
By Tai Lopez
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Bethany Cianciolo
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Commentary

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Commentary

trump
CommentaryMarkets
In the Age of Big Players, $100,000 buys you a head start on Trump’s mood
By Steve H. Hanke and Roger KopplJuly 27, 2026
16 hours ago
Europe has an electrification target. Here’s how it can become a competitive advantage
Commentaryclean energy
Europe has an electrification target. Here’s how it can become a competitive advantage
By Andreas SchierenbeckJuly 27, 2026
16 hours ago
raikes
CommentaryMicrosoft
Jeff Raikes: The talent debt I warned about is now showing up in the data
By Jeff RaikesJuly 26, 2026
2 days ago
beatles
CommentaryLeadership
George Martin never out-wrote the Beatles. That’s exactly why he’s the AI leadership lesson we need now
By Jeff DeGraffJuly 26, 2026
2 days ago
students
CommentaryEducation
I’ve been teaching college students for decades. Most of them can no longer finish a book
By Austin SaratJuly 26, 2026
2 days ago
katty
CommentaryLeadership
Katty Kay: confidence is the skill that turns thoughts into action—and companies need to start teaching it
By Katty KayJuly 26, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

New York City women are making up to $30,000 per month by renting out their closets to strangers
Retail
New York City women are making up to $30,000 per month by renting out their closets to strangers
By Sarah GlodekJuly 27, 2026
21 hours ago
Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?
C-Suite
Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 27, 2026
12 hours ago
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
Real Estate
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 25, 2026
3 days ago
An 11-year-old is cleaning his neighbors' trash cans for $10 each—he now has 100K followers as teens face the worst summer job market since 1948
Success
An 11-year-old is cleaning his neighbors' trash cans for $10 each—he now has 100K followers as teens face the worst summer job market since 1948
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 25, 2026
3 days ago
College-educated women are snapping up the highest-earning men without college degrees, leaving the rest further behind
Economy
College-educated women are snapping up the highest-earning men without college degrees, leaving the rest further behind
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 26, 2026
2 days ago
I've been teaching college students for decades. Most of them can no longer finish a book
Commentary
I've been teaching college students for decades. Most of them can no longer finish a book
By Austin SaratJuly 26, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.