Have you ever driven down the motorway and suddenly the fuel gauge light starts to flash, the panic sets in and we wonder where the nearest filling station is. How many times do we reach this stage ourselves? Like the car we still look for the last 50 km in the tank and all we’re sucking up at this stage is the left overs which effects our engine performance. We are literally no good for nobody at this stage because we are stressed, tired, burnt out, cranky, less energised and our production is also way below par.

Telling ourselves that we will be fine until tomorrow or the weekend and that substituting with coffee, sugary treats and energy drinks is the way to go in the meantime. My dear, fine isn’t going to cut the mustard and never will. We all have to meet deadlines but if we focus our attentions on the priorities we will get more done with less fuel consumption.

The mind-set of a high performing athlete should come to mind. The athlete knows to get the work done in short focused timelines which are better than slogging oneself to death with less results. To get the best from our bodies and minds we have to fuel it, rest it and reconnect it to Mother Nature.

Making a good effort for a two to three week period will help but like a food diet if we return to old habits and old programs all the weight will eventually return. Commitment and the fear of the old version of yourself is a great motivator for keeping our tanks well fuelled and reaching maximum return.

The diary is the place to start, and pencilling in ‘the me time’ is the best and first thing that goes in each week. Otherwise we have a full diary with lots of to do lists and no break for rest and recuperation. Life is too short and too special to be racing up and down the motorway thinking we don’t need breaks and thinking we’re superman doing the work of two or three people.

Take the breaks, refuel, rebuild and see your time on Earth as a place to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Say ‘no’ if it doesn’t suit and say ‘yes’ to the people and the work that energies your internal being.