For better or for worse, humans are not robots. There are limits to our productivity. 

But neither are we hopeless heaps of hormones acting exclusively on emotional whim. We can learn to deploy our minds to purpose and make consistent progress in an inspiring direction.

The key to unleashing the power of this complicated emotional machine lies in a regular recharge. 

Cruising speed

We’ve all been there… A brief and desperate excursion beyond our breaking point, followed by a spectacular crash.

In this scenario, the best case is a couple of ultra unhealthy days of binge-watching and binge-eating. Worse cases involve trips to the hospital or psychiatrist.

Aside from being deeply unpleasant and unhealthy, such episodes are actually counter-productive. We’d have been able to get a whole lot more done staying safely within our limits.  

Each one of us needs to find their own perfect productive pace: fast enough to be stimulating, but not so fast that we start falling apart. 

Sleep

This is the most natural form of recharge our bodies demand every day. It should be fully embraced by anyone who wants a long and interesting life. 

I’m currently about half way through Matthew Walker’s eye-opening book on the science of sleep. 

The main (scientifically backed) message is that sleep is just as important to our general health and happiness as healthy eating, regular exercise and low stress. 

Thus, if you’re thinking of sleeping less to increase productivity… Don’t.  

Regular recharge

Aside from sufficient daily sleep, our complex emotional machine needs regular additional recharge sessions.

And by regular, I mean by the hour. 

These charges can be anything reasonably healthy that relaxes the mind or stimulates it in a completely different way.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Playing piano or guitar
• Enjoying a session in my massage chair
• A Headspace meditation
• Taking a walk around the lake close to my flat
• Healthy and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner
• A free fruit break at the office
• An interesting random conversation
• A ski or rollerblade trip
• Reading a silly comic book for Norwegian practice

I’ve found that I can continue indefinitely on one-hour sessions with such 10-30 minute recharge sessions in-between. In RescueTime, it looks something like this:

Got rhythm? 

Such machine-like consistency tends to make people uncomfortable.

Come on! We’re supposed to be unproductive in the evenings and weekends (even if it sometimes gets quite unhealthy and brings us surprisingly little joy). 

Yes, the world expects you to slog it out for five days and recuperate for two. But that doesn’t mean this is the best rhythm for achieving inspirational levels of productivity. 

In the end, it boils down to this:

1. The mind and body need regular recharge and replenishment.
2. Recharging activities don’t need to be passive or self-destructive. 
3. Your ideal recharge rhythm may well differ from the societal norm.

I really recommend experimenting with this and finding your perfect rhythm. Personally, I wish I’d found mine many years ago…