Should you take a nap, or finish a project? Tonight I drop my opinion on why waiting is sometimes better!

So I run into this problem quite often. Do I stay up and pull an all-nighter, or do I try to catch myself up the following day. I used to have the mentality that energy drinks ran the Earth, and everyone knows "Sleep is for the weak!" After continuously burning myself out either at work, or school, I realized that I may in fact be the weak one- because now I can't finish anything.

This is not a drink your water, be healthy and all your dreams will come true kind of post. If you're feeling exhausted, whatever you're doing can wait a little longer, unless there's some deadline that will give consequences from someone or something else. (Then you should really get on your sh** or something)

Your Productivity is Only As Strong As Your Body

How are you going to expect your work to not suck if you aren't awake enough to know what you're doing? I'm sure you've read other blogs where they tell you that in order to be productive, you need to do the hardest task first, and save the easiest one for last. The reason why they say that is because being half-asleep makes doing any difficult thing like 500 times harder. I don't know about you, but I am just a wee bit less of a masochist than that.

20-30 minute naps work best, at least that's what most people say. Whenever I tell my roommates I'm taking a nap, they already know I'm out until the next day. Even take a break, and do something else for half an hour. You have to love yourself and not let errands and projects zap away your happiness!

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It's Not Even About Eating Healthy

...As much as it is remembering, or giving yourself time to eat. I've been guilty of it, and I've seen many other people do it too! So busy, can't eat. Forget the salad, but always try to take the time out to make a sandwich or something. Because realistically, if you plan on making an amazing full course meal- then you really aren't going to finish on what you're working on unless food IS the goal!

If I know that something I'm working on is going to take long time, I get a bunch of snacks to have at my desk with me to enjoy. Nobody is too busy to eat. You will poop clouds, or can get very sick by skipping a few meals. You don't need to be the martyr of your workplace, or group of friends. There really is a difference between struggling, and setting yourself up for a bad situation. If your friends don't want you to eat, it's time to get new friends. We all don't have to be overachievers eating wraps, but we can start somewhere, even fast food if it's available. Personally, I can become a literal demon spawn if I haven't eaten in a while, and the lift in your mood from eating can help put you in a better head space to stay focused.

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Mentality

I feel that the mentality surrounded by voluntary suffering is hard to identify, or grasp, as pushing yourself to the point of fainting is viewed as heroic. You always have that one coworker who takes everyone else's shifts, someone who stays late everyday, maybe even a close friend who does a million things, and just can't seem to catch a break. It shouldn't have to be that way. Part of the reason that people burn themselves out so hard is because, being tired is associated with being a hard worker, regardless if anything does get accomplished or not. A new mode of thought is needed, where working hard doesn't mean working to death. Everyday can't be your best day, but you can't treat yourself well enough to have more better days.

In Conclusion

• Always sleep if you feel tired
• Always eat so you have energy
• Being exhausted often is not a good thing

Even if it feels like you're losing time on something, by taking care of yourself- you better utilize the time, and can give better efforts. The time feels like it's lost at first but it is actually being invested. Your body is the foundation for productivity. So remember to always take care of it!

...I think it's time for a well deserved nap c: