Eventually, enough is enough. Whether we’re buried in successes or failures, stress and responsibility can crush us into an exhaustion pulp. When caffeine, 4 Hour Energy and NoDoz isn’t getting it done, it’s time for Plan B. Step back, relax, and reevaluate. Not everything you are doing is as important as you think it is. Not everything you are doing is getting you to where you want to be. And if you’re so exhausted that reevaluating is out of the question, this article is especially for you. It’s time to give yourself some credit, give yourself a break, get back to basics and remember how to enjoy what you do.

1. Give yourself some credit.

Sometimes I get carried away. Every time I successfully implement some new productive habit into my life, instead of giving myself due credit I tend to look for the next productive habit to add. It’s been said before and I’ll say it again: There is only so much time in a day.

2. Give yourself a break.

This weekend I felt myself nearing exhausting while writing blog entries and chapters for the books I’m writing. Last night I was up until 3am working on yet another new book idea. While staying up until 3am was productive, it’s not conducive to my current priority: establishing a daily routine that starts at 5am. It’s time to cut back and acknowledge that I have not failed myself – I’ve done too much – and it’s time to ease up on myself.

3. Get back to basics.

My goals have been reset and I’ve purposely set few bars as low as possible:

1. Rise at 5am. Be at work by 830am. Be in bed by 10pm.
2. Pay reasonable attention to health and refocus my energies on being a reliable engineer who routinely exceeds expectations.

4. Love what you do.

This back-to-basics approach will not set me back but rather help me safely forward. The good habits I’ve established will carry forward without me forcing more upon myself. My chance for exhaustion and injury will be drastically reduced. Perhaps most importantly, I will quickly remember how much I enjoy everything I’ve been doing. Running, yoga, blogging, and reading will continue to happen but will be rejuvenating instead of feeling like work.