One big issue I see across every tier of business is how little we plan for charging our batteries.  As I’ve said in the past, if we don’t plan to thrive, we are just wishing to thrive.  The same can be said for taking care of ourselves.  If we don’t plan to “fill our tanks,” we are just hoping that either they will get filled on their own or that we can make it to the next town before the tank runs dry.

Most professionals work too much.  They work too long, too fast and too hard.  They work in the evenings, during their lunch breaks, and on weekends. If they do take vacations, they are usually working during those as well.

We would perform better if we were operating on a full tank.  If we got more sleep, ate better and really took time away from our jobs, it would greatly affect our ability to function effectively.  But, as with any other goal, we need to have a plan for this option to succeed. 

Find your fuel  First, you need to decide what fuel you need.  Is it sleep, recreation, time alone, meditation, vacation time, or some sort of entertainment?  Do you get recharged by spending time with your family, time with your friends or time spent towards spiritual pursuits?  Hopefully, there are a number of types of fuel that will work.

Make it measurable  Next, you need to pick a metric to track your success.  Time is always a good tracking tool, but it may be books read, blood pressure numbers or a golfing handicap.  The key is to have something that you can measure.

Write down your goals  One of the most important aspects of planning is writing down your goals.  Make them clear.  Make them actionable and put dates on them.  For example, I will spend 4 hours each week walking in the park.  (Just saying that you want to have 4 hours of recreation is too vague.)

Schedule “re-fueling” consistently  You should be fueling up every week, if not every day.  Part of your routine should be taking time for yourself.  Every week or month, block out the time to recharge and guard this time like it’s the most important time on your calendar.  My guess is that this time is more significant than most of the appointments you have.

Enjoy it  The best thing you can do for yourself, for your family, and for your career is to stay healthy and happy.  Making the time to take care of yourself is critical to taking care of others.  Enjoy this time of re-fueling.  It’s the reason we are working so hard in the first place.

Calculate success  Though the best gauge for accomplishment will be your attitude and outlook, it is always a good idea to measure your achievement.  Track your metrics.  Try to beat them week to week, month to month and year to year.  Evaluating your plan helps you build better roadmaps in the future.

Some will scoff at this idea as fluff, but planning for time to “fill your tanks” will turn hoping for a better life into experiencing a better life.