[Andreas]

More specifically, how can I recharge my willpower during the day and week and making sure I don't burn myself in the long-term?

When you study a book and take notes for hours and you just want to get away from the computer to get a break, what do you do? How do you make sure that you can get back on your task minutes after you took a break? I'm more concerned with work that is not necessarily pleasant but you know it's going to pay off massively in the long-term.

Moreover, since January 2015 I took up Creep's 30 day challenge for cold showers, beat it and decided to extent to 90 days and so far I managed to surpass just the 60th day . However, I never did 7 straight days of cold shower. Always 6 for some reason. I always kept the warm shower Saturday for some reason. Is this a good way to ensure that I keep this habit in the long term without feeling ''burnt out''?

Thanks

[Patriarch]

9 times out of 10 when I think I'm "burnt out" it's really just laziness. Do something until it becomes a habit. If you don't enjoy something at first but you're aware that you should do it, making it a habit is the first step to enjoying it. Once you enjoy it, you won't want to take breaks as often.

For cold showers, taking Saturday as your cheat day doesn't help enforce it as a habit or keep you from getting burnt out. That just shows an inability to commit. Going back to the first point, I have been taking cold showers for a year now. I don't like taking warm showers unless I am feeling particularly beat-up from the gym, or I spent the day in a cold cafe. Cold showers are my default mode--right now, they're still the exception to your rule, despite the fact that you take them more often than hot showers.

As for sitting at a computer reading/working/taking notes, this is how I approach it (and I know some people just can't operate like this): I spread out my work so I have something that I NEED to do every day of the week. I don't really have any off days. But, even on the days when I have a lot of work, I'm constantly taking looonnnggg breaks. Instead of reading for 8 hours and then passing out, spend all day reading. After a couple hours, spend an hour playing video games. Go eat. Take a nap. When you limit yourself to, say, 10 minutes of leisure, you begin to dread the task at hand and delay making it part of your routine. Dick around until you don't want to dick around anymore--no more, no less.

Obviously, if you have strict deadlines and a huge workload, this won't work. But for the activities you mentioned, give it a shot.

[Yeti]

It helps a lot to completely disconnect from the Internet at home. This more than anything will help your health.

Of course, none of us will ever do it because we either a) don't think that it really makes a difference, b) think that we can limit ourselves to a reasonable amount of time spent online at home, or c) don't have the willpower to really do it.

To a, I would say that you are just wrong. If you don't believe me, try going a month without Internet at home (no phone on your Internet either). I bet that 99% of the guys on here would feel better and more relaxed, with a clearer head, more in touch with their inner drive.

To b, I'd say that you probably waste a lot of time that you could otherwise use to read books or work out, or hang out with friends. Or, you could just get everything done at work or elsewhere, like the library.

To c, same for a, try going a month without access to the Internet. Cancel your Internet connection. Being at home without the Internet feels so good in the end. We really don't know what we're missing out on.

[iknowexactly]

I've had some success with "free your ass and your mind will follow", specifically going to a health club without a martial determination to pump myself into a more muscular, impressive self and just having low-key fun while physically moving. Gentle paced bicycle rides if you are in a scenic area work as well.

Sometimes go to a health club and make it a point to NOT strain, lift which ever weights seem fun, watch a trashy movie on the TV while treadmilling with headphones on and not go real fast, then wallow in the Jacuzzi like a beached whale, finally swimming in the pool with no intent of going fast or far.

Essentially I am just trying to gently stimulate my blood circulation, not to traumatize a muscle into growing larger or even looking for a lot of aerobic conditioning.

This can be very relaxing, and while I am not an exercise physiologist, I think it doesn't result in the cortisol release of a high stress workout.

I think I've overtrained my self many time in my life.

[Suits]

Since I'm an introvert, although few would guess that, because in public I'm very social, getting proper rest from people and distractions is important.

Therefore, having a big home is not important (although I like to have a flat with at least 90 square meters for entertaining purposes, but that is something different altogether).

No matter how big my apartment is, I like to have a small bedroom that is just mine. This is my cave.

When I need to recharge, I crawl into my cave and stay there until my batteries are back up again.

I'm sure to put my time in in my cave, where no one can bother me, as well as eating a health diet and get my 8 hours of sleep each night.

I work pretty long hours, but doing this things keep me healthy and provide me with enough energy to work and to enjoy my limited time off as well.