I know you’re probably feeling down now that you’ve forgot about those New Year’s resolutions that you promised yourself and gave up on. So who cares if you don’t have time to go the gym?

Here’s something that will definitely keep you going: give yourself a block of time for yourself.

It’s true that you don’t work as hard as you can unless it’s for yourself, so it definitely makes some sense to accomplish everything you can to keep your energy, purpose, and soul to its limits. It’s even a necessity when you have your customers, potential customers, friends, and family relying on you all the time, you must maintain and stay positive.

Believe me when I say this. When I’ve worked more than 24 hours straight on a project, I actually passed out from exhaustion. Even though it’s not really a serious condition, but it’ll happen when you push yourself beyond your natural boundaries.

My buddy, Adam, calls it the “rich man’s complex,” referring to the amount of headaches it takes to win but drains you emotionally and mentally. It doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s something to think about.

From that point on, I promised myself to take great care of myself and I have managed my own rich man’s complex since then.

Here’s my own routine:

Take some time out of your day to care for your own physical and mental health. Portion out your day to include a couple of 30-minute relaxation breaks (catch up on your favorite TV shows while eating lunch). Take the afternoon to walk around the block, with or without a friend. Walk casually, take in the fresh air, and ease your thoughts.

If you’re not the outdoorsy type, you can do some indoor exercises. Or, just lay on a comfortable sofa to let your mind go blank and meditate. Turn off the cell, put the PC to sleep, shut off the radio, and go to a different room when it’s time for you to relax.

Do this about 3-4 times a week, go out for lunch, put on some walking shoes, and walk the neighborhood. If you don’t have the energy, stretch your muscles, and take a quick power nap. When you wake up, call a close buddy who makes you forget about work. If you want something to eat, try fruits, followed by a bottle of orange juice, or cup of coffee.

When your work is done for the day, there are more ways to finish it off in a calming way. Work out at your local gym or take a fitness class. Read a book that you’ve always wanted to go through. I was amazed at how much I’ve learned brushing up on topics I needed to improve my state of being. To make it random, pick a topic that is totally mind blowing. It doesn’t matter if it’s about quantum physics, spiritual enlightenment, or GOD.

Right before you head to bed, take a hot bath or a steamy shower with your favorite designer soaps. I really love the exotic and tropical scents, especially if you live in a woodsy area in the rural countryside.

One final tip: always keep a notepad by your bedside table. Write down your thoughts that for that day. Remind yourself of the amount of work you’ve accomplished.

After it’s all said and done, write up a simple checklist for tomorrow, put the notepad away, and fly off to dreamland. You have one more day to conquer the world.

agreed, i badly need to start exercising , sitting in front of the computer 8 hours per day is killing me..

I have to agree, before you could start with developing something for others, you may very well start on your own first. This seems like a really easy task but a very tall order if you ask me. It has been said a lot of times already that it is a lot easier to get to know of other people than to know yourself but it would be very beneficial if you are familiar with yourself and you know every bit about you to the wire.

I tend to focus on my work more than necessary. Sometimes I skip meals just to get things done earlier than the deadline. But I really intend to put an end to this and to have more time for myself. I want to learn more things and not just settle on what I already know. I want to discover which activities I’ll have fun doing. Most the time, I have people around me and sometimes it just gets tiring. You are right. I should take some time walking around alone. Taking a nap, when there’s a chance is a bright idea. I will go back to reading, too. It’s a great way to take my thoughts away from my job even for a while.