Midweek Summit: 7 Ways to Fuel Up When Running on Fumes

May 28, 2025 | Self Help

Last Sunday, I wrote about stripping things down to the essentials. This Wednesday, I want to flip that perspective. Because there’s a difference between cutting activities to avoid burnout and doing things that actually recharge your battery.

In government sales, the engine is always running. Opportunities don’t pause. Deadlines don’t disappear. But if you’re not careful, you will.

You don’t have to hit a wall to know you’re running on fumes. So here are seven real-world ways to refuel, not some fluffy advice, but practical strategies that actually work when your energy is low and your output still matters.

1. Get consistent sleep
   You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating. Late-night proposals, follow-up emails, and admin catch-up kill your energy long before the morning coffee kicks in. If your tank’s running low, commit to 7-8 hours for a few nights in a row. Sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s your base operating system. You can’t work when your brain is buffering.
2. Sweat a little
   No need to train for a marathon. Just get your blood moving. A brisk 20-minute walk, a short bodyweight circuit, or even stretching can flip the switch on a sluggish day. Physical movement clears mental clutter, which means you return to work sharper and calmer.
3. Write something down
   Not to post. Not to pitch. Just to process. Take 10 minutes and write down what’s in your head, your frustrations, your goals, your fears, or your to-do list. Call it a brain dump. Or journaling. Doesn’t matter. The act of writing creates clarity, even when what you write is a total mess.
4. Spend time with someone who gets you
   When you’re low, it’s tempting to isolate. But connection is a powerful refuel. Call a friend. Text your spouse. Grab lunch with a colleague who doesn’t drain you. You don’t need advice, just a genuine exchange with someone who helps you feel like yourself.
5. Revisit a win
   Remind yourself that you’ve done hard things before. Reread the email congratulating you on that award. Pull up the first draft of the book you wrote. Remember the project that seemed impossible until you finished it. These moments are evidence that your current dip is just that: temporary.
6. Do something that has nothing to do with government sales
   Seriously. Cook a new recipe. Shoot hoops in the driveway. Paint like a third grader. When you let your mind detach from performance mode, it becomes more creative. You don’t need another productivity hack; you need permission to play. Not everything needs to have an ROI.
7. Protect a block of time
   When everything feels out of control, protecting some time helps. Even two hours a week with no meetings, no calls, and no Slack messages can give you the breathing room you need. Use that time to think, plan, or just reset. A little protected space goes a long way.

You don’t need to do all seven. Pick two. Pick three. The point is to be intentional. Because in this game, burnout doesn’t announce itself; it just shows up quietly and derails your focus.

Fuel up now. You’ve got contracts to win and clients to serve. But first, take care of your battery.

If you like what you see in this article and are ready to get to work on increasing your product sales margins, click here to schedule a call with me. Let’s put together a plan that works

Comments