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I used to think mind fuel strategies used by high performers worldwide were… honestly? A bit overrated.
Like, yeah sure, wake up at 5 AM, drink green juice, meditate on a mountain, become a billionaire by Tuesday. Cool cool cool.
Meanwhile, I was over here hitting snooze three times and eating cereal straight out of the box like a raccoon with Wi-Fi.
But then something weird happened.
I hit this point where I was busy all the time… but not actually getting anywhere.
You ever feel like that?
Like you’re doing a lot, but somehow also… stuck?
That’s when I started paying attention to what high performers actually do—not the Instagram version, but the messy, real-life version.
And yeah… some of it surprised me.
The First “High Performer” Habit I Tried (and Immediately Judged)
So I read somewhere that successful people “protect their mornings.”
And I was like, okay, I can do mornings. I’ve had mornings before.
So I tried it.
Woke up early. Sat there with coffee. No phone.
And within 2 minutes, my brain was like:
- Check your messages
- What if something important happened
- You’re wasting time
- Also, why are we awake right now??
It felt… wrong.
Like I was skipping a step.
But here’s the thing I didn’t realize at the time:
My brain was addicted to chaos.
Silence felt uncomfortable because I wasn’t used to it.
The Truth Nobody Tells You About High Performers
They’re not superhuman.
They’re just… intentional.
Annoyingly intentional.
Like, they don’t just drift through their day reacting to everything (which, hi, was me for years).
They actually decide:
- What deserves their energy
- What doesn’t
- And when to stop
Which sounds simple until you try it and suddenly realize you say “yes” to everything like it’s your full-time job.
Mind Fuel Strategy #1: Guarding Your Mental Energy Like It’s Snacks
Okay, hear me out.
You know how protective you get over your favorite snacks?
Like, “Don’t touch that. That’s mine.”
High performers treat their mental energy the same way.
And I did NOT.
I was out here giving my attention to:
- Every notification
- Every random request
- Every “quick question”
By noon, my brain felt like it had been through a group project with no leader.
So I tried something radical (for me):
I started asking,
“Does this actually deserve my energy?”
Sometimes the answer was… no.
Shocking.
Mind Fuel Strategy #2: They Rest Before They’re Exhausted (??)
This one confused me.
Why would you rest if you’re not tired yet?
Isn’t that like charging your phone at 80%?
Apparently… yes. And that’s the point.
High performers don’t wait until they’re completely drained.
They take breaks before they hit that wall.
Meanwhile, I used to push until I felt like a human error message.
Now I try to step away earlier.
Not always successfully, but… progress.
Mind Fuel Strategy #3: Boring Routines That Somehow Work
I hate to admit this, but routines… help.
Not rigid, military-style routines. I’m not waking up at 4 AM to run marathons.
But simple stuff like:
- Starting work at roughly the same time
- Having a go-to “reset” habit
- Ending the day with some kind of shutdown ritual
It reduces decision fatigue.
Which is a fancy way of saying:
You don’t have to think about everything all the time.
And honestly, my brain appreciates that.
A Random Moment That Made This Click
I remember watching an interview with Elon Musk (yeah, I know, controversial, but stay with me).
He was talking about how he structures his day in blocks.
And I thought, “That sounds exhausting.”
But then I realized… my day was already structured.
Just badly.
Instead of intentional blocks, I had:
- Interruptions
- Distractions
- Random bursts of productivity followed by confusion
Not exactly peak performance.
Mind Fuel Strategy #4: They Don’t Believe Every Thought
This one hit me hard.
Because I believe… a lot of my thoughts.
Even the ridiculous ones.
Like:
- “You’re behind.”
- “You’re not doing enough.”
- “You messed that up.”
High performers?
They question those thoughts.
Not aggressively. Just… calmly.
Like,
“Is that actually true?”
Sometimes the answer is yes.
But a lot of the time? It’s just noise.
Mind Fuel Strategy #5: They Simplify Decisions (a LOT)
Ever notice how some successful people wear the same thing every day?
Like Steve Jobs and his black turtleneck situation.
I used to think that was just a style choice.
Now I get it.
Less decisions = more mental energy for important stuff.
Meanwhile, I’ve spent 10 minutes deciding what to eat and then ordered the same thing anyway.
So yeah… simplifying helps.
The Strategy That Felt the Most Uncomfortable (But Worked)
Saying no.
Ugh.
I hate it.
I want to be helpful.
But high performers? They’re selective.
Not rude. Just… clear.
And when I started saying:
“I can’t take that on right now”
instead of:
“Sure, I’ll figure it out”
Something shifted.
Less stress. More focus.
Also, less resentment. Which is nice.
The Weird Role of Boredom (Yes, Boredom)
High performers allow boredom.
Which sounds… wrong.
But think about it:
If you’re constantly stimulated—phone, notifications, noise—your brain never gets a break.
And creativity? It kinda needs space.
Some of my best ideas have come from:
- Shower thoughts
- Random walks
- Staring out a window like I’m in a dramatic movie scene
Boredom isn’t wasted time.
It’s… processing time.
The Part Where I Admit I’m Still Figuring This Out
Let’s be real.
I don’t wake up every day and execute these strategies perfectly.
Some days I:
- Check my phone first thing
- Overcommit
- Forget to take breaks
- Spiral over small stuff
It happens.
The difference now?
I notice it faster.
And I adjust.
That’s it.
No dramatic reset. No “new life starts Monday” energy.
Just small corrections.
Random Things High Performers Do That I’ve (Kind of) Stolen
- Keeping a short to-do list instead of a never-ending one
- Scheduling downtime like it actually matters (because it does)
- Focusing on one thing at a time (multitasking is a lie, sorry)
- Ending the day by planning tomorrow (future me says thanks)
Also—random recommendation:
If you haven’t read James Clear’s blog or watched clips of The Office, you’re missing both productivity wisdom and emotional support.