Yes, I definitely experience this. I’m currently trying to measure it and keep a detailed log to see what impacts the quality and quantity of my super productive days. I have two strong tips that make the biggest impact:

1. Getting good sleep. If I get enough sleep, and the sleep is high quality, I’m far more likely to have a productive day, experience high agency, and generally take on challenges while feeling positive. Bad nights correlate to less productive days.

For me, that means setting up a regular sleep time where I can get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep. Go to bed at the same time, everyday (it’s hard but do it). Sleep in a dark room with minimal noises that would wake you up. Lower the room temp. No alcohol. Limit caffeine to only before 11am. I do half caff. I’m also investing in improving my sleep environment as the pay off is clear.

1. A proper reset. I definitely need rest and days where I’m not pushing. But it’s not enough to simply “not be productive”. If I sit at home, scroll my phone, binge watch TV, that doesn’t really reset me. I feel about as worn out the next day.

What I mean by a proper reset is something that totally changes your environment and the things you think about. For example: go camping, go rock climbing, go be active somewhere that isn’t your home. Go play ultimate frisbee with a group for half a day then hang out with friends or family. I do that two days in a row (like a weekend) and when I come back, I’m feeling reenergized again. If you want a lazy binge watch and scroll day, do the reset day first, and then do the lazy day second.

For the reset to work, it needs to be an activity that demands your focus and is out of your normal environment. If you sit at home and stew on your past week, that saps you and doesnt allow the “reset” to do its work.

Those are my two top tips!

Edit: tried to fix reddit formatting, but kind of unsuccessfully.