You wouldn't go to the gym and pump iron for 8+ hours straight and do it every single day of the month. Consider that 20% of our glucose is consumed by our bra

You wouldn't go to the gym and pump iron for 8+ hours straight and do it every single day of the month. Consider that 20% of our glucose is consumed by our brain, so obviously it is working hard. It's just not obvious as for a more labor oriented profession. My personal solutions include: Going to the gym or playing a game of tennis at least once or twice a week. Yes, during the working day. I prefer to code at night anyway. Taking an hour off for lunch, during which I go for a brisk walk and pay attention to my surroundings, etc. Not stew over the latest problem. When I catch myself spinning my wheels over some problem. I get up, walk to another desk which has no screen, keyboard etc. Take a sheet of paper, write down what the problem is. Close my eyes and let my more relaxed brain come up with a solution. Write down the solution and then go back to the desk with the computers. Obviously YMMV, but it is helpful to recognize that when mentally fatigued, you are working sub-optimally, so why beat yourself up. Just take a break and let your brain actually rest. BTW, sleep is natures way of forcing your brain to have time out.