3 liters a day. That was my number. Once I picked a target instead of just "more water" it finally clicked.

yeah but that's not really what getting "beered up" means in most trades. getting beered up is when you finish the day and someone cracks a cold one on the tailgate, not when you're still on the clock trying to fix shit. the foreman buying you a beer after a rough day is just common courtesy, not some big bonding ritual. but i get what you're saying about the river kicking your ass, that seagull story is wild. some days you just gotta laugh or you'll cry, right?

A buddy of mine started working at a new company and they used this fancy takeoff software. He spent the whole first week doing everything by hand after the software was done because he didn't trust it. His boss finally pulled him aside and told him if he didn't start using the tool right they'd have to let him go. Now he swears by it and says he'd never go back to paper unless the power goes out. Funny how fear of getting fired can change your mind real quick.

I mean, the planning part @jakel25 mentioned is huge, but what really got me was the space between the blocks. I used to just power through and my brain would get fried. Now I force myself to take a real break, like go for a walk or just stare at a wall. It's not even about resting, it's like my brain solves problems in the background during that dead time. I'll be stuck on something, take my break, and the answer just pops into my head when I sit back down.

Ever try the no wrap method at all? I've heard some guys swear by just letting it ride bare on the smoker the whole time, but I worry about it drying out.