Why programmers work at night (article)

Paper_Chase

Paper_Chase

brb gym
Apr 23, 2009
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Vancouver, Canada
Good read: Why Programmers Work At Night - Business Insider

When I started in this game I was 21 and could pull off those long nights. I guess since I am getting older now it is alot tougher to do.

I'm trying to switch myself to the "manager" schedule, but it's nearly impossible.

Just like the article states, if I have an appointment or something unexpected comes up in the day, its fucks up my entire workflow. The goal at this point is to get my projects stable enough cash flow-wise to get some office space and hire a developer to handle the stuff I do.

In the meantime, you guys have any tips for making the transition to a more "regular" schedule?
 


Paper_Chase said:
In the meantime, you guys have any tips for making the transition to a more "regular" schedule?
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Make it so you have something you need to do during the day, that involves leaving your house. I had that, my sleep schedule turned into that of a normal person (well, with 5/6 hours sleep a night instead of 8) - now I don't have that, it's gone right back into the old 'going to bed at 3/5AM, waking up at midday'.
 
I cant do it, the day just doesnt do it for me and I do get up.

all my friends who I used to live with used to keep the same hours as me (late) but over time they dropped off slowly and started going to sleep earlier. None of them can pull the late ones anymore, I dont know how I out lasted them but I think once you lose it then its gone!

The night is just more tranquil and helps me tap into creativity that is not there during the day.
 
-joe- said:
Make it so you have something you need to do during the day, that involves leaving your house.
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Yea, whenever I have appointments, I set them around 10am-11am. That does help.

theemu said:
The night is just more tranquil and helps me tap into creativity that is not there during the day.
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Yea, that's basically what the article is saying aswell. Need to somehow be able to get into that creative zone during the day tho...

PS: I work from home. So maybe having separate office space would help?
 
You should only be on the managers schedule if you actually have stuff you need to manage. Otherwise you're probably better working for long uninterrupted hours at night.

So I wouldn't be trying to find a way to force yourself on a managers schedule, but instead get your business to the point where you can grow and hire people. Once that happens a managers schedule will make a lot more sense, since you'll be spending much more of your day doing managing as opposed to making.

With that being said I would still strongly recommend your own office as it helps compartmentalize work life and personal life.
 
sleep 4/5 hours at night, then if you need to, have a nap in the afternoon. It's a pretty natural sleep pattern.

coding at night is the only way imo :)
 
cardine said:
With that being said I would still strongly recommend your own office as it helps compartmentalize work life and personal life.
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This. This this this. When I work from home, I can work whenever I want. When I am am working in an office / leasing office space / starbucks / somewhere-that-isn't-home, it helps to compartmentalize and my brain goes into "You're here to work" mode instead of "You could work, or you can finish that series on netflix"
 
cloudninja said:
"You could work, or you can finish that series on netflix"
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This might be my demise.

I ended up just watching documentary type shows while working so I can listen and catch 80% of the information rather than listen and watch while killing any productivity. ... unless Nikita just released her most recent season, then I consider it fate and I take a 15 hour break.
 
I wondered if I was the only one. I pretty much have to code at night. My code comes out like shit during the day and I'm confused and just not "in the zone." Too many distractions maybe. On the other hand I handle ad optimization and campaign management like a bawse during daylight hours. Now I plan for "coding weeks" where I reverse my schedule for a week or two so I can get my coding work done in the wee hours of the morning.
 
I got used to working at night. Now that I'm working out of an office I just turn the lights off and use window light.
 
As stupid as it sounds, get a dog or two. They'll keep you at least half on schedule. They know when it's morning and time to go outside for the bathroom, and if you don't get up, they'll get you up. Same as they know when it's dinner time, time to sleep, etc.
 
theemu said:
None of them can pull the late ones anymore, I dont know how I out lasted them but I think once you lose it then its gone!
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I think it's just getting used to the normal work schedule, cause they're forced to get up to go to work each day. I can flip back and forth, but it takes a few days to adapt. Definitely no mind slowdown for working during the day either, as long as you're getting up at that time to actually do something, and not just code. In fact, if anything, my coding regularity was better, since then it's dropped massively.
 
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