Click here to Skip to main content
15,890,438 members

Welcome to the Lounge

   

For discussing anything related to a software developer's life but is not for programming questions. Got a programming question?

The Lounge is rated Safe For Work. If you're about to post something inappropriate for a shared office environment, then don't post it. No ads, no abuse, and no programming questions. Trolling, (political, climate, religious or whatever) will result in your account being removed.

 
GeneralRe: What do you do in the witching hour? Anyone else have this issue? Pin
Dweeberly30-Nov-21 4:26
Dweeberly30-Nov-21 4:26 
AnswerRe: What do you do in the witching hour? Anyone else have this issue? Pin
Bruce Patin30-Nov-21 4:15
Bruce Patin30-Nov-21 4:15 
AnswerRe: What do you do in the witching hour? Anyone else have this issue? Pin
englebart30-Nov-21 4:57
professionalenglebart30-Nov-21 4:57 
GeneralRe: What do you do in the witching hour? Anyone else have this issue? Pin
honey the codewitch30-Nov-21 4:58
mvahoney the codewitch30-Nov-21 4:58 
GeneralRe: What do you do in the witching hour? Anyone else have this issue? Pin
englebart30-Nov-21 5:06
professionalenglebart30-Nov-21 5:06 
GeneralRe: What do you do in the witching hour? Anyone else have this issue? Pin
honey the codewitch30-Nov-21 5:07
mvahoney the codewitch30-Nov-21 5:07 
AnswerRe: What do you do in the witching hour? Anyone else have this issue? Pin
thewazz30-Nov-21 15:32
professionalthewazz30-Nov-21 15:32 
AnswerRe: What do you do in the witching hour? Anyone else have this issue? Pin
klinkenbecker2-Dec-21 3:52
klinkenbecker2-Dec-21 3:52 
Been there done that - and it does not end well. In my case 10 years of 4 hour sleeps ended in hospital.

4 hours is _not_ normal. I'm not saying it's bad, just not normal. All the current research does indicate that it is also bad.

If you are sleeping 4 hours and always tired, you have a problem that needs addressing. Coding can be an obsession (burnt out or not) - solving the puzzle consumes the mind. Obsession is a form of angst that can cause the brain to wake up before it is fully rested.

In my case, I (mostly) solved the problem using the following;

1) Use the end of the day to 'unwind' - slow the brain down and quiet the conscious, forgo all drugs for this (particularly alcohol and tea/coffee).

2) Just prior to ending your work day consider one problem for the sub-conscious to work on. Then forget about it and go to step 1 (it is for sub conscious, not conscious mind).

3) Use all means possible to eliminate blue light during 'wind-down'. Close your dev system and physically relocate away from your work space (and leave your phone).

4) Using this regimen, after 12-14 hours work and 2-4 hrs wind-down, you should start to feel really tired. It may take a week or two to get in the zone.

Using this regimen I can assure 6-8 hours good sleep. Any time I let coding angst intrude it drops to 4-5. It has completely inverted my work schedule - now I get ~4 good hours work in before breakfast, ~4 good hours after breakfast and another ~4 generally solid but sometimes interrupted by life after lunch. By then I'm getting organized for the end of day 'un-wind'. No calls or work after dinner and if anyone asks me about work during that time, I'm unavailable and can't remember anyway.

Usually puts me in bed fast asleep ~9pm through 3-5am. If I wake up too early, I feel groggy and can't focus (burnt out). Basics, but often overlooked - make sure you are not too hot while asleep (most people are) and have a comfortable mattress.

Outside stimulants like caffeine or alcohol can screw this up for a week or more before I can get back in the zone.

Oh, and that sub-conscious problem; usually solved by the morning or at least moved along.

modified 2-Dec-21 10:01am.

GeneralWSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 Pin
OriginalGriff28-Nov-21 21:44
mveOriginalGriff28-Nov-21 21:44 
GeneralRe: WSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 Pin
pkfox28-Nov-21 22:12
professionalpkfox28-Nov-21 22:12 
GeneralRe: WSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 - we have a winner! Pin
OriginalGriff28-Nov-21 22:43
mveOriginalGriff28-Nov-21 22:43 
GeneralRe: WSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 - we have a winner! Pin
pkfox28-Nov-21 22:55
professionalpkfox28-Nov-21 22:55 
GeneralRe: WSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 - we have a winner! Pin
OriginalGriff28-Nov-21 23:13
mveOriginalGriff28-Nov-21 23:13 
GeneralRe: WSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 - we have a winner! Pin
pkfox28-Nov-21 23:42
professionalpkfox28-Nov-21 23:42 
GeneralRe: WSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 - we have a winner! Pin
OriginalGriff29-Nov-21 0:24
mveOriginalGriff29-Nov-21 0:24 
GeneralRe: WSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 - we have a winner! Pin
pkfox29-Nov-21 10:46
professionalpkfox29-Nov-21 10:46 
GeneralRe: WSO CCC OTD 2021-11-29 - we have a winner! Pin
OriginalGriff29-Nov-21 11:22
mveOriginalGriff29-Nov-21 11:22 
GeneralI am so vindicated right now Pin
honey the codewitch28-Nov-21 13:01
mvahoney the codewitch28-Nov-21 13:01 
GeneralRe: I am so vindicated right now Pin
Super Lloyd28-Nov-21 15:10
Super Lloyd28-Nov-21 15:10 
GeneralRe: I am so vindicated right now Pin
honey the codewitch28-Nov-21 15:11
mvahoney the codewitch28-Nov-21 15:11 
GeneralRe: I am so vindicated right now Pin
Shao Voon Wong28-Nov-21 16:00
mvaShao Voon Wong28-Nov-21 16:00 
GeneralRe: I am so vindicated right now Pin
honey the codewitch28-Nov-21 16:02
mvahoney the codewitch28-Nov-21 16:02 
GeneralRe: I am so vindicated right now Pin
Shao Voon Wong28-Nov-21 16:30
mvaShao Voon Wong28-Nov-21 16:30 
GeneralRe: I am so vindicated right now Pin
honey the codewitch28-Nov-21 17:32
mvahoney the codewitch28-Nov-21 17:32 
GeneralRe: I am so vindicated right now Pin
Rage28-Nov-21 23:14
professionalRage28-Nov-21 23:14 

General General    News News    Suggestion Suggestion    Question Question    Bug Bug    Answer Answer    Joke Joke    Praise Praise    Rant Rant    Admin Admin   

Use Ctrl+Left/Right to switch messages, Ctrl+Up/Down to switch threads, Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right to switch pages.