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Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#21

Post by enoren »

fookyong wrote: post #4

Don't build in the evening. In the evening, wind down the day, have a beer and plan out how you're going to use two hours in the morning tomorrow most effectively. Set one clear goal. Then... 1) Go to sleep 2) Wake up early (I recommend 6am) 3) Do the work you thought up last night I find myself remarkably productive in this cycle. If you've planned well, you'll whiz through the tasks. Focus on "doing one thing" each…

This is exactly what I do. I used to try to do it all at night, but with a wife and 2 kids you are just too drained to think and you end up making really bad decisions. I also tend to be able to plan when I am tired so I think about what I am going to do in the morning before I go to bed so that the second I wake up I am up and running and chomping at the bit to get at it. I also find that this carries over to the weekend too in that I can get in a couple hours before the kids are awake and then still have the rest of the day to play with them.

Both myself and my other technical partner switched to mornings and would never go back, this after having been a night person for 15 years.

Not quite to the MVP phase yet though unfortunately...but getting there!

Another huge benefit that the morning has over working in the evening is that you can drink coffee to get you going...if you're into that sort of thing.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#22

Post by jon914 »

On the commute back home, I set the night's agenda by listing out the 3 things that I plan to accomplish. This way, I'm constantly moving forward each night and am not left wondering "what should I do now?" when I reach my desk.

My other tip is to listen to your body's signals. If you're sputtering out, grab a snack and walk around a bit. Speaking of which, it's about time for me to do that right now!

Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#23

Post by fookyong »

aagha wrote: post #11
fookyong wrote: post #4

Don't build in the evening. In the evening, wind down the day, have a beer and plan out how you're going to use two hours in the morning tomorrow most effectively. Set one clear goal. Then... 1) Go to sleep 2) Wake up early (I recommend 6am) 3) Do the work you thought up last night I find myself remarkably productive in this cycle. If you've planned well, you'll whiz through the tasks. Focus on "doing one thing" each…

@fookyong Do you have kids?

no.

also, my daily commute is only about 20 mins each way, so I guess I have some fortunate circumstances.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#24

Post by fookyong »

enoren wrote: post #21
fookyong wrote: post #4

Don't build in the evening. In the evening, wind down the day, have a beer and plan out how you're going to use two hours in the morning tomorrow most effectively. Set one clear goal. Then... 1) Go to sleep 2) Wake up early (I recommend 6am) 3) Do the work you thought up last night I find myself remarkably productive in this cycle. If you've planned well, you'll whiz through the tasks. Focus on "doing one thing" each…

This is exactly what I do. I used to try to do it all at night, but with a wife and 2 kids you are just too drained to think and you end up making really bad decisions. I also tend to be able to plan when I am tired so I think about what I am going to do in the morning before I go to bed so that the second I wake up I am up and running and chomping at the bit to get at it. I also find that this carries over to the we…

Both myself and my other technical partner switched to mornings and would never go back, this after having been a night person for 15 years

I hear that.

I used to be a night person too, beavering away until the wee hours. Then I'd sleep until noon and feel awful the whole day. Never going back to that. I realised that the only reason I worked for such long hours is because I had no structure to my work.

Now, I get up early, get stuff done that I planned the night before, and by the time I've finished, most "normal" people are starting their day and I feel super awake. It's a great way to be.

The downside is that I can never stay up past midnight. I just zonk right out. Sucks if you're the type who likes to go partying, but thankfully that's not me :)

Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#25

Post by bdwalter »

fookyong wrote: post #4

Don't build in the evening. In the evening, wind down the day, have a beer and plan out how you're going to use two hours in the morning tomorrow most effectively. Set one clear goal. Then... 1) Go to sleep 2) Wake up early (I recommend 6am) 3) Do the work you thought up last night I find myself remarkably productive in this cycle. If you've planned well, you'll whiz through the tasks. Focus on "doing one thing" each…

I have been trying to move to this model for about a year now. When I can pull it off, this is the best thing in the world. Problems arise when your day job runs into the night, and you cannot get up early to do job #2.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#26

Post by fezzl »

fookyong wrote: post #4

Don't build in the evening. In the evening, wind down the day, have a beer and plan out how you're going to use two hours in the morning tomorrow most effectively. Set one clear goal. Then... 1) Go to sleep 2) Wake up early (I recommend 6am) 3) Do the work you thought up last night I find myself remarkably productive in this cycle. If you've planned well, you'll whiz through the tasks. Focus on "doing one thing" each…

I see that you're based in Singapore (which I suspected, seeing HPB as one of your paying customers). Where exactly are you based, are you a single founder?

Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#27

Post by fookyong »

fezzl wrote: post #26
fookyong wrote: post #4

Don't build in the evening. In the evening, wind down the day, have a beer and plan out how you're going to use two hours in the morning tomorrow most effectively. Set one clear goal. Then... 1) Go to sleep 2) Wake up early (I recommend 6am) 3) Do the work you thought up last night I find myself remarkably productive in this cycle. If you've planned well, you'll whiz through the tasks. Focus on "doing one thing" each…

I see that you're based in Singapore (which I suspected, seeing HPB as one of your paying customers). Where exactly are you based, are you a single founder?

company is in Singapore, but I live in Tokyo :)

Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#28

Post by arikfr »

fookyong wrote: post #4

Don't build in the evening. In the evening, wind down the day, have a beer and plan out how you're going to use two hours in the morning tomorrow most effectively. Set one clear goal. Then... 1) Go to sleep 2) Wake up early (I recommend 6am) 3) Do the work you thought up last night I find myself remarkably productive in this cycle. If you've planned well, you'll whiz through the tasks. Focus on "doing one thing" each…

This is an awesome tip. The only problem I see with it is that if I'm busy with the side project during the morning, it's hard for me to concentrate on anything else during rest of the day.

But I should try doing this in a more structured way, as you suggest (planning first) -- maybe that will allow me accomplish more, removing the need to think about it during the day.

Thanks.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find time to code/build your business in the evening?

#29

Post by wlievens »

staunch wrote: post #15
wyclif wrote: post #3

Eliminate television and other forms of entertainment.

Every single hour you're awake you have the mental and physical energy to watch a movie. That's not true of programming.

True. I suggest: eliminate watching crap on TV and only watch that which is (to you) truly worth watching.
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