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Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

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Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#31

Post by baddox »

Periodic wrote: post #30
baddox wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I understand it, F.lux works because your body uses light cues to determine the rate of melatonin production. Essentially: less light (or warmer light) => more melatonin production => sleepiness. Rather than mess around with your monitors' color balance (which I find extremely annoying), I just skip the first step and pop an over the counter melatonin pill. It works splendidly, doesn't seem to be habit forming (be…

As I understand it, it isn't so much less light or warmer light as much as it is a lack of blue light. The amount of blue light during the day time in the sun is huge . F.lux works by reducing the color temperature which greatly reduces the amount of blue light coming from the display and shifts it to red light.

I might've misused the word "warmer," but I thought warmer light just meant light with less blue in it.

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#32

Post by dylanhassinger »

I think light sensitivity can also play a role in this. I find direct sunlight uncomfortable, especially in summer and winter (sun reflecting off the snow). As soon as evening begins my brain fires into gear. I think other Asperger's types might struggle w this too, without even realizing it.

A friend recently recommended using sunglasses more, which I'm going to try out. Makes sense

Also +1 for Flux, it's great.

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#33

Post by achompas »

baddox wrote: post #29
achompas wrote: post #5

You'll see links to F.lux [0] occasionally on HN, but I can't overstate how F.lux has changed my life. Before F.lux, my laptop would suck me in. I would browse HN, Metafilter, and Twitter even as my eyes stung and my head felt like a bag of sand. Eventually I would go to bed at 3am, confused about how time flew by so quickly. The next morning was always rough. Some days I would wake up at 8am and arrive at work on ti…

As I understand it, F.lux works because your body uses light cues to determine the rate of melatonin production. Essentially: less light (or warmer light) => more melatonin production => sleepiness. Rather than mess around with your monitors' color balance (which I find extremely annoying), I just skip the first step and pop an over the counter melatonin pill. It works splendidly, doesn't seem to be habit forming (be…

I tried melatonin a few times and experienced some very groggy mornings. I also experienced a few nights where I could not sleep after taking a 3mg tab.

For those considering it, let me suggest a very small dose (0.5-0.75 mg, or 1/4th of a tablet) and 9-10 hours to try it out. Don't pop one of these at 2am and expect to feel great the next day.

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#34

Post by dreamdu5t »

araneae wrote: post #28
HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't the same be true of someone who watched a lot of TV?

I challenge you to find someone who regularly brings their TV into bed with them and watches it under the covers. Yes, obviously there are many non-hackers who have this problem. Just thought it was funny it wasn't one of the hypotheses listed, given that it's directly related to the cause of this guy's insomnia.

Hrm? Everyone I know except myself has a TV in the bedroom that they can watch from their bed.

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#35

Post by ddwoodworth »

Looks like there has been significant research on chronotype (A person's preference for daytime vs. nighttime activities). One study showed "About 1/10 people are actually hard-wired... to be early risers" and "2/10 people are what are known as night owls". So there maybe some proof to your genetics theory. People maybe hardwired to reach peak functionality at different times.   

http://www.kwollity.com/2010/03/are-you-a-late-or-early-chro... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronotype http://www.roundtheclocksystems.com/methods5_ctest.html

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#36

Post by pprov »

baddox wrote: post #29
achompas wrote: post #5

You'll see links to F.lux [0] occasionally on HN, but I can't overstate how F.lux has changed my life. Before F.lux, my laptop would suck me in. I would browse HN, Metafilter, and Twitter even as my eyes stung and my head felt like a bag of sand. Eventually I would go to bed at 3am, confused about how time flew by so quickly. The next morning was always rough. Some days I would wake up at 8am and arrive at work on ti…

As I understand it, F.lux works because your body uses light cues to determine the rate of melatonin production. Essentially: less light (or warmer light) => more melatonin production => sleepiness. Rather than mess around with your monitors' color balance (which I find extremely annoying), I just skip the first step and pop an over the counter melatonin pill. It works splendidly, doesn't seem to be habit forming (be…

+1 for melatonin. I actually like the vivid dreams. I also dream in brighter colors while on it.

I have noticed that it doesn't mix well with alcohol though. It still puts me to sleep, but then I'm up at 4am and definitely not refreshed.

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#37

Post by mise »

mjdwitt wrote: post #10
achompas wrote: post #5

You'll see links to F.lux [0] occasionally on HN, but I can't overstate how F.lux has changed my life. Before F.lux, my laptop would suck me in. I would browse HN, Metafilter, and Twitter even as my eyes stung and my head felt like a bag of sand. Eventually I would go to bed at 3am, confused about how time flew by so quickly. The next morning was always rough. Some days I would wake up at 8am and arrive at work on ti…

And for Linux users whose distro doesn't have a F.lux package, redshift is often available as a nice alternative in your package tree.

Oh, thanks. F.lux doesn't work on my 11.04 Ubuntu netbook, probably because of display drivers.

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#38

Post by baddox »

achompas wrote: post #33
baddox wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I understand it, F.lux works because your body uses light cues to determine the rate of melatonin production. Essentially: less light (or warmer light) => more melatonin production => sleepiness. Rather than mess around with your monitors' color balance (which I find extremely annoying), I just skip the first step and pop an over the counter melatonin pill. It works splendidly, doesn't seem to be habit forming (be…

I tried melatonin a few times and experienced some very groggy mornings. I also experienced a few nights where I could not sleep after taking a 3mg tab. For those considering it, let me suggest a very small dose (0.5-0.75 mg, or 1/4th of a tablet) and 9-10 hours to try it out. Don't pop one of these at 2am and expect to feel great the next day.

Are your groggy mornings after only sleeping a few hours? I only use melatonin if I am able to get at least 7 hours of sleep, or maybe 6.5 in a pinch, but with or without melatonin I'll be groggy in the morning with less than 6.5 hours of sleep. I take 1mg doses, although I initially took 3mg and didn't notice a difference. This study seems to show that 3mg is overkill, and that .3mg is probably sufficient:

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/86/10/4727

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#39

Post by corin_ »

dgallagher wrote: post #6
corin_ wrote: post #2

I can't speak for everyone, but for some it's a case of never being able to get your brain to shut down properly from a work point of view, which can be both the reason for sleep problems and the reason for success. My current boss summed it up once when he said "the reason I'm always working outside hours [he works most evenings, will often get an email from him at 3am, most days a call sometime between 8pm and midn…

This might sound a little weird, but try putting an large ice-pack on your head while you're lying in bed, ready to go to sleep: http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/17/tip-for-insomniacs-coo... I've done it a few times and after about 10 minutes, any racing-thoughts in my brain dissipate, and it becomes much easier to go to sleep.

I don't know if it's necessarily a good thing to get rid of it.

Maybe a better balance is needed, but I think there's a real link with the kind of person who can't sleep for thinking of work, and success in what they are doing.

Re: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Sleep

#40

Post by geoffw8 »

(Web) Entrepreneurs don't sleep because they're proficient with the internet. Not only do you get into a routine of not going to sleep, but your also not really trying to. I know, this was me!

Now I try to unwind, I have to make conscious decision to down tools and watch the TV, set the timer. I have a time when I know I should really have my head down.

On the flip-side, 2-3 years ago - I was up till 6-7am, waking at 12/1pm and repeating all over again. After all, I had the internet (read: unlimited stuff to look at) and nothing to get up for.

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