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Waking up at 5am to code

mattgreer.org

61–70 of 202 posts

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#61

I wish it were possible for me to do something like this during the week, but it isn't. I wake up at 05:30 as it is, and I'm out the door and heading to work by 06:30 (that's an hour to SSS, prepare and consume breakfast, take out the trash, scrape the windshield, and whatever else might need doing). I don't get home until after 17:30. I'm typically occupied being a loving and attentive father up until 20:00 or so. A…

A question. Your job takes 11 hours out of your day roughly. I assume you only work 7.5 or 8 hours like is standard. Does that mean you have a 1,5 hours each way commute (3 hours total)? So you spend 15 hours a week, or 70 hours a month commuting? Maybe you should move closer to work? Or work from home a few days a week if your job allows. I have a 5 minutes each way commute. I don't understand the voluntary 1.5 hour…

I have a similar situation. I live in the far East Bay and commute to San Jose, about 3 hours round trip. Sometimes I get lucky and leave early enough to make it a 1 hour trip -- being on a huge campus with nobody around at 7am is an interesting experience.

I'd be living in SJ, but I just bought a house out here so there's some legwork to be done.

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#62
I woke up at 4:55am for a year while working on Stormpulse. Specifically, 2007, when my first child as 3. I was so excited that I never had a problem launching out of bed and walking down the hall to work by 5:00.

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#63
post #19
post #13

I am doing this right now. The point, I believe is, that you spend the most productive part of the day working for yourself rather than for your employer. Still, I believe in certain jurisdictions your employer owns your work even if done in your free time.

I think it has more to do with the document you signed when you started than where you live.

Not really. Some states ban or almost completely prohibit non-competes -- California being a notable example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-compete_clause#Exceptions_-...

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#64
I've tried this approach and others. I'm sure for some it can work but ultimately I found you can't cheat time. If you wake up at 5am by 2pm you toast (mentally at least). I've found no real secret to gain extra real hours. The reality is that your mind can only function productively for so long each day. The productivity you feel at 5am is the same you'd feel at 8:00am it just seems more amazing because it's happening at 5.

The bottom line is you have to find what is sustainable in the long run. Regardless of how early or late you wake up the key is coming up with a consistant schedule that maximizes your productivity. Only you can figure out what the schedule is. It's certainly great to try new things and see what ends up working for you. Good luck.

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#65

I would love to see a simple service that groups people who are willing to commit to getting up at the same time each day in order to hold each other accountable. There doesn't need to be anything significant - maybe it's just a matching service, letting people figure out for themselves how they can "check in" to confirm they are up and working at 6am (or whatever time is chosen). I know that I definitely can commit…

This is a great idea. Probably doesn't require any groundbreaking technology either. Dear internet, please make this.

EDIT: An iphone app that let's people call and text each other as their profile name (anonymously) would probably lower the barrier to sign up for something like this.

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#66
This idea has also stuck in my head since sometime ago (I think it was a comment by @jrockway who said that he got up really early because at that time there is nothing else to do but work), though I do not do it everyday, only occasionally when I want to finish something... I will follow the site for updates! :)

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#67
post #65

I would love to see a simple service that groups people who are willing to commit to getting up at the same time each day in order to hold each other accountable. There doesn't need to be anything significant - maybe it's just a matching service, letting people figure out for themselves how they can "check in" to confirm they are up and working at 6am (or whatever time is chosen). I know that I definitely can commit…

This is a great idea. Probably doesn't require any groundbreaking technology either. Dear internet, please make this. EDIT: An iphone app that let's people call and text each other as their profile name (anonymously) would probably lower the barrier to sign up for something like this.

[deleted]

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#68
This is a really effective way to get a lot things done. In summer 2009 I used to wake up before sunrise and absolutely loved it. To this day, I still wonder why I did not continue doing it.

My 2 cents:

Make sure you have something good (preferably healthy) to eat readily available when you get up. It should be something that does not require more than 10 min of preparation. Otherwise things tend to get a bit boring.

If you happen to wake before sunrise. Take mini walk in you garden or backyard and catch those 10 - 15 minutes of sunrise. It will absolutely super charge you for rest of the day.

EDIT: Let's admit that we all have a small nest at home specifically for work or related activities. Move this nest out of your bedroom. Keep your laptops, iPads, PCs or any such devices out of your bedroom. Switch off your phones during nights and do not switch them back on until after your morning sessions.

(PS. My uncle is a neurologist and he tells me that for people who work during day and rest during nights, certain hormones are secreted in the mornings that help us in staying fresh and awake. The catch is that they are only secreted if you wake before or around sun rise time.)

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#69
post #68

This is a really effective way to get a lot things done. In summer 2009 I used to wake up before sunrise and absolutely loved it. To this day, I still wonder why I did not continue doing it. My 2 cents: Make sure you have something good (preferably healthy) to eat readily available when you get up. It should be something that does not require more than 10 min of preparation. Otherwise things tend to get a bit boring.…

That's interesting. When I was in college I used to wake up at 5am every morning. I'd always start my day by taking the trash outside and looking at the sun come up over the ocean. (I went to school in Santa Cruz). Those short moments always set the tone for the rest of my day.

Re: Waking up at 5am to code

#70

I've tried this approach and others. I'm sure for some it can work but ultimately I found you can't cheat time. If you wake up at 5am by 2pm you toast (mentally at least). I've found no real secret to gain extra real hours. The reality is that your mind can only function productively for so long each day. The productivity you feel at 5am is the same you'd feel at 8:00am it just seems more amazing because it's happeni…

If you wake up at any time of the day, mid way through it (no matter when) your brain "is toast".

That is why so many sleep scientists suggest naps is because they have proven that naps are beneficial to mental fatigue.

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