Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#1

Post by james-singh » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:21 AM UTC

No post body was provided.

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#2

Post by kevinherron » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:39 AM UTC

7.5h-8.5h. There's nothing glamorous about being sleep deprived...

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#3

Post by scottyallen » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:41 AM UTC

9 hours is my sweet spot. Anything less than that, and I don't think as well. Below 8 and I'm generally a bit of a zombie, and operating at 50% speed. Above 10 and I tend to get groggy and depressed.

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#4

Post by w1ntermute » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:43 AM UTC

As much as I need, but I try to go to sleep at 11. I usually wake up (naturally) between 6 and 7:30.

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#5

Post by redspark » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:45 AM UTC

I typically get between 5 and 6 hrs (with 2-3 times getting up for the kids). If I get more than 8, I feel slow and groggy all day. 6 uninterrupted hours seems to be my sweet spot.

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#6

Post by rymith » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:47 AM UTC

I sleep 6.5, and usually I do not use an alarm, this is just my natural sleep schedule.

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#7

Post by maratd » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:47 AM UTC

scottyallen wrote: post #3

9 hours is my sweet spot. Anything less than that, and I don't think as well. Below 8 and I'm generally a bit of a zombie, and operating at 50% speed. Above 10 and I tend to get groggy and depressed.

We seem to be cut from the same cloth. I would add that my sleep requirements vary based on my work load. If my work requires me to really think things through, definitely 9 hours to get back to normal. If its routine stuff, I can get away with 7 hours.

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#8

Post by arikrak » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:49 AM UTC

There was a poll on this: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3479410

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#9

Post by selectout » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:51 AM UTC

Weekdays between 5.5-7 hours per night

Weekends around 8-9 hours per night.

Re: Ask HN: How many hours do hackers sleep?

#10

Post by logical42 » Thu, Dec 13, 2012, 4:57 AM UTC

I think you're likely to get a variety of ranges from the answers here, due to natural biological variation. I can't say for sure, but I suspect that the common theme here will end up being that people do feel that the number of hours that they sleep is important in how it affects their work (which is reasonable, since the act of coding is a mentally strenuous act).

I'm a bit curious now, I wonder how many people here try to wake up naturally.. personally, I consider that to be pretty reliable in forecasting my day's productivity.