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What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

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21–30 of 31 posts

Re: What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

#21
post #12

If I need a stimulant to keep me awake, I go to sleep. Pulling an all-nighter when I'm already in sleep debt only produces code that sucks. The next day, I'm too tired to be functional and I've got a bunch of code that needs to be thrown out and rewritten. Sleep is a better use of time.

Caffeine actually makes me sleepy. So I just listen to happy electronica music or take a nap ;)

Re: What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

#22
post #20

No stimulants, just polyphasic sleep. I get the jitters if I try caffeine...

Are you doing a true uberman schedule? How's that working for you?

Right now I have a core sleep of about 4hrs each night. I had to come off uberman when I started working as I cant really take naps at the office except for lunch. All the more reason to quit and found a startup right?

If you're really interested you should try to find a copy of Why We Nap by R. Broughton. There's a lot of confusion and general BS on the net about Polyphaic sleep. This book takes a scientific approach. The problem is its no longer in print so you might try a university library...

As far as how it works, I love it. Being awake for so much of the day is a huge plus, but the biggest improvement is actually in how you feel. Much sharper, better concentration, mood, etc. That is if you can make it past the adjustment period and you can stay on schedule. The big downside is that its still socially a "weird" thing. People will look at you crazy when you try to explain it...

Re: What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

#23
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you doing a true uberman schedule? How's that working for you?

Right now I have a core sleep of about 4hrs each night. I had to come off uberman when I started working as I cant really take naps at the office except for lunch. All the more reason to quit and found a startup right? If you're really interested you should try to find a copy of Why We Nap by R. Broughton. There's a lot of confusion and general BS on the net about Polyphaic sleep. This book takes a scientific approac…

I'd consider doing it but the unknown long term health effects really scare me. I did a biphasic sleep schedule when I was working an 8-4 last year. I would sleep for 3-4 hours before work, then take a "nap" for 4-5 hours after work. About once a week I would go to bed at 5PM and accidentally sleep through the night.

Re: What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

#24
post #12

If I need a stimulant to keep me awake, I go to sleep. Pulling an all-nighter when I'm already in sleep debt only produces code that sucks. The next day, I'm too tired to be functional and I've got a bunch of code that needs to be thrown out and rewritten. Sleep is a better use of time.

Modafinal is a drug that really intrigues me. Many militaries have switched to it from amphetamine. It's not really stimulating, but it eliminates any tiredness you might have. The perfect drug for a mandatory all-nighter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil

Re: What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

#25
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you doing a true uberman schedule? How's that working for you?

Right now I have a core sleep of about 4hrs each night. I had to come off uberman when I started working as I cant really take naps at the office except for lunch. All the more reason to quit and found a startup right? If you're really interested you should try to find a copy of Why We Nap by R. Broughton. There's a lot of confusion and general BS on the net about Polyphaic sleep. This book takes a scientific approac…

Are you affected by food comas?

Re: What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

#26
post #4

Tazo Chai

Chai is good. If you have free time it's fun to experiment with making your own. SpecialTeas.com has a variety of cheap black teas that work well, and the other decent site is uptontea.com, which is actually based just outside Boston. Then the rest of the ingredients you can get from the supermarket. There are a bunch of decent recipes online; I usually use the one from the rec.food.drink.tea FAQ

Re: What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

#28
post #4

Tazo Chai

Chai is good. If you have free time it's fun to experiment with making your own. SpecialTeas.com has a variety of cheap black teas that work well, and the other decent site is uptontea.com, which is actually based just outside Boston. Then the rest of the ingredients you can get from the supermarket. There are a bunch of decent recipes online; I usually use the one from the rec.food.drink.tea FAQ

I buy black tea with chai spices in it already, and mix it with vanilla, honey, and milk myself. The preparation is as important to the experience as the beverage itself.

Re: What is your stimulant of choice to keep you working through the night?

#29
post #12

If I need a stimulant to keep me awake, I go to sleep. Pulling an all-nighter when I'm already in sleep debt only produces code that sucks. The next day, I'm too tired to be functional and I've got a bunch of code that needs to be thrown out and rewritten. Sleep is a better use of time.

Agreed. I don't even drink or ingest any stimulants. Keeps my sleep much more regular.

Oh, I have no objection to stimulants in general; I like my tea and my coffee. It's just that if I need the stimulation to stay awake and working, I'm already in false-economy territory.
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