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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?

#61

Post by wlievens »

frankwiles wrote: post #52
joshfinnie wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, with Netflix, Hulu, Tivo... I am never in short supply of things to watch on TV that isn't crap. All six seasons of Lost, that's a lot of time gone on!

I hope you realize you just said watching Lost is more important than developing your product. All six seasons will still be there next year, and if your product is a success, you'll have all the time you want to watch them.

If he's really succesfull he's likely to have less time available, actually :-)

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

#62

Post by taa »

Travis wrote: post #55

I'm the programmer in my startup. I'm also the guy with the day job. We weren't making the necessary progress until we actually analyzed why I wasn't being as productive as we needed in the evening and weekend situations. Turns out that I basically needed an assistant. Since I was building features for my cofounders, we decided that we should pair program (except they don't know how to program). So they act as the "f…

I'm in the same boat as you and totally agree with you that it is necessary to separate design from implementation and assign these tasks to different people in order to maintain or boost productivity. We've done the same in my startup and it's working great. Further, we feed off each other's progress and try to stay in sync, which keeps us motivating and grinding.

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

#63

Post by taa »

iworkforthem wrote: post #2

i suggest u code/build yr biz in the early morning instead, say around 4-5 am, wake up early, code like crazy for e 2-3 hrs. it's super productive when compared to late nites. also, since you have kids, you need to plan out their schedule properly, else they will need yr constant action. automate whenever possible, if u must outsource be sure to review n measure e roi.

I'm most productive 10pm to 1am. So many people suggest working early, but not everyone can be productive in the early morning. And when you have kids who wake up at 6 or 7am, doing it in the evening after they went to bed is about your only option.

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

#64

Post by user24 »

mdoyle wrote: post #44

I've agreed with the good lady that I will work in the evenings between Monday and Thursday, which normally gives me three-four hours a night, after the kids have gone to bed. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are for the family with the odd exception, which has the added benefit of giving me some thinking time. I have 30 days holiday a year and use 10 of those days for working on my own stuff; effectively a working holida…

I really like this idea. Too often we hear about young, single founder with no commitments. Well yeah it's easy to hack away to 3 AM if you're living in your parents basement! I used to code all night long when I was still in school.

Now I'm 27 with a 9-5.30 job and a partner, friends, family. I like to go swimming, I like eating out and cooking meals in, all that gets in the way of marathon hacking sessions. Carving out dedicated time in the weekly time-budget is a good way to manage the balance.

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

#65

Post by bermonpainter »

Totally agree with @fookyong.

Don't build in the evening (unless you're single, then have at it). After a long day of work, working more is the last thing I want to do. The wife and kids need some attention.

Go to bed early (10pm-ish) with the fam then get up early. I get up at 5am every morning. Your mind is fresh and invigorated. I find in the early hours of the morning I'm very productive, I think clearer and my wife isn't bugging me to come to bed every 15 minutes.

This is how I handle freelance and personal projects on top of the full-time job. It gives me an extra 3 hours a day without wearing me out.

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

#66

Post by erken »

Like most people here, I have another activity that prevents me from working on my startup everyday. I try to divide the week like this : 4 days for my first activity (Mon-Thurs), 3 days for my startup(Fri-Sun). This enables me to work efficiently in both domains without thinking about the other one. Add in a lot of sport and some nights out to unwind.

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

#67

Post by funnycoder »

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…

lol.. mate.. appreciate your hard work.. but i guess it doesnt take much time for anyone to guess that you have simply stolen basecamp's design?

ROFL..

get some originality dude... u "may" ve gotten an awesome product... but do try to stick to a bit of ethics and not copy other websites designs..

P.S.the pricing page is an exact copy of basecamp!

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

#69

Post by goodlab »

I completely agree with those who suggest the early morning cycle. Especially if you have a family. I wake up about 5/5:30 and a working in peace by 6 until 8. it gives me at least 2 hours of extremely productive time everyday.

This is how we built our current startup: votetocracy.com. When I try to work at night - I have a hundred things floating in my head that distract me.

Another tip that has worked for me: Multi-tasking is bogus.

I have actually tested this with my own work life. I spent a week multi-tasking. Where I decided on several multi-step projects that I wanted to complete over the week and went about them by pushing he first tasks forward one by one on each project on Monday. Then I kept pushing forward the next task on each project. At the end of the week I had several things up in the air. Mostly because I was waiting on others - or others were waiting on me because I was busy doing another task on an another project.

The second trail was with a one project a week approach. The result: It got done early. Those that I had to work on the project with didn't have to wait for me. I didn't have to wait for them.

THe one project approach isn't always possible due to client demands and such. But I do recommend picking at least one project among a few people and as much as possible - limit the noise of other small interruptions and stay focused.

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