What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
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What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
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Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#2This is almost disturbingly accurate to how I feel in the "zone" as well. A consequence of this is it's hard to have a healthy life as a self-employed programmer. If I want the app I'm working on finished faster (and I do or I'll run out of money), I must stay in the zone as long as possible. Which means I must ignore people as long as possible and put off eating/exercising as long as possible as well.
Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#3How does "being in the zone" compare to being in the state of "flow" [0]? Are those synonymous?
Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#4I get this too, but it's very draining - similar to doing an intensive workout, or given a talk at a conference.
The negatives are obvious; less sociable, more easily irritated, wanting to be by yourself. After you've spent a day in the zone, you're not really "party material".
The positive (apart from being very productive) is that I use it to get my negative feelings out of the way - anything that is bothering in my life is somehow gone when I am in "the zone" - it is truly a zen feeling as the author explains.
It's also important to mention that you can't force yourself to be in the zone. It comes and goes, with very little control on your behalf. People that try to force themselves in the zone by working harder, are not truly in the zone. It happens seamlessly without you even knowing or wanting it.
For instance, I'm hardly in the zone. It happens probably once every two weeks, if not less - it also depends on what I'm working on; if it's something new and exciting I'm more predisposed to get in the zone.
Being in the zone is like getting an adrenaline rush - you can force yourself to do it more often (go skydiving for instance), but if you do it too often you'll quickly drain out and not enjoy it as you used to.
Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#5This is almost disturbingly accurate to how I feel in the "zone" as well. A consequence of this is it's hard to have a healthy life as a self-employed programmer. If I want the app I'm working on finished faster (and I do or I'll run out of money), I must stay in the zone as long as possible. Which means I must ignore people as long as possible and put off eating/exercising as long as possible as well.
Putting off exercising and eating may work short term but I don't think it's a good idea to do long term. In the long run you need to find a sustainable rhythm.
Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#6How does "being in the zone" compare to being in the state of "flow" [0]? Are those synonymous? [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)
Yep.
Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#7I get this too, but it's very draining - similar to doing an intensive workout, or given a talk at a conference. The negatives are obvious; less sociable, more easily irritated, wanting to be by yourself. After you've spent a day in the zone, you're not really "party material". The positive (apart from being very productive) is that I use it to get my negative feelings out of the way - anything that is bothering in m…
> It comes and goes, with very little control on your behalf.
As anecdata makes the data, here's mine - you have a lot of control of it.
If you can control your environment (audio, light, temperature, food, exercise, communication, interaction, ...), you can get in the zone too just by virtue of almost exclusively focusing on some type of work you get in the zone for in the first place.
Live by code, die by code.
Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#8I get this too, but it's very draining - similar to doing an intensive workout, or given a talk at a conference. The negatives are obvious; less sociable, more easily irritated, wanting to be by yourself. After you've spent a day in the zone, you're not really "party material". The positive (apart from being very productive) is that I use it to get my negative feelings out of the way - anything that is bothering in m…
> It comes and goes, with very little control on your behalf. As anecdata makes the data, here's mine - you have a lot of control of it. If you can control your environment (audio, light, temperature, food, exercise, communication, interaction, ...), you can get in the zone too just by virtue of almost exclusively focusing on some type of work you get in the zone for in the first place. Live by code, die by code.
Controlling the environment makes me more productive than I'm normally, but definitely doesn't automatically put me "in the zone".
Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#9This is almost disturbingly accurate to how I feel in the "zone" as well. A consequence of this is it's hard to have a healthy life as a self-employed programmer. If I want the app I'm working on finished faster (and I do or I'll run out of money), I must stay in the zone as long as possible. Which means I must ignore people as long as possible and put off eating/exercising as long as possible as well.
Putting off exercising and eating may work short term but I don't think it's a good idea to do long term. In the long run you need to find a sustainable rhythm.
I agree. And the excuse I tell myself it's only temporary. But it's been 3 years now...sigh.
Re: What it feels like to be in the zone as a programmer
#10I get this too, but it's very draining - similar to doing an intensive workout, or given a talk at a conference. The negatives are obvious; less sociable, more easily irritated, wanting to be by yourself. After you've spent a day in the zone, you're not really "party material". The positive (apart from being very productive) is that I use it to get my negative feelings out of the way - anything that is bothering in m…
> Being in the zone is like getting an adrenaline rush
Really disagree here, I find it's the total opposite more like a serenity and calmness. I also can get into it easily enough if I sit down with a plan of action and am not just writing code blindly and getting frustrated. If I find I can't enter the 'zone', it's usually because of some distraction (meeting coming up, feeling ill, not happy with the work, noisy open office work environment etc).
> if you do it too often you'll quickly drain out and not enjoy it as you used to.
Somewhat agree, but I think you mean here that you spend too much time in front of the PC and not enough time tending to your other needs? In which case I definitely agree; I notice a marked increase in productivity if I make sure to exercise routinely in my week, go on social events etc