Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by atrophying 3625 days ago
Easy. I don't sit at a computer all day.

Personally, I find I'm a better coder when I get up and move around on a regular basis. I'll work for an hour or two, then go for a walk. Come back, work for another hour or two, go get some coffee from the coffee shop on the other end of campus. Rinse and repeat. Often times I'll be able to work out a problem or have a great idea while I'm walking.

There's this idea that to be a coder you have to be in front of a computer every waking moment, but the most successful programmers and engineers I know are the ones who know when to step away, who leave the work at work, and take care of themselves physically and emotionally. Otherwise, you're right, it's not sustainable at all.

1 comments

I used to do that too :) it makes it more bearable. I used to love coding, but I've always missed the real world when I was in that bubble, and now that I'm not working anymore, it somehow feels more right, it's weird.
Are you not working at all anymore, or not working a programming job? If you're not working at all, may I ask how you eat/sleep? I don't mean to be too personal, but I'm curious.
I am living on savings while I figure out the next step.

I have coffee and a croissant while reading a book everyday at roughly 10am, then meals at 1pm, 4pm, and 9pm, and sleep from roughly 1am to 9am. Funny question :)