[kajecounterhack]

I'm a high schooler, taking 7 AP courses and 2 other courses with no lunch period (I have to eat during some classes). After school, I run 10 miles cause I'm on the distance running team. I get home, shower, dinner, and between 8pm and 7am, I have 12 hours to do a combination of sleep/homework/programming.

So from my experience (as someone who averages 3-4 hours a night), NO CAFFEINE. Caffeine ends up destroying you and making you less capable of doing things. Apples wake you up more than a cup of coffee. EXERCISE. A few pushups in the middle of the night wake you up better than anything.

Prioritizing is probably the most important. I usually go Schoolwork -> Programming -> Sleep as my priorities. On days before track workouts or races or big tests, I swap Sleep and Programming as priorities.

It really is difficult to balance school and programming, but hey if you want to pursue something you gotta give it your all. Just don't destroy yourself while you're at it. I exercise, eat, and sleep binge on weekends. Its a good life.

[pstuart]

A stellar case of youth not being wasted on the young.