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by walton_simons 1604 days ago
I don't jump start my brain. I drink a lot of coffee and feel grumpy. I have a toddler, so this happens every day. I've always hated getting up early in the morning, and nothing I've ever tried has made it better. Left to my own devices, I'll gravitate towards going to bed around 4am, and getting up at around 11. The times in my life where I've been able to do this for an extended period are when I've felt most rested and energetic.

I know this can sound like a sort of edgy teenager thing to say, but I just prefer the night. From about 9pm onwards, my mind is absolutely buzzing with energy. Most of my learning, throughout my whole life, has taken place at night. I feel like my brain doesn't work properly until at least lunchtime, so wherever I can, I arrange to do easy stuff in the morning. Responding to emails, any light admin, nothing that needs too much focus.
3 comments
jnsie 1603 days ago
This resonated so much with me. I've tried to force the issue many times - sleep patterns (early to bed; early to rise), diet, exercise, etc. but early morning will never be natural to me. My brain works best late at night and always will. It's partly lack of distraction, I'm sure, but I at night when it's dark outside I feel more content, more relaxed, which somewhat paradoxically allows me to work more efficiently/creatively.
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andrewSC 1604 days ago
I can't help but wonder if your experiences are in no small part due to (generally speaking) less distractions/interruptions? As in, people aren't awake to interrupt you (toddler life excluded)?

I consider myself a morning person however I find that unless I explicitly ignore messages/emails/etc. until some time block I schedule in, or practice Pomodoro, that nothing really ever feels like it gets done. I just feel "busy" at the end of the day which quite honestly, is not fulfilling. I'd much rather be productive than busy.

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oigursh 1604 days ago
Most switched on I've ever felt was at university. Get up at midday, go for a run, do some CS classes in the afternoon, eat, code until 4am. Total flow-state from midnight to 4am.

Miss those times!

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