4 ms·

I know someone who has written two hugo-nominated sci-fi novels, but otherwise lives a typical 9-to-5 work life. I finally asked how he gets his writing done an

I know someone who has written two hugo-nominated sci-fi novels, but otherwise lives a typical 9-to-5 work life. I finally asked how he gets his writing done and learned that he wakes up at 5am each day. According to him, "the first thing you do every day is the most important thing".

DizzyDoo 9y ago
Oh, I absolutely agree! I'm definitely an early morning sort of person, and when you're a self-employed, self-directed programmer, that feeling in the day of 'getting going', digging into a good chunk of work with free hours stretching ahead of you, that can't really be beaten. So I do get up earlier, and start work earlier than most, but I don't start the day with news sites, or emails, or twitter or anything like that. At best, it distracts from getting the work-day going, and at worst, it introduces an awful lot of negativity. Took me a while to figure out, perhaps it's more obvious to others, but a truly 'quiet' first few hours in a day is very beneficial to me.
- mdekkers 9y ago
  it introduces an awful lot of negativity. So true - I used to start my day reading news. No more, and my days are happier for it. Most of it is shit you cannot influence anyway.
CuriouslyC 9y ago
I've also found that my thinking is at its best in the first few hours after I wake up. My creativity and problem solving skills steadily decline throughout the day, and at night I'm only good for fairly mechanical work. I don't think it's a time of day thing (I'm not an early riser) but more that your brain is refreshed by sleep. I wish I could take naps, it would be wonderful to regain that state mid-day.
1337biz 9y ago
But then you need to be extremely driven. There are very few things in life I would be willing to sacrifice sleeping a little bit longer for.
- hermanradtke 9y ago
  I started going to bed earlier so I could wake up earlier. Seems zero sum, but waking up early to focus on my top priority when it is quiet and I am fresh has been a huge gain.

DizzyDoo 9y ago

Oh, I absolutely agree! I'm definitely an early morning sort of person, and when you're a self-employed, self-directed programmer, that feeling in the day of 'getting going', digging into a good chunk of work with free hours stretching ahead of you, that can't really be beaten. So I do get up earlier, and start work earlier than most, but I don't start the day with news sites, or emails, or twitter or anything like that. At best, it distracts from getting the work-day going, and at worst, it introduces an awful lot of negativity. Took me a while to figure out, perhaps it's more obvious to others, but a truly 'quiet' first few hours in a day is very beneficial to me.

mdekkers 9y ago
it introduces an awful lot of negativity. So true - I used to start my day reading news. No more, and my days are happier for it. Most of it is shit you cannot influence anyway.

CuriouslyC 9y ago

I've also found that my thinking is at its best in the first few hours after I wake up. My creativity and problem solving skills steadily decline throughout the day, and at night I'm only good for fairly mechanical work. I don't think it's a time of day thing (I'm not an early riser) but more that your brain is refreshed by sleep. I wish I could take naps, it would be wonderful to regain that state mid-day.

1337biz 9y ago

But then you need to be extremely driven. There are very few things in life I would be willing to sacrifice sleeping a little bit longer for.

hermanradtke 9y ago
I started going to bed earlier so I could wake up earlier. Seems zero sum, but waking up early to focus on my top priority when it is quiet and I am fresh has been a huge gain.