> What time do you go to bed? 10pm, usually, and asleep before 10:30 (I've been using the K&R C book + melatonin as a sleep aid recently). 6.5 - 7 hours of sle

> What time do you go to bed? 10pm, usually, and asleep before 10:30 (I've been using the K&R C book + melatonin as a sleep aid recently). 6.5 - 7 hours of sleep seems to be enough for me at the moment. > Do you ever drink, go out, etc? Yes, at least once a week I'll see friends and twice a week I'll go out with my wife. If I'm not careful, I can get off schedule, and it often takes quite some time to get back (as in weeks). Those periods when I'm off schedule precipitate bursts of intense productivity (maybe I'm more rested; maybe I'm more motivated). > I'm asking because I'm a morning person, but I doubt I would enjoy 'getting to it' at 5am everyday. You nailed it with 'personal time' and a disinclination to work after work hours. I have a few hours of personal time before my wife wakes up where I get to enjoy an activity (coding) that I can't share with her. Any time I spend coding after work hours is time I can't spend with my wife and friends. That time is necessary for me as a human being, and for my work: socializing is good for my brain (promotion of neuronal plasticity and neurogenesis), and breaks are important (recharging and subconscious synthesis + assimilation). > Do you all consider it part of your job to listen to what's happening in the tech world, learn about personal productivity, etc? If these times were taken out and only time producing tangible output were measured, my average rate would go up, maybe to $70 per hour. I'm now salaried, and I've stopped thinking in terms of $/hr, and that helps work/life balance, productivity, and attitude. It's not necessary to learn what other coders are doing, unless I want to be good. Isolation is a straight path to mediocrity. > It's consumed by my GF, running, going out, casual reading, a couple TV shows. All this I think is a worthwhile tradeoff. I wouldn't even consider it a tradeoff. Eating isn't a tradeoff to work time -- it's necessary for function. Rest and socializing, too.