How to survive programming 80+ hours a week?

I left my computer, walked into the bathroom, and looked at myself in the mirror, still in the programming world. I suddenly realized that I had programmed for another day. Suddenly, I wanted to share my day with you - a day of a programmer who uses some ridiculous tricks to maintain lasting productivity.

I write a lot of code in a day. I use WakaTime.com to track my time spent in Sublime, and I'm in the top 5 of the user list with an average of 60 hours of actual coding per week. In addition, I spend an additional 20 hours per week doing research. This means that if you include sending emails, reading, etc., I probably spend more than 100 hours per week in front of the computer.

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But long-term programming is harmful to the human body. In the first few years, I paid a heavy price for it. So the purpose of sharing this article is to hope that some of my findings can be useful to you.

1. Vitamins

Since I was working on my own startup, GradeTrain, I was lucky enough to be able to set my own schedule, which allowed me to sleep in until about 10am (4-5pm a night).

The first thing I do every day is take my vitamins. I'm currently taking B-12, Ginkgo Biloba, C, D3, and Men's One-A-Day. It's not like Popeye's spinach, but it does make a difference if I miss it one day - I don't think as clearly, I get tired more easily, etc.

And I haven't had a cold for nearly a year, but I used to get sick about every month. Of course, there are other things in my articles that can help improve a person's immunity (see "Life Juice" and "Sunshine").

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2. Life Juice

Everyone gets mad at me for calling this concoction "Life Juice". It's actually really delicious and it helps me get more done because it's a natural stimulant with incredible power. It's a mixture of Runa Berry Clean Energy drink, Emergen-C, and water. It's an absolute delight to drink.

I usually have one around 2pm, which is just the right time to keep me energized for the whole afternoon.

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Programming equipment

This thing is pretty cool. Not only does it really reduce the pain of programming, but with all the gear on, it makes you feel like a robot.

wrist

Let's start with these wrist braces. They are really helpful in preventing and treating wrist and hand pain. However, wearing them can be a little distracting from work. I usually switch between them though, so I don't have both wrists in pain at once.

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elbow

If you lie on the table to rest or type on the keyboard for a long time, your elbows will always have some traces of bumps and bruises. At this time, elbow pads can come in handy.

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Back

Here's a tip: Sit up straight in a chair with a back. I've tried a few, but this seems to be the most effective. I have a bad habit of slouching, so I often forget this. I hope you don't learn from me!

Eye

Don't laugh - it may make you look like a jerk, but an eye mask is a great tool for those late-night coding sessions. By alternating the use of your eyes, you can reduce headaches caused by screen glare.

Of course, you may find it a bit strange to see things this way, but if you don't want to get a headache or damage your eyes, this is definitely a good choice.

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In addition to the eye mask, I also use eye drops. If you often have dry eyes, you can also keep a bottle of them.

Also, try programming with your eyes closed. Write the method with your eyes closed, then open your eyes to double-check. Even if it's just for 10 seconds, it can give your eyes a good rest.

ear

Professional headphones. Good headphones allow you to focus on development work without being distracted by the outside world.

Sunlight

I spend at least half an hour outside every day walking or biking. In addition, I use a sunlight simulator to trick my brain into thinking it is still daytime (when it is actually 1-2 AM). And in the winter when the sun is shining, I can treat it as natural light.

recover

OK, you have been writing code all day, and now it's time to take a break. You need to maximize your remaining rest time and try to restore your strength and energy.

The most important thing you can do for yourself is to learn how to fall asleep quickly. I'm going to talk about how to fall asleep in less than 120 seconds. Of course, if you're really exhausted, you can fall asleep quickly, but the key is to use your brain to train yourself to fall asleep even when you're not that tired.

Many people would choose to count sheep, but personally, I would imagine that I am in a "dream world" - always trying to go down: walking down the stairs, swimming underwater, or pretending to fall into a swamp... no matter what you think of, as long as you have a feeling of sinking.

Also, I recommend using a heating pad for 10+ minutes a day. This helps relax your back muscles.

One thing to remember: drink water before going to bed and keep a cup by your bed in case you wake up thirsty in the middle of the night. Sufficient water helps the body rest.

reason

I love code! As I said, I'm trying to get my startup GradeTrain off the ground, and as a co-founder and lead developer I have to do my best to fix bugs, complete features and demos.

But all this work doesn’t mean I have to be miserable, and neither should you! If you’re also an entrepreneur, a passionate programmer (or gamer?), I really hope that the tips I mentioned above can be useful to you.

Of course, if you have other good suggestions and methods, you are welcome to share them!