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Programming has a high context switch

7 points by python_fanatic ↗ HN
For example, I have periods where I can be heavily focused on coding at a project, but as a result my personal life suffers. The same effect is also observed in the reverse, where increased social interactions cause my code to suffer. Wonder if this applies to anyone else and if so, what is your technique for juggling between both priorities?

4 comments

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matt321
sounds about right. Just set aside times to do deep work and times for life
icsa
From 9 to 5 (or some other 8 hour block - e.g. 7 to 3), don't let your personal life interfere with your work - including social media, email, text messages et cetera. Without distractions, you'll get all of your work done with time to spare.

You have plenty of time from 5 pm to 9 am + weekends to enjoy your personal life.

tra3
I figure just like any other human characteristics there's some normal distribution, with some folks being better and some being worse at context switching.

Personally I fall on the "worse" side, I think. Whenever I have trouble fixing or solving something, I can't stop thinking about it until I get it done.

On the flip side, social interactions leave me exhausted and unable to focus.

In terms of juggling the two, waking up before everyone else (say 5am) works wonders. Before interruptions, before stress kicks in, and working on something. Not always doable especially since the DST kicked in.