I’ve been thinking a lot recently about my “ideal day” in terms of the ebb and flow of work. I’m at a new contract location which has required me to change my rhythms, and the initial lack of “flow” was definitely noticeable.
My ideal workday would go something like this:
| 6:00 AM - 6:30 AM | Check e-mail, put out fires, RSS |
| 6:30 - 7:00 | Get ready for work |
| 7:30 - 9:30 | First burst of programming |
| 9:30 - 10:00 | Coffee / diversion away from keyboard |
| 10:00 - 12:00 | Second burst of programming |
| 12:00 - 2:00 | Lunch, relax, errands |
| 2:00 - 4:30 | Third burst of programming |
| 4:30 - 8:00 | Home, personal and family time |
| 8:00 - 9:30 | Catch up on e-mail, light R&D, bugfix |
Total work time: 8.5 hours
Total programming time: 6.5 hours
The longest heads-down session in this scenario is 2.5 hours, which is about as long as I can concentrate in one sitting. I find the frequent changes pleasant and refreshing.
How about you? What’s your ideal work day?
I thought about it, and my time is much more of a mush these days. I wake up, code until I can’t think straight, then I check the news and maybe work on my blog, code some more, eat something, hit the gym, talk about work with others, then code some more. I have no work life “balance”, only varying degrees of work. And it’s WONDERFUL. So… my ideal day doesn’t have a schedule.
No schedule here. I’m allergic to ‘em.
The only thing I do fairly regularly is go for a run when it gets dark out. I prefer to shower and get dressed after that run, but sometimes my presence is required in the daylight, so I have to shower twice. Boo.
That’s the one inefficienct aspect of my life that I still struggle with. And no, going for a run during the day isn’t the answer
Otherwise: Wake up, Work, Putter intermittently, Sleep, Repeat.