I often find myself coding into the wee hours of the night. I never put much thought into why I did it until recently. I have a coding buddy who is a senior software engineer, and we have been collaborating on a few projects together for over a year now. We always have late nights coding, and we often have coding sessions as late as 11 pm or midnight.
Yeah, I know some people think we’re night owls or live in our own world, but the truth is coding helps me express myself better than words ever could. My coding buddy and I have discussed this many times. He told me that he likes to code at night because there are no distractions. “It’s a distraction-free zone,” he said.
In this article, I want to explore the benefits of coding at night, offer some tips, and discuss the importance of having a coding routine. Let’s get started!
The benefits of coding at night
Programmers work odd hours. I always assumed it was because we’re more productive at night. But there are other reasons why coding at night can be beneficial. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Fewer distractions
I have found that coding into the wee hours of the night is much more effective for me because there are fewer distractions. This is probably the number one reason why I think it’s great. During the day, there are always people around and things going on that can distract you from your work. At night, everyone else is asleep, so it’s quieter, and you can concentrate better.
Increased productivity
You feel more productive. When you’re coding during the day, there’s always the pressure of having to stop at a particular time because it’s “nighttime.” But when you code at night, there’s no time limit, so you can work until you finish your project.
Flexible and Creative Thinking
You feel more creative. This one is subjective, but I find that I’m more creative at night. I think it has to do with the quietness and lack of distractions that allow me to think deeper about coding problems.
Zero Pressure
There’s no pressure from others. When coding during the day, you’re usually under a deadline of some sort or have to follow specific rules because someone else is paying for your work time. Coding is more like a hobby at night, and you can do whatever you want with it!
Tips for coding into the wee hours of the night
If you’re looking to start coding at night, here are a few tips to help you get started!
Find a coding buddy
Having a coding buddy is a great way to code at night. Not only does it make the experience more fun, but you can also work on projects together. Plus, it’s always good to have someone to bounce ideas off of when you’re stuck on a problem.
Coding buddies are great for several reasons. First, they can help you focus on the task at hand by providing moral support and keeping you on track. Second, coding buddies can help you learn new things and expand your coding knowledge. Finally, coding buddies are just fun to have around! If you’re looking for a coding buddy, try joining an online coding community or search for coding meetups in your area.
Find a quiet place to work
When working with complicated code, you can’t afford losing concentration for a second. This is why you should find a quiet place to work, where no one will disturb you. If there’s too much background noise, it can be challenging to focus on coding problems.
A great way to find a quiet place to work is by finding a spot in your house free from distractions. This could be your home office, a spare bedroom, or kitchen table. If you’re lucky, you may be able to find a spot in your house where you can work undisturbed all night long.
Another way to deal with background noise is by using noise-canceling headphones. This can help drown out the noise and allow you to concentrate.
Turn off all distractions
One way to get the most out of coding at night is by turning off all distractions. This means turning off your phone, shutting down your email, and closing any other programs that could distract you from your work.
Turn off all social media apps (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) on your computer and phone. These can be very distracting while coding. It’s best if they’re entirely out of sight, so you don’t think about checking them every few minutes!
Turn off notifications for email, text messages, phone calls, and other alerts that could go off during coding time. If you have an incoming message or call while coding, it may be hard to focus back on your work after answering the alert.
Most phones have a “Do Not Disturb” setting that you can enable, which will stop all notifications from coming through. This can be helpful if you want to focus on coding and don’t want any distractions.
Take your time
It’s essential to take your time and not rush through your work. This way, you can be more productive and avoid coding mistakes. Rushing through your work also increases the chances of becoming tired and less productive.
Don’t pressure yourself into coding faster than possible. It’s best to take your time and code carefully so that you can produce high-quality code. This will also make it easier to debug your code later on. So take things slow, relax, and enjoy coding at night!
The importance of having a coding routine
When coding at night, it’s crucial to have a coding routine. This will keep you from getting bored or burned out on coding late into the night. And always make sure you find the right time to stop coding, so you maintain a proper sleep schedule!
My coding routine consists of the following steps:
1) Establish a start and end time for coding each night
I always try to start coding at around 10 pm. This is usually when I have the most energy and don’t feel tired yet. I plan to code for a few hours, and I do my best to stop coding by 2 am to get a good night’s sleep still. That doesn’t always happen, but I try to stick to that schedule as best as possible.
There have been times when I’d work into the early hours of the morning, but it’s hard to produce stuff when you’re half asleep or even slightly tired. This is why you should set a start and end time for coding each night. This will help you stay focused and avoid coding fatigue.
2) Make sure to take breaks if you code more than an hour
I try not to code for more than an hour without taking a break. I’ll usually get up and walk around, grab a drink or something to eat, and then come back to coding. This helps me stay focused and prevents me from getting burned out on coding.
Bright computer screens can also be tiring on the eyes. To prevent eye fatigue, it’s essential to take breaks often and give your eyes a rest. One way to do this is by turning down the brightness of your computer screen. You can also adjust the brightness settings depending on the time of day. For example, you may want your screen brightness turned up during the day and turned down at night.
3) Have a goal for the night
I always have a coding goal for the night. Whether fixing a bug, adding a new feature, or cleaning up my codebase, I always have a plan in mind. Make task lists and coding goals to keep you on track while coding at night.
If you don’t set goals and coding tasks, you’ll probably end up coding aimlessly and won’t get much done. You could even end up coding all night!
4) Try not to multi-task
I work on one project at a time. This helps me stay focused and prevents me from getting overwhelmed. It also helps me stay more productive because I’m coding for a more extended period where I don’t switch between coding projects.
I start with the more mentally stimulating tasks since coding is more manageable when fresh and alert. And I save the less mentally stimulating coding tasks (like cleaning up my codebase) for later if I get tired or my coding gets interrupted.
5) Winding down
Once I’m done coding, I make sure to wind down before going to bed. This helps me sleep better and prevents coding nightmares! It also gives me time to reflect on what went well during my coding session to try those things again next time and improve my coding skills even more than ever before.
It’s important to find a coding routine that works best for you. You may want to start coding earlier in the evening or maybe later at night if that’s more your speed. If working late nights is not possible, you might consider coding in the early hours of the morning before the day’s craziness begins.
Early birds coding is a thing, and it can be just as productive as coding at night! Peaceful quiet coding time can be had early too. Whatever time works best for you, make sure it’s something that makes coding enjoyable and productive. So find what works best for you and stick to it!
Wrapping up
Night owls rejoice! Coding at night has many advantages that you may not have known about. It’s more peaceful and quiet, easier to concentrate because there are no distractions like cars passing by, and you can take your time without feeling rushed. Everyone’s asleep and can’t bother you. You feel more productive, and there is no time clock ticking away.
Coding late into the night may not be for everyone, but it’s worth trying out! It can be a great way to focus on your work and get things done quickly. You can easily concentrate on your coding projects and finish them faster with no distractions.
If you’re looking for a quiet and distraction-free environment to code in, then nighttime may be the best time for you. You may be surprised at how productive you can be. Give it a try and see for yourself! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!