Now that I'm in my thirties, I have to be more careful about what I do to make sure I stay healthy and productive. Today, I would like to give you a few tips that have helped me stay productive, even when under stress or with a lot on my plate. After reading this article, I'm sure you can appreciate the title of this post.
Drink Coffee and Energy Drinks
Coffee and energy drinks are commonplace in development shops. Many people need to have that first cup of coffee before they can get any meaningful work done. Once the caffeine of that first shot of espresso kicks in, they are ready to start their day.
I have a love-hate relationship with coffee. Don't get me wrong. I adore coffee. I love the taste and the smell in the morning. The caffeine also gives a pleasant kick if I need that extra bit of energy.
The problem is that the majority of people that regularly consume caffeine slowly start to rely on it. Did you know that caffein is a drug? A few months ago, I heard about a group of researchers that studied the effects of caffeine on people. The results were surprising and reflected exactly how I respond to frequent use of caffeine. And I know that I'm not alone.
After several weeks of drinking coffee or energy drinks, the effect of the caffeine wears off. When that happens, you need a dose of caffeine just to function normally. If you don't, you feel tired and drowsy. That is why many of us need that first cup of coffee in the morning to get the day started.
I have quit coffee dozens of times and I currently don't drink coffee on a regular basis. Even though I enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning, the benefits of quitting coffee are very nice. And to me the benefits outweigh the pleasure of drinking coffee. I have more energy and I sleep much, much better.
Did you know that consuming too much caffeine is counterproductive? That first cup of coffee may help you gain more focus. But the second and third cup have the opposite effect. Your brain is so high on caffein that it has difficulty concentrating.
Sleep As Little As Possible
When I was in my twenties, I occasionally burnt the midnight oil to finish an important task or simply because I was excited about the project I was working on. Some people cope well with sleeping very little. My body doesn't.
Most people need roughly eight hours of sleep. When you are young, sleeping less doesn't impact you as much. But nobody is invincible. After a while, you start to become less productive throughout the day, you make mistakes, and you just don't feel great. Feeling sleepy all day isn't a nice feeling.
Looking back, I never found it worthwhile working more by sacrificing sleep. It may sometimes be necessary if you need to meet a deadline, but you pay the price at some point.
Instead of working through the night, I get a good night's sleep and wak up early. That's how I perform best. Waking up early can be difficult at first, but it's a great feeling to have a lot of work done before lunch.
Don't Take Breaks
If you work at a large company, you probably sit at your desk most of the day, occasionally getting up for a drink or visiting the bathroom. Studies have shown that sitting too much can kill you and you can take that quite literally. It is much worse than many researchers imagined.
Taking a break every hour really pays off. It helps you regain focus and it benefits your health. Whenever I work from home, I take short walks several times a day. A breath of fresh air can do wonders and it helps to clear my mind.
In a large office in the middle of the city, this isn't trivial. But you can still leave your desk and take a short walk through the office to get the blood in your body flowing again.
Staying Productive Means Staying Healthy
As a developer, it is easy to lead an unhealthy lifestyle. When you are young, you don't notice this because ... well ... you are young. Your body feels indestructible. But there is more to life than work and blaming work for your unhealthy lifestyle serves no one.
There are several things you can try to stay healthy, such as eating more healthily, cutting back on caffeine, and taking short breaks several times a day.
Using a standing desk for a few hours a day can also dramatically improve your health. Making a change doesn't always have to be radical. Start small and be consistent. That goes a long way.
