If herbs don’t work to cure your insomnia and you can’t convince yourself to get up and work, your PC might be the next best solution to sleeplessness. (No, we’re not talking about in-depth financial news reporting.) More »
We tend to apply ergonomics as it relates to our waking activities. But utilizing the right sleep posture is just as important as having the right PC posture, especially if you want to enjoy a pain-free morning and day. More »
Insomniac and coder Chad Perrin says that hackers who stay up all night coding can get more done in those hours than most people can in a month because an all-nighter lends itself to getting into “hack mode,” or the state of flow. The Jargon Wiki defines hack mode as: A Zen-like state of total focus on The Problem that may be achieved when one is hacking (this is why every good hacker is part mystic).
Perrin says that insomniac coders kick into hack mode because there’s no one else around to distract them and they have to stay quiet (and avoid the television) so not to disturb others sleeping. He also says the surreal perspective one gets at sunrise after a whole night awake encourages “crazy,” creative thoughts and new ideas to emerge. Insomnia can really suck, but if you have to be awake all night, knocking something out in hack mode seems like the best way to do it. Insomnia and productivity [Chad Perrin via Internet Duct Tape]
The New York Times’ Well blog points out that behavioral modifications worked faster and better than sleeping drugs when it came to beating insomnia, according to numerous medical studies. Many of the reinforcements mentioned—exercise, shutting off the TV/computer and regular wake times in particular—have been covered here before, but the article points out one meta-strategy: Don’t try too hard to fall asleep, and turn the clock around so you can’t see it. Watching time pass is one of the worst things to do when you’re trying to fall asleep.
Those looking for more insomnia-busting tips could try contributor Ryan Irelan’s “Blue Energy” technique or check out 12 strategies for getting to sleep. Ever had a bout with insomnia, or find yourself fighting it now? Feel free to share your experiences and victory stories in the comments. Photo by littledan77. Thanks, Jay!
Curing Insomnia Without the Pills [NYT Well blog]
