This post sort of relates to the motivation one, althought motivation isn''t really that big of a problem for me in the long run. This is a question for people who are already working, or in college, I guess. The shortest way to ask is, "Is it acceptable to take breaks from programming for a while?" Although that''s sort of bad form for a question. The thing is, it''s hard to think and program constantly, and while sometimes (most of the time) I can get home from school, do my homeword, and program for like 4 or 5 hours until I go to bed, sometime I just can''t. Sometimes I just want to take a break for a few weeks and play some games once in a while. Is this gonna hurt in the long run? I guess I''m asking this more as an encouragement question, but what do you guys think? It''s not that I''m just gonna give up altogether, I don''t really have problems sticking to things and working hard, I''m getting good grades in school, and honors classes and all that crap (and I do mean crap ). What do you guys think?

I try to take a break every hour or so at the least, especially after getting a long function to work properly or a handful of utility functions to work right, etc..
get something to drink, run around the block, go large game hunting, stand up and stretch, whatever.. it''s not a good idea to sit in front of the screen for long periods of time, it''s rough on the neck and eyes among other things

I don't know what the professionals do (probably program till they pass out!) but I do much the same. If I spend a lot of time getting some code or function to work I often come home some days and don't even want to look at the screen (especially when you spend your working days with computers like I do ).

Also, I used to do a bit of level editing in Q2/Unreal - I even..almost..finished a Q2 map. I actually spent so much time working on it that I gave it away for, probably a month before I even looked at it again. It can be very tiring, or straining on your eyes and neck if you don't take breaks.

Just my thoughts.
Paulcoz.

Edited by - paulcoz on 2/24/00 12:45:49 AM

I''ve found that it works well when I program intensely for 3 hours, take a break for like 20 minutes, then program again for 3 hours, etc.
During the break time, I try to do something totally away from programming like shoot the breeze with someone or watch a little TV. It gives your mind time to unwind a bit and even gives you a chance to ponder a programming algorithm you might be trying to get working.

Yeah, I agree that taking a break is necessary every now and then. Nobody can work strait, nor is it the most productive use of time. Breaks actually help people to think better, because after they reach that point when they''re staring at the screen and nothing makes sense, or it''s so painful to try to program, no one can resonably get much more work done without taking a break. It''s not worth it either to kill yourself by forcing yourself to work. One suggestion though, try eating indian curry chicken, it always helps me to think better. It''s supposed to release endorphines or something like that.

Of course it is okay to take breaks. I mean it is my job so I can''t take several hours off to play games in the middle of the day. I usually wait until I get home at night if I want to play, but I still take breaks during the day.

You''re probably still in high school right? Don''t sweat it man! You''ve got plenty of time. Do whatever makes you happy and don''t worry too much about what effect it will have on your eventual career, whether it is in the game industry or not.

It''s actually healthy to take breaks. Usually whenever I finish a function or when I''m waiting for a compile to complete, I get up and walk around a bit. It''s also good to stare at something other than your screen when you''re thinking or compiling, it reduces eye strain and fatigue as well as headaches. Admittedly I''m not an ergonomics freak (I''m typing this leaning back in my chair with my feet up on my mini tower and one elbow on an arm rest) but you''ll find you don''t get tired as fast if you take at least a few little breaks. Sometimes you''re "in the zone" and can sit there and code for hours and hours, but if you''re not, don''t torture yourself. I get some of my best inspiration when I''m tabbed into a quick Nox capture the flag match or doing a little sewing.

-fel

I hate to sit in front of the computer for longer than 2 hours straight so I take little breaks (no longer than 5 minutes) often just to clear my head.

You have to be able to say "enough" and just turn off the computer and walk away. Sometimes I stay up way too late programming, and that''s not good. It''s better to get some sleep (remember that). The code will be there tomorrow

Reading a book is good when you want to take a longer breaks (I''m currently reading DragonLance Chronicles Book 1 - Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman right now, if you''re interested

/. Muzzafarath

quote: Original post by Qoy

Sometimes I just want to take a break for a few weeks and play some games once in a while.

I took a "break" for 3 years. I am not encouraging you to take one that long, but you will be amazed at the perspective you acquire when you do take a break every once in a while. Taking a break every now and then eliminates gradual things you don''t necessarily pick up on right away ( like technology addiction, narrow mindset for finding a solution to a problem, etc )

My projects time table has completion around November. Worked into that time table is a 2 week vacation. I have to live. You''ll burn out if all you do is program. Ofcoarse I go to college full-time, I work at the USDA as a computer assistant part-time, and I program games. I''ll die if I don''t take a break.

Domini