Comments on: On Finding Time for Freelance Writing Work or Why I Don’t Wake at 4:00 A.M. Anymore

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:16:14 +0000

This post brought back painful sleep-deprived memories. When my 3 children were young I also started work at 4am most days. Since I require utter silence to write, my workday was kaput by 7am when my kids awakened.

They attended a half-day nursery school three days a week–ostensibly I could have work for a few hours those days. But by the time I ferried them to and from school and perhaps ran a quick errand, I only had an hour or so leftover.

I made peace with my situation by limited the number of clients with whom I worked–and accepting I could only work part-time.

Even so, I was always tired and cranky. I remember my eyes burning constantly. One time my husband bought expensive theater tickets for our anniversary–and I nodded off soon after the curtain rose!

Today with my oldest child in college and two in high school I work full time without guilt. And I rise at the (relatively) luxurious hour of 6am.

By: LaToya Irby

LaToya Irby — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:08:12 +0000

I couldn’t get up at 4AM if my life depended on it. On the contrary, I’m just going to sleep at 4 AM some mornings, but a typical night ends at 2 AM for me. I used to be able to sleep until 10 AM, but for some reason daylight savings time has my 1-year-old getting up at 7:30 every morning. I’ve been taking naps with her to get more rest so I’m not a zombie all day long.

By: Imogen

Imogen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:48:44 +0000

I threw out the alarm clock long ago.. I sleep when I’m tired and wake when I’m rested – but I am lucky. It is just me and my teenage daughter vagabonding in Europe.

Still, it took a lot of discipline to be that lazy! I realised that not only do I want to take on all the work I can, I also love my job and could be a workaholic if I wasn’t careful. So now my deadlines revolve around my life, rather than the other way around – mostly…

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:12:06 +0000

My naps aren’t scheduled. But when I’m brain dead, it’s time for the lazy boy, unless I have something concrete scheduled.

By: T.W. Anderson

T.W. Anderson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:26:39 +0000

I get up at 7 every morning. I do some cardio and simple pushups/crunches, then I spend 30 minutes or so checking e-mails, having a yogurt, 2 cups of coffee, and settling in. I usually start work by 8 a.m. I edit articles from the previous day, and outline the day in front of me. By 10 a.m. I start into the routine, and I generally work until 2 p.m., although November has seen me working until 4 p.m. most days. Rest of the evening is for me to use as I please, and I’m in bed no later than midnight. Most nights by 11 p.m. Same routine every day.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:36:13 +0000

I’m anther late-nighter. If I could sleep in past 5 or 6:30 that would sure help. Fortunately, my kids aren’t the ones who wake me. It’s my dogs. The kids like to sleep in! I also homeschool but we don’t exactly have a solid schedule.

So I’m always tired too because I stay up late and get up early. Yes, sleep is a wonderful thing if you can get it. I know I’d work more effectively if I could sleep a bit more.

By: Kim

Kim — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:36:17 +0000

I’m with you James. I often write late at night, after my daughter has gone to bed. I can get carried away with this too though, and then have a great deal of trouble getting up in the morning. Even when I do stop writing at a decent time I often can’t relax and get out of ‘working mode’; I just keep running through projects in my mind.

I think either way it’s a struggle!

By: Genesis

Genesis — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:34:29 +0000

I can’t get up that early and be productive! My kids are usually up at 5 am, though, but usually my hubby will get up with them (if he’s home). Instead, I work late at night, as well as during the day. Like others here, I have a problem with not getting enough sleep because I stay up too late. If I can, I’ll nap in the afternoon with my youngest, but most of the time that’s not a possibility, so I’ll end up running on 3-5 hours of sleep. Not good!

By: James NomadRip

James NomadRip — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:11:44 +0000

I have the opposite situation also. I work late while everyone has gone to sleep, then get up with them in the morning. But I have to pay attention to the time, as I will stay up far later than I should if I’m in a zone.

By: Dave Doolin

Dave Doolin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:40:40 +0000

Anybody doing what it takes to actually succeed gets socially savaged by everyone around them… until they succeed. Then it’s “You’re so lucky!”

I’ve lost almost all my salaried friends now, and building new friendships with more entrepreneurial-minded people.

By: LIsa

LIsa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:29:02 +0000

I don’t. I’m at my computer by 6:45 a.m., but that gives me only about 45 minutes before it’s time to start getting the kids up and moving. I have “work time” in the morning, but between DH, homeschooled son (sometimes my responsibility) and the laundry… then I get a couple hours late afternoon (though need to start supper); then by 9:30 I’m pooped. I’m asleep by 10:30, in time to get up around 6 and start again.

Maybe I really should aim for 5.

I’m permanently behind.

By: SatuR

SatuR — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:49:58 +0000

This post reminds me of when I was living in India studying yoga, and was getting up before 4 am every morning to go to my yoga class. I had to go to bed at 9pm! Now I’m back in the West and happily sleep until 9 am. I think I’m catching up on all that missed sleep. One thing I’ve noticed is I write a lot better when I get enough sleep. On the other hand the morning is the best time for me to write, so I’m aiming for 6.30 or 7 am now. Sleep is so important.

By: dava

dava — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:37:29 +0000

I wrote an article about the links between sleep and good health a few months ago, and the research is amazing. Lack of sleep is related to diabetes, metabolism, and has even been shown to be as dangerous when driving as alcohol.

I have the opposite problem than you, though: I stay up too late working and feel exhausted the next day. Thanks for the post. This isn’t an often-addressed topic.