Why Summer Vacations--and the Internet--Really Make You More Productive

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/08/why-summer-vacations-and-the-internet-make-you-more-productive/244289/

by waxymonkeyfrog • 15 years ago

55 4 15 years ago

theatlantic.com

mberning• 15 years ago

I've often been through stretches where I feel burnt out at work, can't seem to pick up steam on a project, and end up 'wasting' a lot of time looking at my favorite websites and doing other non-work stuff. I've found that these end up being balanced by periods of very high productivity. It's like there is some sort of subconscious self correction mechanism at work. I used to fret about it, but now I just accept it as part of my work habits.

frossie• 15 years ago

You are not alone. This is such a common characteristic of productive programmers that (as a geek herder) I build "downtime" into my timelines.

waxymonkeyfrog• 15 years ago

They say the same thing about not being able to sleep. Get up, stretch, do something small and deliberate to clear your head (like drinking a glass of water), and then come back after you've self-corrected.

kristianp• 15 years ago

They don't cite any research that say vacations improve productivity, whereas breaks and 5-day work weeks appear to have actual research to back them.

Why Summer Vacations--and the Internet--Really Make You More Productive

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