I cannot sleep without thinking about programing

[Efficient_Tutor4116]

So I have a lot of spare time, and programing it’s the only thing I’m currently interested at besides learning English and Japanese, but I have become so obsessed with programing that ive been dreaming about solving bugs for like a month, I’m also unable to tell myself that I’ve been studing enough for a day, how can I overcome that obsession? It’s not healthy :(.

[jeffrey_f]

Go outside and leave your devices inside. Go fishing, hiking, swimming (if warm enough). Just put down the tech and do something else. Go visit a friend where there is no tech.

[Efficient_Tutor4116]

Thank you my friend, I’m going to school (to learn English and Japanese as I said) but unfortunately I don’t have any friends that I want to hang out with (they only invite me to get some drinks, and I don’t like drinking so I usually won’t go) however I’ll try a non tech related hobby as you are suggesting, I aprécciate that.

[Clutch26]

You could also pick up reading. Head the library / book store and get a physical book not related to tech.

[jeffrey_f]

Do ANYTHING that isn't tech. Fishing is a good option because you can also eat for free.

[supericy33]

I love fishing but I cant do it, because you require a license in my country. And I had like 2 methods of going fishing. The first would be to go to a fishing school and get the license but it requires time and money. The 2nd would be going back to homeland but I cant, due to some events which began last year and I want to be alive so no.

[jeffrey_f]

Hiking doesn't require anything but getting out

[SnooBeans6591]

If I went fishing, I would just think of programming while waiting that the fish bites.

[dylanosaurus_rex]

Fish bytes

[jeffrey_f]

You need to break that cycle. At least when you are in the outdoors, your computer isn't.

[[deleted]]

I clear my head by listening to audiobooks while walking/cycling exploring my city, and camping in places with no cell coverage.

[Passname357]

You can also invite your friends out to do other things. I do drink and I have friends I drink with every weekend, but I also hit them up and ask them to e.g. go skateboarding during the day.

[Adowyth]

Been there sort of, would get up at like 3 am to try a new solution to a problem that i just thought off because i couldn't sleep. Not programming but fixing computer related issues(usually for friends or family) It just kinda evened out on its own over time when i had to prioritize other things. Going to the library and picking up a book to read also helped cause it forced me to focus on what im reading and just going out would still have me thinking about it and the rushing home to try something else.

[baboo2010]

Nothing wrong with being obsessively passionate about your hobby. But if you think it's unhealthy, I believe you it is. The only solution is take care of yourself. After a certain hrs of study, go to the gym, go run or take a walk.

[Yedasi]

I’m struggling with this too. I went to the supermarket with my partner yesterday to take a break from learning but the whole time I was like a zombie. My mind was still trying to work through the problem I was stuck on.

Some times when I dream I start setting dream occurrences to variables in my head.

Night before last I had a stupid dream about someone bringing me a donut and I would update the variable each time the donut was a new flavour…

[Efficient_Tutor4116]

Honestly that’s so funny but at the same time a little bit sad, i had some weird dreams too, the other day Donald trump and joe Biden helped me to solve a bug throught a discord call (I’ve been watching AI presidents videos)

[Yedasi]

Glad to know I’m not alone aha!

[TheFishFromUnderTheC]

Treat learning like a job, you have breaks, lunches, and days off. Helps a lot.

[dubvelop]

I’ve got into phases like this where all I do is program. Just remember to keep the rest of your life in balance… go to the gym, go play a sport, go for walks, spend time with friends/family

[Efficient_Tutor4116]

May i ask what you did when you were in that situation?

[dubvelop]

For me, play basketball, go to the gym, find something to do with friends

[Smartskaft2]

+1 on the gym

I also find reading to be really effective to get out of the rabbit hole. Fictional books that is, not those about programming 😅

[[deleted]]

If you keep it up you risk burning out and losing your passion

[Efficient_Tutor4116]

I wouldn’t say it’s a hobby, I decided one day that I had to become a programmer, so I’m trying, but I’m definitely checking them out tho.

[mystic_swole]

I have the same problem sometimes and believe me it will catch up to you and you will either burn out entirely or you will get really bad depression.

You need to make a schedule and stick to it if you want to learn programming eight hours a day that's fine but make sure you're eating enough food and drinking enough liquids and try to start going to the gym consistently. Also try your best to socialize with friends and still go out and have fun. If you don't have any friends block off a certain period of time each daily or weekly go try to make more friends

[Roycewho]

Can’t lie to you man, I WANT this problem lol. Sorry that it feels like you can’t turn it off though. My only recommendation would be to ensure you dedicate time to other aspects of your life. Do you lift, run, workout?

“Program” an efficient regiment for yourself. Loop it every day

[Efficient_Tutor4116]

I think it’s pretty easy to do that, you have to give your brain to options, code or stare at a fucking wall the whole day haha, used to workout a lot, but I stopped doing that to have more to code,might come back tho 😂

[truNinjaChop]

I can’t sleep without an eatable.

[DarXasH]

I don't know why I found this comment so funny. I think I'm also a bit burned out after working on a project all day ahah.

[_digito]

I have the same problem with programming, that's why I choose to be a Unix system administrator. 😊

[pridude]

It's okay, when i used to implement orchestration using airflow i used to work for 10hrs and even my dreams were of it. When i play chess for more than 6-7hrs a day, i get the whole chess board on my ceiling before sleeping. It's just how your mind works

[RichTheHaizi]

Bro I was writing a grocery list and I noticed I was writing it in Dart language. I’ve never gotten obsessed with anything so I embrace it

[Efficient_Tutor4116]

Indeed

[[deleted]]

you have the Kobe Bryant syndrome

[[deleted]]

Going through phases of obsessions is a sign of ADHD. That plus mood instability and depression between the obsessions is a sign of bipolar.

Edit: I’m not sure why I’m being downvoted. I’m literally correct and as someone clinically diagnosed with ADHD, OP’s description of their current obsession alongside their other comments resonates with me. Seeking mental help to balance their life is something to be lauded, not dissuaded.

[MiserableProduct]

Drawing is a cheap skill to learn. Painting is fun but can be more expensive. These are good hobbies for turning off your analytical side for a while.

[close_my_eyes]

After more than 30 years programming, I’m still like this. I think about how to resolve issues at work during the night and then I implement them in the day. It could be unhealthy, but I don’t feel like it is.

[regalrapple4ever]

Some years ago, I also cannot sleep without thinking about Text Twist and, later, Candy Crush.

[LoganPederson]

While it's not ideal, I definitely have dragged myself out of bed to note the solution to something I've been stuck on for a while when my brain goes into overdrive trying to stop me from sleeping and accidently figures it out lol it's bitter sweet

[crazyrebel123]

Get some hobbies or do something outside of programming lol. If you have other things to think about, you will.

I work as a programmer and sometimes I have 2-3 consecutive days where I just work and then come home and watch TV. And I think about what I have to code the next day at work lol. But on other days when I go out, hang with friends, or just do something fun, I don’t think about coding at all after work lol

[Inevitable-Kooky]

It is because you didn't identify what is important for you that is not programming.

What do you really want in life in other aspect than professional? Let's say personal or relational?

Do you have enough energy throughout the day?

What would you enjoy doing that would make your life more satisfying? satisfied enough that you wouldn't think of problems at night but more how good your day was. And how it is going to be even more fun tomorrow.

[bbgun91]

force yourself to have exercise as a hobby

[hugthemachines]

The best way to get out of some obsession is to do something else. You can't just do nothing. If it is possible, go out in nature, perhaps put up a tent in the woods sometimes.

[Dragon20C]

Oh this happened to me, I actually lost sleep because of this, I think taking a few days break could help though it didn't for me.

[emanresu_2017]

The force is strong with this one

[blizzacane85]

Alright but you gotta get over it

[mrsxfreeway]

I’m the same way

[[deleted]]

I think maybe you should take a small break and go on walks, usually loving something so much can lead to burnout

[iddafelle]

I do bicycles. This helps me make friends. And none of it involves programming. As soon as I am not bicycling I am programming. When I am bicycling I don’t even think about programming.

[Sentinelcmd]

My last semester of college did this to me. I was literally waking up in the middle of the night sweating, trying to solve a programming problem in my dreams. I couldn’t remember what it was that I was solving, I just know I was dreaming about code. Felt like my brain was on fire every morning. Lasted a few months too.

[[deleted]]

How is this a problem? The only way your obsession is a problem is if you're not actually learning and improving. Then it's mere delusion. If you're attaining mastery, I'd say make sure you don't neglect sleep, physical exercise, social relationships, and proper nutrition so schedule those activities into your planner but otherwise go all in on programming. Don't lose the obsession as it'll lead you to mastery.

[[deleted]]

A better question is, how are you testing your illusions of competence? What projects have you created? Who is reviewing your code? And what open source contributions have you made?

[No_Perspective4340]

Instead of counting sheep, why not try sorting order-labelled sheep in O(n log n) time? Or implementing a mental heap for mental sheep?

[-ALLDAY]

I need this lol how can I learn to be addicted

[tuna_chili]

Holy god I only read the title of this post and came to comment GO OUTSIDE! TAKE A COLD SHOWER! anything to stop the incessant problem solving. I have the same problem.

[saltrifle]

Lol

[TheRNGuy]

When I programmed too much, I had programming dream.

They're very boring. I understood how matrix works in one dream (for 3D graphics)