5 Signals You Desperately Need a Programming Break

Programming is a real good time. Solving puzzles, and breaking things (then fixing them) can be a source of an adrenaline rush.

There are times when you are hitting the keyboard a little too hard and a little too often.

Here are 5 tell-tale signs that you should log out of Slack, close the laptop and recharge.

The Caffeine Compiler

Your coffee consumption has increased so dramatically that your bloodstream might now be considered a hazardous material site.

You have a headache every morning and start to get the shakes if you miss your caffeine fix in the morning.

If you need 3 coffees simply to function in the morning it might be time to take a weekend off both caffeine and coding.

Photo by Hannah Wei @herlifeinpixels o Unsplash

Semicolon Syndrome

You start to find trivial mistakes in everything, not just programming. You read the label on your shampoo and find that there are grammar mistakes. You see someone driving and they don’t use their indicator, and it enrages you.

You begin to insist that semicolons should be at the end of every sentence. You contact your bank about “standards” when you realize that they are using full stops.

This starts to trouble you at night, in your dreams. I’ve certainly been there. You start to dream about programming, and it’s boring. Then you need to face the day, which is also simply boring programming.

Agile Present

When given anything to do you think that it is a ticket. You demand full requirements before you start anything, including making lunch.

This policy starts to have a negative impact on most of your relationships, as people say that you’re unreasonable. The most impacted relationship is that with your partner.

Who am I kidding? None of us have a partner.

Photo by Everton Vila @evertonvila on Unpslash

You Think Git Commands Function in Life

You forget your card at the supermarket. Your first thought is git commit --amend, and you try to type it in the air.

People doubt your sanity, and you try a rollback.

It all doesn’t work, and this comes to a head when you claim everyone should know how you are doing because distributed.

Photo by Steve Johnson @steve_j on Unsplash

You Think Software Engineering Jokes Are Funny

On the bus you tell the driver to “do a Dijkstra” and find a shorter path to your apartment. They reply by telling you the route is set, but you’re welcome to leave the bus at the next stop.

You say something about “null pointer exception” and the bus driver takes this as a threat, and physically removes you at the next stop. Your Dvorak keyboard gets scratched in the process, causing you to cry.

Everyone on the bus is concerned about your wellbeing, and you walk the rest of the journey home in the rain.

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T @socialcut on Unsplash

Conclusion

Whether you’re a 10x developer or a 1x developer, taking a break occasionally will help your productivity.

Seriously, overstressed and overworked developers make bad decisions. Give yourself a break and give yourself the best opportunity to make a difference in your job.