No Work-Life Balance
I see work as part of my life, so I don’t follow any trendy ideas about separating the two. I don’t mind thinking about work while I’m training or brushing my teeth.
At the same time, my productivity depends directly on how clear and fresh my mind is. So instead of just putting in hours, I try to organize my life and routine in a way that lets me approach work focused and prepared.
Daily Schedule
Over the years, I’ve found a daily rhythm that works well for me — with two main periods of deep, focused work: in the morning and after a mid-day rest.
My day is usually split into two parts. The first part starts after breakfast with about two hours of focused work, including short breaks for stretching or light training.
Then I have lunch, go for a walk, and take a 25-minute nap. After that comes the second work session, which lasts between 1–2 hours, depending on the type of tasks.
This is focused work — mostly writing code. On top of that, I might add about an hour of lighter tasks like reading, replying to emails or messages, and learning something new.
I generally follow the ideas from the Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule article — scheduling meetings or calls at the edges of the day so they don’t break my flow.
Weekly Schedule
In total, I work 6 days a week. Five of those are focused on client projects — programming and team management. The sixth day is reserved for my own side projects, where I can explore ideas more freely and try out new tools or concepts.
I take one full day off each week for rest and recovery. That day usually involves activities like table tennis tournaments, hiking, or spending time with my family.