I achieve exceptional mental clarity by getting my sleep under control. I know I got everythign right if I wake up the exact moment the light from sunrise hits my window and feel fully rested. For the next 2-3 hours I can absorb twice the usual complexity with little effort.
I feel the same way. If I get the exact right combination of sleep, food, caffeine, and interesting work, my productivity is easily 100x that of a normal day.
I wish every day was like that, but the reality of the world (deadlines, distractions like HN) means that it only happens a few times a month.
Yes! Getting enough sleep is the #1 productivity enhancer, IMHO. All of the other tips and techniques are smaller terms in the equation.
The insidious thing about sleep deprivation is that people can be measurably more stupid, yet feel like "oh I'm just a bit tired -- I'll have a coffee".
My performance actually deteriorates if I stay in bed past certain threshold (>9 hours). I think it's not the quantity, it's a whole host of things that need to be finely tuned.
