If you're writing code, working full 8 hours a day without unwinding time is completly and utterly utopic. Reasonable project estimates factor this in.

@Magisch it's true that a large chunk of the things I do include writing code. I understand that it's unlikely for me to always be able to work on it. But what would be an acceptable activity to be doing while I'm not coding?

Well, I can't speak for all coders obviously, and im still an apprentice, but I spend at least as much time learning, debugging, testing and doing other stuff then I do actually code

"On occasional I'll browse the internet for random interesting topics to unwind myself so I can get back to work a few hours later." - Normally when you unwind you take a break for several minutes (5-15), but not hours. If you're not doing this maybe you're burning yourself out.

Most of the people viewing this question now are probably at work and "unwinding/on break"

If programmers could work non stop for 8 hours, SE network would have almost no answers ;)

A few hours break a day would be thought unacceptable in most workplaces. I'm not a developer though.

@DavidGrinberg How did you know!? On a side note, as long as the end product is what is requested and is completed within a reasonable period I don't see a problem with what you do to complete it.

Happens to me too. It's just a matter of motivation. If you have goals, you work hard. At least that works for me.

@DavidGrinberg Shhhhh. No need for them to know.....

"I'd say in any given week I do about 15 minutes of actual work." - Peter Gibbons. And he got promoted!

You're getting all your work done, on time , ahead of schedule, and high quality, and you're spending your downtime on SE asking people how to be more productive? Your bosses are blessed to have you.

I cannot even begin to explain how normal this is.

Normal: Yes, though multi-hour breaks are probably not quite as normal unless someone really has a light load. Allowed / understood by your employer: Depends on the employer. Almost definitely NOT if they are multi-hour breaks.

@Kilisi It's actually not unheard of when it comes to coders. It's almost like composing music (Yes, I do that too) you get stuck and staring at the work gets you nowhere. You need to break it off until inspiration comes to you.

Completely normal for me, too. Only thing I would suggest that instead of taking breaks by looking at different stuff online, you try to get up and move around, maybe even exercise a bit.

nothing special about programming, no idea why people think there is, engineering takes just as much concentration at times, design, crafting, lots of thing... if a programmer of mine was taking breaks like that, I'd send him to 'compose' his masterpiece on the sidewalk

@RichardU Fair enough, once in a while you hit something complex and it stumps you, but that's not all the time (hopefully), I've nothing against breaks, it's several hour breaks I wouldn't tolerate. I take breaks when stumped, but I got plenty of work, I go do something else constructive for a while. In real complex problems, if my people see me out the back sweeping the carpark, they know to leave me alone.

@Kilisi You would likely find yourself firing most of your staff then. Multiple hours in a row might be a be much if there is a clear pattern of avoiding work or failing to meet deadlines, if they meet deadlines and get work done though you should have no reason to complain. Forcing a coder to stare at code for 8hours without breaks would likely lead to them producing low quality work.

@Jacobr365 been in business well over a decade, haven't had to fire anyone for that yet... maybe a different work ethic over here?

@Kilisi I am with you on being against employees staring at cat videos for multiple hours a day regardless of their position. I am for take small breaks to refresh your brain throughout the day though. From your post just above mine it sounded like you were against breaks in general and I did not see your clarification in your response to Richard until after hitting post.

@Kilisi Do you heavily monitor the minute to minute productivity of your staff? They might be taking more / longer breaks than you realize.

@DavidGrinberg I don't know about you or anyone else on SE, but I routinely use SE network sites to "test the Internet". You know, you gotta make sure it's still working right and all. Say, five to ten times a day is a good policy. I mean it's a best practice, really.

@Kilisi Would you fire a programmer who was performing above average for taking too many breaks? You remove people for failing to perform, not for the ways in which they achieve acceptable levels of performance.

It's hard. That's why not everyone is a programmer and they get paid so much. If you want to force yourself to work non-stop, try sipping 5 Hour Energy when you yawn. I've done 12-16 hours before, but it's not recommended constantly. One boss didn't believe me (remote work), but I sent them a photo of my 'stash' (matcha, dark chocolate, 5Hr Energy, etc.) In your case, if your boss is happy, that's all that matters. Also check out the Pomodoro method (5m break each hour).

Often, workers have a ready-made supply of "2-hour unproductive breaks from work" provided by their managers. They are called "meetings". As an intern, you may have been fortunate enough to avoid them! One way to overcome the "can't get started" situation is to divide your work into different sub-tasks that use different skills. That way, there will usually by something that you need to do that is necessary work, but isn't very intellectually challenging. If your brain needs a rest, switch to one of those "mindless" tasks. When that bores you, switch back to something more challenging.