A tech professional recently found himself at the centre of a heated discussion on X after attempting to portray late-night work as an ideal productivity window. Kartikey Verma shared a post explaining that the hours between 2 am and 6 am offer unmatched quiet. He suggested that the deep silence of those early hours helps him focus intensely without family interruptions, phone notifications, or everyday distractions.

To reinforce his point, he uploaded a monochrome photograph showing himself seated before his laptop, wearing a serious and contemplative expression. His post quickly gathered traction, collecting thousands of likes, yet it also sparked a wave of strong reactions. While a section of users felt that late-night working sessions help them find clarity, a larger group warned him about the consequences of reversing natural sleep cycles.

Several individuals replied with personal experiences, explaining that experimenting with overnight work patterns had severely impacted their emotional balance and physical well-being. One user shared that a single week of this lifestyle completely disrupted their mental and bodily health and that maintaining daytime work hours ultimately proved far more sustainable. Another commenter argued that although dedication is admirable, giving up proper sleep often reduces both output and work quality.

More responses poured in from users cautioning that such routines can silently damage long-term health. They insisted that sleep deprivation may appear harmless at first but often leads to serious issues later in life. One person recounted how their own month-long attempt at minimal sleep pushed them to the brink, triggering hallucinations and leaving them unable to perform basic tasks. They emphasised that lack of rest gradually clouds judgement, harms cognitive abilities, and exhausts the mind.

Although Kartikey’s intention may have been to celebrate uninterrupted focus, his post unknowingly triggered a broader reflection on the culture of overwork within the tech world. The overwhelming takeaway from the discussion was that disciplined rest is essential, and sacrificing sleep in the name of productivity ultimately undermines both health and performance.

Kartikey currently worked as founding engineer at an ecommerce startup called Sendit Zone.