| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Have you ever fallen asleep while translating? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | Thayenga 
Germany
Local time: 20:09
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Well, I didn't actually fall asleep, but was just a blink away from doing it during a 19 K translation with a very tight delivery date. So I took a 2-hours' nap and...delivered on time.
| | | | Isabelle F. BRUCHER (X)
Belgium
Local time: 20:09
English to French
+ ...
Thayenga wrote:
Well, I didn't actually fall asleep, but was just a blink away from doing it (...). So I took a 2-hours' nap (...)
Same for me, many times.
I suppose most translators work at home, thus a few steps away from their beds. So I can't imagine them not feeling sleep coming, and actually falling asleep (& falling) over their keyboards... At least that's the image that comes to my mind when I read "FALLEN asleep WHILE translating"...
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 03:09
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| Not during... | Apr 1, 2012 |
...but while I was taking a quick early morning nap.
I was working on an old Mac Plus. If you remember these keyboards they didn't have all the bells and whistles (e.g. function keys, Alt, Ctrl, etc.) on them like keyboards for 9800 PCs and other Windows machines used to have. All the letters were close to the outer edge of the keyboard.
I woke up to the familiar pinging noise you used to get on the old Plus's to find about 30 pages worth of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's en... See more ...but while I was taking a quick early morning nap.
I was working on an old Mac Plus. If you remember these keyboards they didn't have all the bells and whistles (e.g. function keys, Alt, Ctrl, etc.) on them like keyboards for 9800 PCs and other Windows machines used to have. All the letters were close to the outer edge of the keyboard.
I woke up to the familiar pinging noise you used to get on the old Plus's to find about 30 pages worth of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's entered in the file I was working on.
I'd slumped over my desk and fallen asleep with my nose on the Z key which was right at the botton lefthand corner. 
True story
Happy napping! ▲ Collapse
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 20:09
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Julian Holmes wrote: ...but while I was taking a quick early morning nap. I was working on an old Mac Plus. If you remember these keyboards they didn't have all the bells and whistles (e.g. function keys, Alt, Ctrl, etc.) on them like keyboards for 9800 PCs and other Windows machines used to have. All the letters were close to the outer edge of the keyboard. I woke up to the familiar pinging noise you used to get on the old Plus's to find about 30 pages worth of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's entered in the file I was working on. I'd slumped over my desk and fallen asleep with my nose on the Z key which was right at the botton lefthand corner. True story Happy napping!
Thanks, Julian, for this believable and funny "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" story.
And... happy snoring. 
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I've never ever fallen asleep on the job! A good cup of espresso coffee keeps me wide awake and... I try to avoid biting off more than I can chew. What a funny story, Julian!
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 20:09
Spanish to English
+ ...
I can't imagine it ever happening unless I were ill or something. In a worst case scenario I would consider using stimulants such as extra strong coffee, energy drinks, antihistamines or similar, although I find this type of artificial "energising" uncomfortable and it would be a last resort.
I rarely find translation boring, no matter what the content is, because I enjoy the process. My main problem is with people and their hurries.
| | | | | Antihistamines? | Apr 1, 2012 |
neilmac wrote:
In a worst case scenario I would consider using stimulants such as extra strong coffee, energy drinks, antihistamines or similar, although I find this type of artificial "energising" uncomfortable and it would be a last resort.
Antihistamines have actually the exact opposite effect on me! They make me feel sleepy and lethargic...
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although once, when I had a cold. I had a small job I'd been finishing when I got sick and I was working on it, when i just couldn't keep my head upright anymore! I conked out for a while and finished the job later. I decided to take the next couple of days off. I usually do that if I have a bad cold because it's hard to concentrate. Hey, I work on my own, I can take a couple of days off and just tell clients I'm not available!
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Thayenga wrote: Julian Holmes wrote: ...but while I was taking a quick early morning nap. I was working on an old Mac Plus. If you remember these keyboards they didn't have all the bells and whistles (e.g. function keys, Alt, Ctrl, etc.) on them like keyboards for 9800 PCs and other Windows machines used to have. All the letters were close to the outer edge of the keyboard. I woke up to the familiar pinging noise you used to get on the old Plus's to find about 30 pages worth of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's entered in the file I was working on. I'd slumped over my desk and fallen asleep with my nose on the Z key which was right at the botton lefthand corner. True story Happy napping! Thanks, Julian, for this believable and funny "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" story. And... happy snoring.
Proz is just like home. These forums are such a delight!
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 20:09
French to English
| the other way round | Apr 1, 2012 |
I've never fallen asleep translating, because I make a point of listening closely to the signals my body sends me about being tired or hungry. On the other hand, I've often woken in the middle of the night excited at finding the right word !
I always try very hard to get minimum 24 hrs for my deadlines, even when "just" a few lines. It's amazing how words have come closer to the surface during the night and are just there waiting to be plucked from my memory to turn my dodgy draft i... See more I've never fallen asleep translating, because I make a point of listening closely to the signals my body sends me about being tired or hungry. On the other hand, I've often woken in the middle of the night excited at finding the right word !
I always try very hard to get minimum 24 hrs for my deadlines, even when "just" a few lines. It's amazing how words have come closer to the surface during the night and are just there waiting to be plucked from my memory to turn my dodgy draft into a text that reads smoothly and puts the author's message across neatly. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Phil Hand
China
Local time: 02:09
Chinese to English
| When I was starting out | Apr 1, 2012 |
I got lower rates than I get now, and I often did 80 hour weeks, plus spending time with my boy. When the deadlines were tight, I would work round the clock two or three days in a row, just taking the odd couple of hour naps. I'd start hallucinating with tiredness, and often just drift off. It's funny, but when I'm really tired, coffee puts me to sleep rather than keeps me going. It only works as a stimulant when I'm rested.
I manage things a bit better now, but I still work long lo... See more I got lower rates than I get now, and I often did 80 hour weeks, plus spending time with my boy. When the deadlines were tight, I would work round the clock two or three days in a row, just taking the odd couple of hour naps. I'd start hallucinating with tiredness, and often just drift off. It's funny, but when I'm really tired, coffee puts me to sleep rather than keeps me going. It only works as a stimulant when I'm rested.
I manage things a bit better now, but I still work long long hours :/ ▲ Collapse
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Vesna Maširević
Serbia
Local time: 20:09
Member (2011)
English to Serbian
+ ...
but I am about to!
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 03:09
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| O-yasumi-nasai! | Apr 1, 2012 |
Vesna Maširević wrote: but I am about to!
If you slump over the keyboard, try not to hit the Z key with your nose.
Sweet dreamzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 12:09
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam
If I feel a bit sleepy, I'll just lay back and let it happen, then awaken a while later and continue working. I don't have any boss to chastise me for sleeping on the job.
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