Actually used to swear by overnight proofs. Tried your method last week and the crust was still great. Works way better for a weekday schedule.

Man, developing film felt like real work.

That "silly freelance mess" you described hits home. I tried cutting screens at night too and it was a disaster at first. What worked for me was setting a strict cutoff time an hour before bed, not right at sunset. I kept a notebook by my bed for those midnight ideas, but I made myself write in full sentences, not just doodles. It forced my brain to make sense of the mess before passing out. Now the notes are actually useful the next day, and I don't miss client messages because I check them right before my cutoff.