You do something as an amateur simply because you love to do it. I decided to become the best amateur runner that I could be, not the fastest or the most athletic. This attitude also does away with that nagging voice in your head that often tells you that you can't do something that you've never done before. If you believe that you are an amateur, that gives you reason to try anything. If you're tired, take a nap.
Coffee is fine, but sleep is finer.
Definitely try to do this a home. However, if you really need it, a very creative friend of mine uses his lunch hour to take a nap in his car. Don't believe the fallacy that if you get up earlier and stay up later, you'll be able to get everything done. You may, but you may also just take longer to do the same tasks. There are some days that it has taken me all day to do nothing.