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Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#11

Post by mjmj »

I work from home which gives me about 30-60 mins extra compared to those that commute. Often I’ll work a bit in the morning. Then at night once my 7mo old goes to bed I work for another 1-2 hours before sleeping. I leave all my editor and terminal windows open so I can quickly switch back to my side project as needed during lunch or while other software is building or off the clock.

I always make sure to workout, sleep plenty and eat right which tremendously helps my mental fatigue. Also I quit my high stress job and work for a company with much more relaxed work environment so my daytime work is fun and doesn’t burn me out.

But I agree, it’s not easy balancing life, family, passions, future aspirations. It’s like a wheel you’re trying to keep balanced and round and things will always give and take.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#12

Post by hackermailman »

nicksalt wrote: post #6

I've always found huge success in the mornings and huge flops in the evenings.

Morning side-project hacking here too, even though I'm not a morning person. 5am your brain is fresh from sleep, there is no social obligations, no phone calls to answer, and you have a time limit for motivation so often plan your projects better.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#13

Post by itamarst »

Why do you want to work on a side-project?

1. If it's to learn more, I would instead suggest focusing on learning on the job. It's more realistic, you can get more resources, etc.. E.g. I've found learning new programming languages much easier at work than in my spare time: https://codewithoutrules.com/2017/09/09/learn-a-new-programm...

2. If you want to create a side business, I've done some combination of working half an hour each morning and increasing my personal time by negotiating a part-time job. An interview with someone who has negotiated shorter workweek at many companies: https://codewithoutrules.com/2018/01/08/part-time-programmer...

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#14

Post by mrdependable »

Sheer force of will. After working at a computer all day, sitting at a computer and working late into the night is the last thing I want to do. Thinking of the alternative, which is spending my life working for someone else, is my main motivator. I can't see myself doing that forever, and I know things won't change unless I put in the work. So I do my day job from 9 - 5, hang out with the family from 6 - 9, then work until 2am.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#15

Post by itamarst »

mrdependable wrote: post #14

Sheer force of will. After working at a computer all day, sitting at a computer and working late into the night is the last thing I want to do. Thinking of the alternative, which is spending my life working for someone else, is my main motivator. I can't see myself doing that forever, and I know things won't change unless I put in the work. So I do my day job from 9 - 5, hang out with the family from 6 - 9, then work…

As I mentioned in another comment, you can negotiate a shorter workweek. I've done it, others have as well - see link in my other comment.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#16

Post by potta_coffee »

My strategy is just to push myself to get _something_ done, even when I don't want to. So, the other night I wrote an SQL query. It was probably 20 mins of work, but it brought me closer to finishing the project. Other days, I'll end up "feeling it" and putting in several hours on a project. So, small increments plus the occasional big push.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#18

Post by kwhitefoot »

hanselot wrote: post #3

I don't, I would also like to know. I get home, feel like satan drained my soul all day and sedate myself to continue the vicious cycle the next day.

Sounds like you are in the wrong job or the wrong company. If the day is that bad every day you need to consider moving.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#19

Post by anon8794578 »

kwhitefoot wrote: post #18
hanselot wrote: post #3

I don't, I would also like to know. I get home, feel like satan drained my soul all day and sedate myself to continue the vicious cycle the next day.

Sounds like you are in the wrong job or the wrong company. If the day is that bad every day you need to consider moving.

Either that, or it's just mentally exhausting to be productive for a full day. It might not be that the job is bad, but rather that the amount of energy for certain kinds focus and tasks is limited.

In that case, if the desire to do side projects is great enough, I suppose the correct solution would be to try going for a somewhat shorter work week.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep up the energy to work on side-projects after work?

#20

Post by maxxxxx »

imhoguy wrote: post #10

Sometimes I do mornings, but then I don't have enough focus capacity left for work. Best so far is 4 day work week - Friday is exclusive for me, weekends for family. Pay-cut is 20% but I gain 50% more time off, time is money too.

I have asked for a 4 day week at my company but they wouldn't do it. This would be my dream.
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