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Getting too absorbed in side projects

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Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#101

Post by rjpr »

ascavalcante80 wrote: post #94
Carpetsmoker wrote: post #48

This sounds familiar, but I don't really see the issue. Sometimes I get absorbed in a side project, and I'm being creative and having fun. Why put a brake on it? I think that some of the best things I've done (professionally) were when I was in a "being completely absorbed in a project"-mindsets. Sometimes I don't works on side-projects for months at a time. I just don't feel like it and I'm doing other stuff. That's…

Sometimes you don't realize how many thing are giving away for those side projects. With those side project don't make you any money, they are pure leisure you should see it like 'playing video games'. When start to refuse go out with friends or make simple home tasks to keep working in this side project, it becomes serious... Of course, those side project allow you to acquire or improve skills which may be useful in…

>With those side project don't make you any money

Says who? Plenty of my side projects have made me quite a bit of money.

I'd say your mindset is equally as unhealthy as you'd never put any serious thought into it, making your statement about them not making money a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#102

Post by celeritascelery »

99052882514569 wrote: post #15
albertgoeswoof wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like this is an excuse (sorry to be blunt). I’m a new parent and managed to build and release a side project in the first few weeks, as well as keep up with a bunch of other side projects. I’ve just had to adapt the way I work on them. Eg I’m spending significantly more time planning than before, I’m using tools that have been consistently applied to solve similar problems, I’m ruthlessly prioritising features…

>I’m a new parent and managed to build and release a side project in the first few weeks Oh gee, no, no. If all you know is the first few months, you know not of parenting time requirements. You need to come back and talk about ruthless prioritizing and efficient coding when you parent a toddler, or two. Then we can all have a hearty laugh at this post together.

I have two young kids. While I can empathize with OP, I have found that if I discipline myself enough to get up at 5:00 I have enough time to work on side projects. Never as much time as I want, but some time. It is certainly not easy. And everything is in chaos when a newborn arrives.

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#103

Post by agumonkey »

bbx wrote: post #40

I've got the same issue, but only for the first 80% of the project. At that point, the project becomes a burden I have to finish, otherwise I would have wasted my time. The initial burst of inspiration is always exciting: you've got a novel idea, there are no restrictions, no deadlines, no requirements. You don't care about bugs or beauty, just about making things happen. You could even abandon the project and it wou…

I really wonder if this passion oriented coding is not a remain of teenage self absorbing passion.

With age I find myself caring about simple but group-global tasks. It's almost not about how joyful it makes me but how positive it affects you. Maybe nature natural triggering of caring for babies and/or the group.

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#104

Post by Jyaif »

unimpressive wrote: post #88
ratsimihah wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Completing the remaining 20% is a learnable skill in itself. Like everything else, the more you do it, the better you get at it.

In that case it would make more sense to try and isolate the tasks comprising the last 20% and train on them separately, so that you get more practice.

the good news is that virtually all of the software in the linux ecosystem is missing the last 20%, so there's plenty of opportunities to train.

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#105

Post by chriswarbo »

ascavalcante80 wrote: post #94
Carpetsmoker wrote: post #48

This sounds familiar, but I don't really see the issue. Sometimes I get absorbed in a side project, and I'm being creative and having fun. Why put a brake on it? I think that some of the best things I've done (professionally) were when I was in a "being completely absorbed in a project"-mindsets. Sometimes I don't works on side-projects for months at a time. I just don't feel like it and I'm doing other stuff. That's…

Sometimes you don't realize how many thing are giving away for those side projects. With those side project don't make you any money, they are pure leisure you should see it like 'playing video games'. When start to refuse go out with friends or make simple home tasks to keep working in this side project, it becomes serious... Of course, those side project allow you to acquire or improve skills which may be useful in…

I get what you're saying, but don't really like the video game analogy. Video games are about following other people's rules, usually to achieve other people's goals (the exception is "sandbox" games). I don't think of it as a creative act, unless it's something extreme like speedrun glitches and demoscene-like arbitrary code execution.

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#106

Post by anitil »

Carpetsmoker wrote: post #48

This sounds familiar, but I don't really see the issue. Sometimes I get absorbed in a side project, and I'm being creative and having fun. Why put a brake on it? I think that some of the best things I've done (professionally) were when I was in a "being completely absorbed in a project"-mindsets. Sometimes I don't works on side-projects for months at a time. I just don't feel like it and I'm doing other stuff. That's…

My problem is side-projects infect my brain and make it impossible to sleep. These days I actively try not to get too sucked in. I try to ride the line of doing interesting things, but not _too_ much that I can't get it out of my head.

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#107

Post by oasisbob »

mcs_ wrote: post #59

After I got my motorbike everything changed. My coworker went for a bicycle, everything changed.... I use to do side projects to learn more. That is what I used to say. The reality was that change the activity I really loved for decades to another has not been easy. Side projects has been the perfect excuse to stay on the laptop. How do you replace a no-competitive activity where you are in control of what you do and…

This resonates with me. Before I took up tree climbing, my side projects were at the laptop or workbench and never got past 85% or so.

Once I hopped in a saddle and took to the trees, things have never been the same, and I know I'll have the rest of my life to make it the last 15%.

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#108

Post by sureshn »

bawigga wrote: post #81
sureshn wrote: post #20

I feel all of this boils down to how much of self discipline we can show in sticking to our schedules, I have faced this challenge multiple times and it has been hard,, I believe companies should give friday afternoon's to pursue our side projects , but there are many who disagree with that too

I recently read Atomic Habits and there was a great chapter in there about people with a strong ability to self discipline. It raised the question: are people who have a strong sense of self discipline, better about architecting their environment for success? The would lead to less distractions and more work towards their intended goal. It's a great book, highly recommend. https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-…

This is awesome,, may thanks for this

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#109

Post by copperx »

chriswarbo wrote: post #105
ascavalcante80 wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes you don't realize how many thing are giving away for those side projects. With those side project don't make you any money, they are pure leisure you should see it like 'playing video games'. When start to refuse go out with friends or make simple home tasks to keep working in this side project, it becomes serious... Of course, those side project allow you to acquire or improve skills which may be useful in…

I get what you're saying, but don't really like the video game analogy. Video games are about following other people's rules, usually to achieve other people's goals (the exception is "sandbox" games). I don't think of it as a creative act, unless it's something extreme like speedrun glitches and demoscene-like arbitrary code execution.

You've elucidated the reason why I cannot get into videogames, even though I tried multiple times this last two decades.

I love the aesthetics of a well designed game. Pretty graphics are mesmerizing. But following arbitrarily designed rules and solving riddles created for the sole purpose of having an end goal for the game,—especially when one has a teenager-like disdain for authority—is more aggravating than having to follow rules in the real world.

Re: Getting too absorbed in side projects

#110

Post by sneak »

ascavalcante80 wrote: post #96
sneak wrote: post #34

Hire cleaners. Outsource laundry. Have food delivered. If you love hacking, nothing wrong with hacking from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep.

I agree with you about cleaners, laundry and food... but, what about stop seeing friends? Hacking is just so cool as addictive.

Electrons are the best friends I ever had. (Seriously though, the longest lasting friendships I have had in my life have all been online.)
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