Subscribe
Sign in
How to stay motivated and productive on your side project?
Hey there!
I know firsthand how tough it can be to manage a side project. It can feel like you're spinning plates, trying to balance a full-time job, family responsibilities, and other commitments all while pursuing your passion project. It's easy to feel discouraged when progress is slow, and it can be tough to stay motivated when there are so many competing priorities.
One thing that's help me is setting small goals and celebrating each accomplishment along the way.
What methods do you use? How do you maintain momentum when progress is slow? How do you balance competing priorities?
19
Replies
André J
Quit your day job and you'll move 10x faster
Share
@stephen_smith67 Thx. elaborating some more: All you have as a startup is speed. If your in a 9-5. You don't have speed. Bandwidth when you get home is toast. Your competing against people who already exited 9-5. No chance basically. The sooner you realise the better. The Q is. How do you quit your day job. There are pathways.
Just think about all the money and freedom coming your way "IF" you succeed with the side project 😁
Build a project that excites you. You will automatically stay productive and motivated.
You need to enjoy the project you are working on. Setting small goals first, if you are able to complete those, then take some time off.
If it's a side project, the most important part is just keeping in mind you don't have to treat it like a full project
Give yourself a manageable workload
Whenever I feel I lack motivation to work on something, whether it's a side project or not, I try two things:
1. Pomodoro method - work 25 minutes and then take a break and repeat.
2. Work with music. This depends on how much I feel focused. Sometimes I listen to techno or other times just mainstream fun music.
I think this goes into the "reason" you started this side project. If it's something you're passionate about, then motivation should come naturally. If it's something that you doing to help meat a certain goal, I would make sure you have a reminder of that goal sitting on your desk, on on your bathroom mirror so you see it often.
What motivates me is quite frankly the simple idea: that your time (in general) is limited. And it would be such a shame, to have never done or given up that side project, that has always lingered your mind, because isn’t that your true purpose and road to fulfillment, if you just can’t let go of it? :)
I try to remind myself: take it easy and do baby steps, and day by day you will reach everything you ever wanted. <3
ive seen its not about being slow due to commitments, i tend to compare myself with other people who were releasing tools quickly and i used to get discouraged until i decided i will build templates and systems to increase productivity in future and release products faster
Honestly, my secret to staying motivated on my side project is bribery. I promise myself pizza for every milestone reached. It may not be the healthiest approach, but it sure is effective🍕😂
The book Atomic Habits from James clear, help me really well to start and be consistent with my work in the long term. you should read about it one time.
