The power of a side project

On weekdays I work on my main projects, and weekends on a side project.

Yet somehow I seem to get more features shipped for my weekend project!

It’s funny how it works.

Some time pressure from setting a timebox, a targeted scope of work (I often set what I want to work on days before), different expectations and a difference in routine somehow magically makes things more productive.

It’s easy to see how being disciplined about the time and scope helps. That’s productivity 101. My weekend routine is also different from weekdays. We usually head out as a family for fun, and I think the anticipation of it after my morning deep work helps me get into the groove even more.

Best part? The expectations from “side project”. Somehow, some way, a “side project” status just hits different. I treat it as a passion project, a fun hobby. No pressure. I build opportunistically, whatever I sense is needed or wanted, there is no strict roadmap. Sometimes it’s based on serendipity, like feeling inspired at the last minute to build a 1000 day streak badge and celebration popup for folks in the community hitting 1000 days of writing.

Looks like I’m ‘doomed’ to getting more progress from things that I don’t treat as seriously… 😩😅🙃

(P.S. – You know what the side project is? Lifelog of course!)