Learning to build without motivation

It’s late.

I finally got done answering user questions as part of my on-call shift. Do I spend another hour learning Typescript (something I really don’t want to do)? Or, do I read a fantasy novel for some much-needed relief?

This is a situation I often find myself in, which has proven challenging for building side projects in my free time. How do I build outside of work when I don’t have the energy or motivation to do so?

But, first - who in their right mind would even want to build side projects during their free time?

Let me explain.

Why I’m building outside of work

A lot has happened since my last blog post.

The winter of tech layoffs still continues (or maybe it’s the new norm, who knows), employers are increasing their threats to replace workers with AI, and we’ve elected a president who - among many other charming qualities - is not likely to support a robust safety net for unemployed workers. For this reason, I’ve been toying with the idea of post-employment. Meaning, what would it look like if I needed to lend my services as an independent software engineer, versus an employee of X company?

The problem with that idea? I’ve been working as a small cog in a large machine for my entire career as a software engineer, and my skills have niched down from “how to build x” to “how to build x within this company’s sandbox.” Because many of the tools I work with are internal and I'm not at liberty to discuss my projects publicly, I’m concerned I will be forced into the labor market with limited skills and without a body of work.

With this in mind, my solution is to learn open source tools and build whatever I can in my free time to make myself as employable as possible.

Which brings me back to my first question - how do I build outside of work without the necessary energy or motivation?

Building when you don’t got the juice

Remember: any progress is progress

If it feels like you’re progressing very slowly, remind yourself that you are still making progress. As long as there isn't a pressing deadline hanging over your head, you don’t need to stress about velocity. The car will reach the destination whether it’s driving at 45 mi/hr or 80 mi/hr. The important part is the forward movement, and your persistence towards meeting the goal.

I often have to remind myself of this when it feels like I’m going “too slow.” I finally finished the first chapter of a full stack course, and it took me about a month to do it. But I also did it while going to the gym, going out to see friends, going on hikes, leading a meditation group, getting 8 hours of sleep, etc. etc.

My progress may not be perfect, but it’s forward movement that’s sustainable for my quality of life.

Develop a system that works for you

Something I’ve learned - a goal without a system is really just a dream. Your system doesn’t need to be perfect. But it needs to be practical and actually work for you (not some ideal version of you that wakes up every morning at 5AM).

Here’s how my system works for me:

I start work an hour early (since I’m a natural early bird), and use that last hour to work on my side project. This approach does have its challenges, since my team often needs help with urgent tasks throughout the evening, but it's better than nothing.

I also have a daily routine journal of simple tasks like brushing my teeth, making up the bed, doing physical therapy exercises, etc. By including building time as part of my daily routines, it helps lower the emotional burden of work. It's just part of what I do everyday.

Since I’m more likely to do something if other people are depending on me, I started a study group to keep me accountable. It's hard to slack off when people are expecting you to be ready and prepared to lead a study session!

Again, it’s not a perfect system, but it keeps me moving forward.

Finally, give yourself grace

If this were easy, everyone would be doing it. So, be kind to yourself - building outside of work is very hard! Some days you won't have the juice, and that's okay. The important part is being persistent. Eventually, you will reach your goal.