Effectively managing time between a full-time job (approximately 9 hours a day) and a side project poses a common challenge. Here are several tips to assist those navigating a similar balance.
- Early Dedicated Hours:
- Invest 1-2 focused hours before your full-time job begins to make significant progress on your side project.
- Leverage the quiet morning environment to enhance concentration and avoid distractions.
- Deadline Alignment:
- Complete full-time job tasks ahead of schedule, allowing extra time for side projects until the next work activity begins.
- Use this technique strategically, especially when there is a task deadline, by finishing it early but announcing completion closer to the official deadline.
- Optimal Work Environment:
- Identify a calm workspace within your full-time job setting. Personal pods or noise-cancelling headphones can help maintain focus.
- Seek out quiet places to work, even while at home, to minimize disruptions caused by background noise or co-worker interactions.
- Supportive Management:
- Having a manager who prioritizes work outcomes over mere attendance proves beneficial.
- Seek leaders who encourage self-management, trust individuals to complete tasks, and provide support to overcome obstacles.
- Flexibility with Personal Activities:
- Occasionally defer personal activities for 1-2 days to allocate time for side projects.
- Acknowledge that productivity fluctuates, and adapt to the ebb and flow of daily challenges.
- Notification Management:
- Turn off notifications to reduce distractions during side-project sessions.
- Customize focus/silent modes to allow only urgent calls/notifications, enhancing concentration.
- Pomodoro Technique:
- Embrace the Pomodoro technique, dividing work into 25-minute chunks with 5-minute breaks.
- Experience increased productivity and focus by adhering to this time management approach.
- Background Music for Engagement:
- Listen to background music, such as Lofi hip-hop or chillhop playlists, to enhance engagement with side-project tasks.
- Strategic Planning:
- Create a simple plan for your side project, breaking down complex activities into manageable tasks.
- Utilize tools like Trello for effective task management, employing a Kanban board structure.
- Optimize Break Times:
- Utilize breaks in a full-time job for side-project activities.
- Incorporate short walks during breaks to combat the sedentary nature of office work.
Learnings from Balancing Full-Time Job and Side Projects:
- Embrace Imperfection:
- Prioritize continuous improvement over perfectionism, recognizing that ups and downs are inherent in the daily routine.
- Navigate Daily Challenges:
- View daily challenges as opportunities for growth and skill development, acknowledging that overcoming obstacles strengthens resilience.
- Time Utilization in Full-Time Job:
- If permissible by HR policies, utilize any surplus time in the full-time job for side projects and skill-enhancing activities.
- Focus-building Habits:
- Cultivate daily habits like turning off notifications and employing focus techniques to bolster concentration over time.
