For me video games are fun and easy to focus on day after day.
I realized that this is because video games have done a very good job of defining a goal --> FTL (my current favorite) == get to the final sector and destroy the rebel flagship. The goal is clear and you 100% know when you're done.
I've learned that I used to be really bad at defining goals. I'd say things like... 'I want to make an XYZ sort of thing'... but that's not a great goal. It's kinda vague... have you 'made' the thing when you put down 10 lines of code as a prototype? When will you be done?
If the goal is unclear I feel -->
1. like I might be signing up for an everlasting slog
2. like I'm not really sure how to win
So I find that I need 'delivery' goals --> 'my app is in the app store' or 'my article was published'. When you work for someone else this is the kind of goal they give (when will you ship XYZ) and you probably always make those.
You not just need 'delivery' goals, but small goals as well, like missions in a game. Where you see you are progressing.
Also in videogames you never hit a wall, you never have to fight a boss that impossible to beat at your level.
Side projects are more like those pay to win games. Where the first part is easy, but after that, the progress can be slow. You have to get a big reward (for me it is usually scratching my own itch) to make the grinding part work.
For me video games are fun and easy to focus on day after day.
I realized that this is because video games have done a very good job of defining a goal --> FTL (my current favorite) == get to the final sector and destroy the rebel flagship. The goal is clear and you 100% know when you're done.
I've learned that I used to be really bad at defining goals. I'd say things like... 'I want to make an XYZ sort of thing'... but that's not a great goal. It's kinda vague... have you 'made' the thing when you put down 10 lines of code as a prototype? When will you be done?
If the goal is unclear I feel --> 1. like I might be signing up for an everlasting slog 2. like I'm not really sure how to win
So I find that I need 'delivery' goals --> 'my app is in the app store' or 'my article was published'. When you work for someone else this is the kind of goal they give (when will you ship XYZ) and you probably always make those.
Hope this helps!