I've had some self management issues of late, especially when it comes to making games. Things have a tendency not to be finished and I like starting more projects all the time. As an example, I'm not very good at planning and working my plan. My usual strategy so far to learn "how to make a plan and work it" is to "make a plan and work it" - which never works.... So there is a pedagocial/strategic/logic issue there.

• How to finish hobby projects.
• How do you mix work with hobby.
• How to make plans, set goals, be professional about your passion without killing the passion.
• Planning creative work.
• Working with your hobby projects at home without getting paid and still be professional and get things done.
• Solve the chicken-egg issue of learning how to "plan and work the plan".

Please don't moralize over this :) I already feel like an childish idiot for bringing up the topic. I'ts a bit like loosing weight: many ways to do it but you have to find your own method. But what are the methods?

Hi, I think one of the main reasons why most plans don’t work is that it’s hard to adapt them to the future.

In a way once the plan is written, it automatically becomes outdated. Life is unexpected; it’s not possible to plan for everything.

I tried once for a month or so to hobby program before sleep. It didn’t go well. I would go to bed much later than usual, sleeping much less then I should and being ineffective for the whole week.

Some of the things which work for me:

- Having monthly targets. On a list of paper I write what I would like to achieve for the next month/ 4 weeks. Once something is done, it gets crossed. Not only can I see the overall picture but it’s great for motivation to see what I have completed. Saturday is hobby programming but I try during the week if possible.

- Using a notebook. I can write what I have done/ will do for each day. Plan my overall day. When unmotivated to work, I would look at past entries to get that extra kick needed to get back to work.

- Using motivation triggers such as a movie clip or some video/article/music. Something which resonates with me and makes me get up and work. Eg probably most people feel something when they watch Indie Game The Movie.

Some general pointers:

• Having realistic/honest expectations of what is achievable in a certain time. Eg sometimes I wish I got more done, yet other things were more important. Hard to accept that. Yet by filling your days by having more things going on, somehow more things get done.
• Some challenges/tasks will take much longer than originally thought. If somebody is doing something for the first time, it will take even longer.
• Learning to be more disciplined. Removing any distractions so that its easier to concentrate on what you want to actually complete.
• In a way, it’s probably related to getting in a better lifestyle, eating healthy and doing some exercise. That way the brain is more active, tasks should take less time to complete.
• Programming is not always fun. There are some really annoying parts. Getting them done is sometimes really time-consuming. But it feels great afterwards.

Some ideas:

• Maybe rather than starting new projects with new ideas, write them on paper instead. Think starting those projects will be a ‘present’ after finishing the current one/s.
• Try doing hobby stuff very early in the mornings and or setting aside a whole weekend day.
• Planning is like a muscle (in my opinion). You get better with practice.

Try to experiment, like you said, its a personal thing. You would figure it out :D

I find that being agile works the best in accomplishing anything.

Divide your work into small steps. Each step must be accomplishable within less than a day, or a few hours, if necessary.

Work one step a day and no more. If you estimated one task to take 4 hours but you finished it in 1 hour, you should not continue on to the next step. You need that enthusiasm going.

Continue doing this untill you complete your project.