I totally get this feeling. What helps me sometimes is recognising that both working on something and not working on it are valid choices, as long as it's coming from your reasoning. It’s a freeing thought because it means the choice is really mine, not just inertia or guilt.
Compare that to professional life, where so many times we get stuck in death marches, feeling like we can’t say no to projects that have already lost any change to reach their full goal. With side projects, at least we have the control to decide if it’s worth it or not.
Something I’ve started doing that's a very good exercise is brainstorming my project ideas with ChatGPT. I’ll treat it like a project manager, spill all my thoughts, talk through adding features and finding ways to make the idea bigger. If it still feels exciting after that, I’ll dive in. Even if I don’t, it’s like letting intrusive thoughts come and go during a meditation session, afterwards regardless of the outcome I feel I can clear my head and just move on.
Compare that to professional life, where so many times we get stuck in death marches, feeling like we can’t say no to projects that have already lost any change to reach their full goal. With side projects, at least we have the control to decide if it’s worth it or not.
Something I’ve started doing that's a very good exercise is brainstorming my project ideas with ChatGPT. I’ll treat it like a project manager, spill all my thoughts, talk through adding features and finding ways to make the idea bigger. If it still feels exciting after that, I’ll dive in. Even if I don’t, it’s like letting intrusive thoughts come and go during a meditation session, afterwards regardless of the outcome I feel I can clear my head and just move on.