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Discussion on: Full-time, side projects, learning, and staying sane

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perigk profile image
Periklis Gkolias

Looks like this article was written for me. :) I do have a commute of 45 minutes(one way), I am working on my side project(s), I do spend some time for self-learning(currently taking lessons about deep learning), exercising 2-3 times per week...and guess what, doing my masters degree at the same time, while trying to keep my social life active.

I can't brag that I have managed to balance all those requirements. But if I can give a couple of tips those would be:

0) Eliminate crap from your life.(Paretto law)
1) Take advantage of your "dead time". I have managed to read more than 20 books this year, just because of that.
2) If you are doing video courses and the material is not extremely advanced, it helps to listen to some parts to 2x speeds.
3) When attending the lectures, be present and active, it will save some reading later on.
4) Code every day, even if it is a single function. This one here: johnresig.com/blog/write-code-ever...
is very inspiring.
5) Dont forget to do funny things,you still need endorphins.

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simoroshka profile image
Anna Simoroshka

Do your have any advice on how to decide what is crap in your life and what is not? Sometimes it can feel like all things are super important or needed.

Yes, funny things! Fun is really important.

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perigk profile image
Periklis Gkolias

It is mostly being cynical about my targets. Something like the YAGNI but for life.

Lets say my schedule for a normal Thursday would be:

  • Go to the gym
  • Grab a beer with a friend
  • Work a bit on my side project
  • Revise yesterdays slides from master
  • Progress with the introductory blockchain course I am watching

You need to apply the 80/20 law here. So you need to pick only one.

  • If fitness matters for you(for example but not limited to, you had an accident and you want to become stronger) gym is a top priority.
  • IF social stuff matters more, beer

You got the point.

What if you want more than 1 to progress? You have to pick them interchangeably. And of course it helps to leverage your time(shameless advertising): dev.to/perigk/the-art-of-leveragin...

PS I just realised I never pusblished this article. Hmm