Day 955 - Novelty vs delayed gratification - https://golifelog.com/posts/novelty-vs-delayed-gratification-1691879496755
Wakes up at 4am on weekends excited to work on a hobby side project.
But don't feel that way during weekdays on other 'main' projects.
There's always that nagging thought that it's wrong that I feel that way about the former and not the latter. I thought my motivation was broken. Because shouldn't my main things be more interesting and motivating?
But [someone on Twitter](https://twitter.com/JakeDuth/status/1690360804393070594) broke it down for me perfectly: The dopamine from the novelty of a hobby project feels energizing, because it's meant for recreation. But longer projects takes a way longer time, requires consistency and persistence, has tasks that are boring, and goes through lots of highs and lows. It requires delayed gratification, a belief that the project will pay off eventually in the future.
Which now makes so much sense.
Now that I build features on Lifelog every weekend for fun, for myself, for my friends here, not for growth or profit, there's so much less expectations and pressure. Plus I use this tool every day, so I see direct benefit from sharpening it every weekend. Whereas for the other weekday projects, there's more expectations, more commitment, more customers to support. But in the long term, it'll pay off in terms of revenue and helping me hit my indie hacker goals.
So it's 100% normal to feel more excited on side project weekends.
Nothing's broken.
Keep calm and carry on.
But don't feel that way during weekdays on other 'main' projects.
There's always that nagging thought that it's wrong that I feel that way about the former and not the latter. I thought my motivation was broken. Because shouldn't my main things be more interesting and motivating?
But [someone on Twitter](https://twitter.com/JakeDuth/status/1690360804393070594) broke it down for me perfectly: The dopamine from the novelty of a hobby project feels energizing, because it's meant for recreation. But longer projects takes a way longer time, requires consistency and persistence, has tasks that are boring, and goes through lots of highs and lows. It requires delayed gratification, a belief that the project will pay off eventually in the future.
Which now makes so much sense.
Now that I build features on Lifelog every weekend for fun, for myself, for my friends here, not for growth or profit, there's so much less expectations and pressure. Plus I use this tool every day, so I see direct benefit from sharpening it every weekend. Whereas for the other weekday projects, there's more expectations, more commitment, more customers to support. But in the long term, it'll pay off in terms of revenue and helping me hit my indie hacker goals.
So it's 100% normal to feel more excited on side project weekends.
Nothing's broken.
Keep calm and carry on.