[metalhipster]

I do the opposite, I work on my side project right after I wake up and make my coffee. Then I go to the gym and workout, then head into work. The workout is the perfect reset and I have not really had any issues with my side project taking over my thoughts while doing my full time job.

[Kenji]

I cannot get more than 4-5 hours of pure brain work out of my day. Usually, those hours are spent at work, except on weekends. I have no idea how other people do that but if I regularly spend more than 8 hours working per day and then add a few hours of even more programming in the evening, I go insane.

[WalterSear]

I regularly feel that way. But when I stop working on side projects, I feel worthless. I'm sure it's not a healthy place to be. I don't see how side projects could get anywhere without a little irrationality - it's inherently unhealthy to take on what amounts to a second job.

[drmpeg]

Same here. I just couldn't write software for 8 hours a day and then go home and write software. Now that I'm retired, I've been able to contribute to open source (but at a very leisurely pace).

[skylark]

Completely agree. If your social life can take the hit, waking up as early as possible is probably the way to go. I've never been more productive than the period of my life where I woke up at 4am everyday to hit the gym and work on my side project before work.

[rrrrrraul]

Yes! I did this today =) it's a lot easier for me to switch tasks if I work my side project first thing in the morning, but it takes quite a bit of effort to get going for me as I'm not a morning person.

[tixocloud]

I second this although I put gym after work. For me, the time crunch really makes me focus on what's important. Working on something I like early in the morning gives me a boost for the rest of the day. Another tip is trying to take the positive side of a full-time job and seeing it as actually helping me to develop my interviewing skills.

[nacho_weekend]

What's your wakeup time/bedtime/expected arrival time at work, if you mind me asking? Debating how much time I should budget in the mornings for this.

[metalhipster]

I wake up at 5:45, work on project from around 6 to 7:15 or so and then hit gym near work and begin work around 9. I am web developer so I still end up beating most of my team into the office most mornings. As far as bedtime goes, I shoot for around 10:30. This lets me spend the evening with my wife so we get our time together.