[dbough]

Start small, decide what it is you really want to accomplish, and use a realistic timeline. Things I always forget when starting any (side) project.

I only allow myself an hour or so per day to write code on the side, or to play with a new technology or library. If I don't put boundaries around whatever I'm doing (and have an end-game in mind), I end up wasting a lot of time and don't get anything out of it.