The Power of Maintaining Motivation
The journey as a solo developer can be lonely, making self-motivation crucial. Many developers lose their initial passion and drive. So, how can you stay motivated? Here are some methods to manage your motivation.
Motivation System through External Sources
External feedback during the development process can be very powerful. For example, let’s look at a developer who set up a system to receive notifications whenever a subscriber joined. Initially, these small notifications brought great joy, and although their impact decreased over time, they still significantly contributed to motivation. This system ensures continuous motivation through positive external feedback.
Especially, engagement on social media is beneficial not only for motivation but also for marketing. A developer using a service called Syften to receive alerts whenever someone mentioned their service Chessbook found significant motivation through positive feedback.
Leaving Tasks Incomplete
Leaving tasks about 90% complete is also an effective strategy. This allows for a quick sense of accomplishment when starting work the next day. Some developers say that simply committing to git is not enough. Instead, leaving tasks that can be quickly completed the next day is more effective.
Using Your Own Product Extensively
The inconvenience experienced when using your own product feels much more significant than receiving a bug report. A developer who uses their product extensively finds and fixes issues immediately. This greatly contributes to the overall quality of the product.
Finding Ways to Reduce Pain
It’s important to find ways to reduce the pain in the development process. One developer used an RPC library called RSPC to make type generation and function calls easier. This not only reduces pain but also brings excitement about using new systems.
Doing Nothing
Sometimes, doing nothing can help restore focus. A developer finds that just sitting in front of the screen, even after spending time on Reddit, helps escape a dopamine overdose. Doing nothing for a few minutes calms the brain, allowing for renewed focus on work.
Providing Updates to Users
Recording achievements at the end of the month can be a good motivation. A developer regularly provides updates to users, reflecting on their achievements. This helps feel a sense of accomplishment and maintain motivation.
Finding a Partner
Even solo developers can benefit greatly from finding a partner. A developer works with an excellent partner in all aspects like product/design/copy, gaining responsibility and motivation. Having a partner allows for weekly meetings to share progress and maintain motivation.
Avoiding Zero Days
Spending a day doing nothing can lead to guilt. To avoid this, it’s important to do good work first. A developer maintains motivation by completing tasks before engaging in fun activities.
Utilizing Motivation When It Strikes
Sometimes, thinking about a problem while going to bed brings a solution. When motivation hits, it’s a good idea to get up and start working immediately. This is one of the great advantages of being a solo developer. It’s important to maximize the use of motivation when it strikes.
Conclusion
Maintaining motivation as a solo developer is challenging, but the methods introduced above can help sustain it. These methods are explained with specific examples and are practical enough to apply. This article aims to help readers build their motivation systems and consistently progress toward their goals. Apply these methods right away. Motivation is the key to sustained success.
Reference: “Managing My Motivation, as a Solo Dev”