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Getting over the slump....
Hi, my name is Joe, and I'm a 9-5 coder.

"Hi Joe."

I first noticed I had a problem after about 6 months at my current job.  I had tons of ideas running through my head and just no motivation to work on any of the projects I told myself I would do.  And now, it's even worse.

I started a pdf organization program over 4 months ago.  Nothing fancy, just moves and renames files.  But I hit a hurdle with third-party assembly that I was using to access the pdf info.  Then I had to start using a new set of comtrols at work and that was that.  Work: 1, Personal project: 0

So I thought i just needed more motivation to actually work on something for me.  So I recently (about a week ago) purchased my new domain name, MyGameList.net . I thought that buy getting my domain it would somehow light the fire inside to get more done.  So far it hasn't worked.

So I ask you, my fellow devs.  What's the best way to keep from getting so burned out with your work code that you no longer have the drive to work on your personal goals?
posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 8:56 PM

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# re: Getting over the slump....
posted by MrWright
on 5/22/2008 9:36 PM
Same problem here Joe. Can't say I have the magic answer that is going to give you super motivation, but I can say that I've been more successful at overcoming a "lack of motivation" by taking smaller bites.

Instead of working on a pdf reorganization app, you should problem, just search the web on Monday for a solution to your 3rd party problem. Not to fix the code, but just to find the web URL.

On Tuesday you can look at how much work you'll have to do to implement the new solution.

On Wednesday you can change a single module.... etc...

Eventually you'll end up coding way more than you meant to for that night and you'll be back on track! :)
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# re: Getting over the slump....
posted by Tom
on 5/23/2008 7:21 AM
Whenever I get into a slump, I go and perfect my library (of code).

I simply sit and go through various pieces of source looking for things that should have been placed in the central repository (in what ever language).

An alternative to this is code refactoring and optimization.
Don't modify the behavior, just make something better.

One of these activities will re-trigger the motivation for the the original goal.

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