Last week, I wrote about finding more time using mobile technology. Today, I want to suggest three approaches to scheduling the main working time for your projects. There are multiple tricks and techniques beyond these, but they should give you a good start in finding what works for you.

1. Small parts, long term

Some of your projects may be one-off efforts, but if you are really committed to some idea, you want to make sure it will be sustainable long term.

Set a schedule

It’s okay if the project is planned as a one-time effort intentionally, but for the lasting undertakings, you want to build a habit. It is better to invest a few hours a week consistently than to do a few hacking sessions and then abandon the project.

Read more ›

I’m not a big fan of “links of the week” type posts, but these three articles are so good, I would not sleep well if I didn’t share them with you. They are focused on blogging — which is one of the most popular types of hobby projects — but many of the tips apply to other projects as well.

ProBlogger has been my favorite source of blogging news and advice since I first visited it in 2009. And this week its owner, Darren Rowse, was sharing the time management and productivity tips from his friend bloggers and himself. Perhaps not all of them apply to hobbyists, because many of these people work on their blogs full time, but I’m sure you will find a lot of useful tips for yourself.

Read more ›

You really want to start your own project, and you have all the skills and knowledge to do it. You even wrote down your ideas, discussed them with a friend or two, and it all looks promising — but how do you find the time?

There is more time available than you think. Let me share a few ideas where to find it. It will be a series of three posts. Today’s main idea is…

Read more ›

You always wanted to do this. Make a phone app, write a book, start a blog, build a boat, play in a band. Smile again, breathe fresh air, do what you like and live a happy, fulfilled life.

But you have responsibilities. You have work and chores to do, you have a busy schedule and never seem to find the time for your dreams. How can you do that, when you always have to run, and still hardly keep up with your necessary tasks?

You envy those other people who manage to do these fun things. You hear a colleague talking about a hobby project, or you see the photos your friend shared, or read someone’s blog about cooking, or see someone on TV who goes rock climbing, and you think, “Wish I could find the time. I wonder how these people do that?”

Read more ›