How can I maintain my 'motivation to work' when I become independent from a company and become a solo creator?

Some people may have taken a leap of faith to become independent from their company and become a freelancer, but unlike when they were working for a company, it is difficult to find a work rhythm and they are having trouble maintaining their motivation. Freelance software developer

https://herman.bearblog.dev/how-i-stay-motivated-as-a-solo-creator/

For solo creators, their own productivity is directly linked to their income, but it can be difficult to maintain motivation at work due to the absence of colleagues, mental state, and 'freedom to do nothing'. there is. Martinus says, ``One of the benefits of being employed is that you wake up and you know what you're supposed to do. You've already decided that you're going to work; The surrounding structure and underlying purpose is set by others, and all you have to do is make it happen.There are many different types of jobs, but typically employees go to work and receive instructions. We need to be able to accept and be productive.”

However, when you are a solo creator working on a job that requires only you to do it, whether you are a software developer or an illustrator, there is a pre-set 'I absolutely must do this.' There are no goals. Therefore, even if you skip work for a day or so, almost no one will notice, but if you skip work for a day or so, things will eventually start to unravel, and by the time you notice, there is a risk that the career you have built up so far will collapse. It is said that there is.

As a solo creator, Martinus explains how he stays motivated by:

◆Work on things that you find interesting
In Martinus' case, in the early stages of product development, he thinks, ``If this project goes well, would I want to continue doing the same job for several more years?'' If the answer is 'yes', he will continue with the project, but if the answer is 'no', he believes that the project will not succeed anyway. “This is the most important point for me and probably the most difficult to achieve,” Martinus said.

◆Build a routine into your day
If you are an employee of an organization, you have decided what kind of schedule you should work on that day and what tasks are prioritized. However, solo creators must decide on their own tasks, and tedious tasks like preparing tax returns and writing bug reports tend to take a backseat.

So Martinus decided on a daily routine and lived according to it. Martinus' general routine is as follows.

-Drink coffee and take a walk with your partner.
・Train at the gym. (1 hour)
・Keep a diary and write as a hobby.
・Work block 1. (3 hours)
・Eat lunch and relax.
・Work block 2. (2 hours)

Exercise and hobby writing at the beginning of the day are necessary to prepare for the day, and Martinus says that this stabilizes his mind. After that, ``Work Block 1'' is the time to tackle the most difficult problems and heavy tasks, and it seems that tedious tasks such as checking emails are postponed.

If the momentum continues after lunch, I'll continue to work on big tasks in 'work block 2,' but it's basically time to check emails and Slack, check various things, and handle countless small tasks. I am. In addition, Martinus does not follow this routine perfectly every day, and sometimes he wastes the day reading or playing games. However, Martinus believes that it is important not to push yourself too hard.

◆Intentionally setting aside time when you don't work
Although Martinus does not use regular SNS, he tends to waste time when opening the social news sites Hacker News and YouTube, so he avoids opening these services until after work. Martinus chooses not to work after 5pm in order to spend time with his loved ones after work, get some fresh air, cook a delicious meal and have the energy and desire to work the next day. .

◆Interacting with people working in the same field
Solo creators don't have any co-workers, so they can't have a quick chat with them during work or go shopping after work. Instead, Martinus is active in the Slack community of developers and creators who are active in the same field, and participates in off-line meetings and events within the community.

Martinus argues that it's important for solo creators to stay sociable and sane by having lunch with creators and CEOs in the same field and talking about ideas and products. 'I have some close friends who I enjoy spending time with, but they don't have the same issues as me. I appreciate the catharsis of being 'on the front lines' with others.' That's what it is.''

◆Writing about your own experiences
Martinus writes articles about his thoughts, what he has worked on, or what he would like to work on in the future. By writing about myself like this blog, I can better understand what I am doing and how I am doing it. Martinus said, 'I sometimes receive feedback, opinions and advice from strangers and friends. And most importantly, I enjoy sharing my experiences with the world.'