What are your tips on time management when you're working full-time and also trying to continue your education/working on pet projects (I consider these one in the same as pet projects teach me things).
This has been a little bit of a sticking point for me. I love learning... But I also love being a professional and while I am the craziest nerd I know who can spend all week working, then spend 1 or 2 days of the weekend working on a pet project or studying other related stuff such as cryptography, honing my x86-64 skills, or math, there are certainly times when I either don't have the energy, have other obligations, or just need a break from computer stuff so I don't turn into Gollum.
And I don't even have kids yet... So I can imagine those of you who have children AND full time job, AND doing these projects. When I was just studying, I could cover a given project or subject in a week but now it's stretched out to months. In fact, I'll often say to myself "Holy crap, I was reading up on xyz subject TWO WEEKS AGO? I wanted to get that finished in a few days." Secretly in the back of my head, I worry that I won't be able to attain the knowledge that I wanted to in my personal time.
Any advice or tips on this? I know people still get stuff done - I see it all the time and one of my fav programs Uncle Bob Martin states that he spent his entire life giving an extra 20 or so hours a week outside of "regular work stuff."
My only thought is to look at this career as a marathon and perhaps just give myself more time to get things done? Thoughts?