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Ask HN: How do you manage a fulltime job+family+side project at the same time?

8 points by princevegeta89 ↗ HN
I've been getting consistently busy working on a few side projects myself but as a husband that has turned into a father recently, I am fighting to find time. I'm getting rather serious about my side project and can't really give up at any point. I am only however, willing to launch my product when it shows some promise. To keep the ball rolling, I'm currently in a situation where I can't let go of my full-time job yet.

I know people slowly Transition from an employee to an entrepreneur, but with a family and kids, I wanted to know every piece of valuable information to extract the most of my busy life as much as I can. My wife works on a full-time job that pays well, for what It's worth.

Answers and help appreciated!

4 comments

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ok_dad
I basically found, as a semi new father, you can pick about 2 major things to do and maybe 2 minor things. I picked job and kid and my majors and video games and another hobby as my minor thing. I think maybe when my kid is older I could do another major rather than the two minors, but honestly I think the side project hustle is impossible if you’re not ignoring other things. Maybe I’m lazy, but to me the hustle culture is pretty crappy and leads to ignoring the important things like family and sanity.

Maybe since your wife works, you should try to take time off long term to pursue your side project? There’s only so much time in the world and I don’t think on your deathbed you’ll regret not working more versus spending a lot of time with family.

princevegeta89
This is an interesting formula. Thanks. I currently have a project that's taking off well but needs more growth to think about funding. Meanwhile as a new father, I am confused if I can hustle between the job and this project. It looks like a no for the most part.

Maybe I should let go of my fulltime job for now but I'm not financially independent. We wouldn't be having any savings either. My goal is to retire by the time I'm 40 and do whatever the heck I want then but I guess with more experimentation right now, the retirement age may keep going up. I can see I'll definitely regret time not spent with my little guy so I am probably gonna have to make peace. It's tough, it feels really tough to give up the side project but maybe it's time

rdtwo
I think his formula is a bit off. You can do like 2-2.5 things well. And each thing you do poorly counts as half. If you do well at work, take good care of your kids and take ok/fair care of your relationship with the spouse that’s 2.5 there is no extra room. You add a side project and something is going to fall off.