The Indie Dev’s Guide to Choosing Personal Time vs Project Demands
The “Always On” Trap
Indie development often feels like a perpetual sprint. The passion for creation can easily morph into an “always on” mentality, blurring the lines between work and personal life. Many indie devs, myself included, have fallen into this trap, working through weekends and neglecting basic needs. The long-term costs are severe: burnout, declining creativity, strained relationships, and even health issues. It’s a common pitfall driven by a mix of self-imposed pressure and the desire to see our vision realized quickly.
Defining Your “Non-Negotiables”
Before you can set boundaries, you need to understand what they are. Start by identifying your "non-negotiables"—those activities or times essential for your well-being. This isn’t about luxury; it’s about sustainability. For instance, eight hours of sleep might be non-negotiable for you to function effectively. Perhaps an hour dedicated to a hobby, like playing a non-dev game or going for a run, is crucial for mental decompression. Family time, whether it’s dinner with loved ones or a dedicated evening without screens, often falls into this category too. Be specific about these times and write them down.
Scheduling for Sanity
Once your non-negotiables are clear, integrate them into your schedule first. This means time-blocking them before you even consider project tasks. If you need to hit the gym at 6 AM or have family dinner at 7 PM, those blocks are locked in. Introduce buffer zones between intense work periods to prevent back-to-back stress. Realistic sprint planning is key here; instead of cramming features, estimate tasks with a buffer and prioritize based on what’s truly achievable within your protected time. For example, if you know a particular feature will take 20 hours, spread it across four dedicated work days, allowing for breaks and your non-negotiables, rather than trying to cram it into two frantic days.
Communicating Your Boundaries
Setting boundaries for yourself is one thing; communicating them to others is another. Whether it’s a collaborator, a community manager, or your early access players, managing expectations is vital. Politely but firmly state your working hours and when you’re offline. A simple “I’ll respond to this after 5 PM PST” or “I’m offline on weekends, but I’ll catch up first thing Monday” can work wonders. This clarity prevents assumptions and reduces the pressure to be constantly available. It sets a professional tone and ensures everyone understands your operational limits.
The Feedback Loop
Consider the journey of Alex, an indie developer working on a narrative-driven RPG. Initially, Alex was notorious for 14-hour days, fueled by caffeine and an unwavering belief that more hours equaled faster progress. He soon found himself constantly battling fatigue, his creativity stagnating. He started making more mistakes, and his enthusiasm dwindled. This led him to a realization: his current approach was unsustainable.
Alex decided to implement a structured approach to his work-life balance. First, he identified his non-negotiables: 7-8 hours of sleep, daily exercise, and dedicated evenings with his partner. He then time-blocked these into his calendar. He experimented with 4-hour focused work blocks, followed by short breaks. For communicating boundaries, he added a line to his email signature stating his typical response times.
Crucially, Alex began tracking his energy levels, productivity, and overall satisfaction daily in a personal game development journal. Every week, he would review his entries, noting patterns. He discovered that on days he skipped exercise, his productivity dipped significantly. He also noticed that responding to community messages after 6 PM often led to restless sleep. This feedback loop allowed him to continuously assess and adjust. He eventually shifted his community engagement to mornings, freeing up his evenings completely.
Alex’s experience highlights the power of consistent self-assessment and adjustment. Regularly reflecting on your choices and outcomes is essential for long-term sustainability. For a powerful way to track your progress and insights, and to truly understand what works for you, consider starting your own game dev journal. Our Journaling Tool for Indie Devs can help you consistently reflect on your decisions, manage your time, and ensure you’re prioritizing what truly matters. By actively tracking your game development log, you gain invaluable insights into your habits and can refine your approach to balance project demands with personal well-being. This systematic method helps you track game development progress not just in terms of features shipped, but in maintaining a healthy, sustainable creative life.