You know, today I was offered a few bucks to code someone else's final project for college. It's not something very big, and I could probably do it (it's just regular, boring database/form coding, in Delphi). But I'm still thinking if this is worth my free time. I work all day, and I have school at night. So no free time for me during the week, except for one or other morning or evening (when I don't have classes).
Now, I'm already terrible at focusing on my own projects, but accepting this offer means leaving them completely aside for quite a while. Then I started to think about this the other way around: If I dedicated myself to one of my (8-bit) projects as much as I'll have to for this job, I could probably finish a game.
Then I though: "What is more important for me? A few extra bucks (after hours of boring coding), or a finished game (after hours of fun coding)?". The answer is quite clear my friends, of course I'd rather have my own project finished.
There was a time where I would accept any job, so that I'd have money to buy stuff. The problem is, I end up buying a lot of stuff but don't have any time to use them, 'cause I'm working. But then, if I don't work, I can't buy anything to use. So it's a vicious circle, really.
Anyway, I have decided now to not get any extra work, besides my regular job. I already have very little time as it is, and I won't sell that time that easy (and I doubt anyone is willing to pay what I think it's worth for me). So now I'm thinking of a way to refuse that offer gently.
It's jut that I just can't spend all my time working. I can't live like a robot. I see people living like that and it scares me. I don't wanna end up like that. If I don't get any fun on a regular basis, I'll go crazy. Seriously.
How do you guys handle these situations?
Now, I'm already terrible at focusing on my own projects, but accepting this offer means leaving them completely aside for quite a while. Then I started to think about this the other way around: If I dedicated myself to one of my (8-bit) projects as much as I'll have to for this job, I could probably finish a game.
Then I though: "What is more important for me? A few extra bucks (after hours of boring coding), or a finished game (after hours of fun coding)?". The answer is quite clear my friends, of course I'd rather have my own project finished.
There was a time where I would accept any job, so that I'd have money to buy stuff. The problem is, I end up buying a lot of stuff but don't have any time to use them, 'cause I'm working. But then, if I don't work, I can't buy anything to use. So it's a vicious circle, really.
Anyway, I have decided now to not get any extra work, besides my regular job. I already have very little time as it is, and I won't sell that time that easy (and I doubt anyone is willing to pay what I think it's worth for me). So now I'm thinking of a way to refuse that offer gently.
It's jut that I just can't spend all my time working. I can't live like a robot. I see people living like that and it scares me. I don't wanna end up like that. If I don't get any fun on a regular basis, I'll go crazy. Seriously.
How do you guys handle these situations?