The Art of Finishing Side Projects
I have a graveyard of unfinished projects. Half-built apps, abandoned blogs, repositories with a single commit. Sound familiar?
The Trap
Side projects start with excitement. You have an idea, you start coding, you make progress. Then you hit a wall:
- The scope creeps
- You lose interest
- A new shiny idea appears
- Real life gets in the way
Finishing is a Skill
Completing projects is a skill you can practice. Here’s what works for me:
1. Define “Done”
Before starting, write down what “done” means. Not perfect—done. For this portfolio:
- Landing page with name and social links
- Blog with posts, search, and tags
- About page
- ASCII background
That’s it. No analytics, no newsletter signup, no dark mode toggle.
2. Timebox It
Give yourself a deadline. Two weeks for a portfolio, a weekend for a small tool. Constraints breed creativity.
3. Ship Before You’re Ready
Perfectionism kills projects. Ship when it’s good enough, then iterate. This portfolio went live with three posts and minimal styling.
4. Document the Journey
Write about what you’re building. It keeps you accountable and creates content at the same time.
The Value
Finished side projects are better than perfect unfinished ones. They:
- Build your portfolio
- Teach you new skills
- Demonstrate follow-through
- Sometimes become something bigger
Start small. Finish fast. Iterate later.