Creating mental space for startup while contracting

Question

I am doing some contracting work which is uninteresting but pays fairly well. At the same time I continue working on my bootstrapped company. I find it hard to create "mental space" to work on what matters to me because the contracting gig is consuming mental bandwidth even when not working on it. On top of that there is the idea in the back of my mind I have to "farm" to get the next gig. I am wondering if anyone else has this issue and how you've dealt with it?

ENGNR · Accepted Answer

Timeboxing worked for me, I was able to get quite a bit done on the train on the way to work over a sustained period of timeI&rsquo;m also quite a visual thinker, so find it helpful to write stream of consciousness into notepad to really crystallise the thoughts. That same notepad turned out to be a really useful way to get straight back into it in the next short window, just a quick glance and keep going

erikig · Answer

I'd try using your physical environment (your body, workspace, food etc) to trigger and train your mind that it's time to focus on your startup.
- Maybe creating a separate workspace (maybe a coffee shop, library or even a different room) where you work just on the startup.
- Scheduling a snack, some coffee/tea or a walk to punctuate the end of the contract hours and the switch to startup mode
- When you're done for the day with the startup, create a "giggle-task" - a task so tiny and seemingly insignificant that you'll giggle the next day when you come back to startup mode and easily complete it.
When it comes to creating the best circumstances for creation, the mind can be weird because it is saddled with memory and fear. My experience has been to treat the mind as the body's servant and mental effort becomes easier. The reverse seems to help when your body is the resistance (e.g too tired or sleepy to work out).
(edited for grammar and format)

ilaksh · Answer

I have been basically alternating between contracts and the startup development. Sometimes I only get a week or two before I run out of money. But I don't really have the energy or "brain juice" to put significant time in on both on a daily basis. Usually on the weekend I can manage a few hours though.

vlod · Answer

Might be worth going to bed early (~10pm) and getting up at 5.00am to work on your bootstrapped company.The trip is to not look at your phone at doom-scroll sites (which will burn your time), but start coding (or whatever was planned the previously day) immediately.

momirlan · Answer

i never got around to developing a product, contracting was too easy and well paying. i guess if you run out of contracting work that would be a blessing in your case.