Hello fellow gamers, aspiring game developers, and busy parents! As many of you may know, I have been diving headfirst into the world of game development as a solo developer with my startup, Zippster Studios. At the same time, I am juggling the responsibilities of full-time work and raising children. In this blog post, I'd like to share the difficulties I've faced while trying to balance these aspects of my life and the strategies I've employed to overcome them.
Time Management: Finding Those Precious Hours
One of the biggest challenges I've encountered while pursuing game development is managing my time effectively. With a full-time job and children to care for, finding the time to dedicate to my passion for game development can be difficult.
To overcome this obstacle, I've had to be more strategic with my time. I schedule specific hours each day for game development, whether it's waking up an hour earlier (Which is almost never for me...) or setting aside time after the kids are in bed. Sticking to a routine has helped me stay focused and make steady progress on my projects.
Setting Realistic Goals and Expectations
As a solo developer with limited time and energy, I've had to accept that I may not be able to accomplish everything I want to do as quickly as I'd like. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, I try to set realistic goals and expectations for my projects. Sometimes, this can be depressing, but you have to in order to create anything in a reasonable timeframe. It is also important the key to being successful, is breaking my goals into smaller, achievable milestones, I can celebrate my progress and stay motivated. I also remain flexible, understanding that some days I may not be able to work on my projects as much as I'd like due to work or family commitments.
Building a Support Network
Lastly, one of the most essential strategies for balancing game development, work, and family is building a strong support network. This is something I definitely need to work on, I don't feel like I have a team of people to bounce ideas off of (besides the family, when they are not sick of me talking about it), and really, what I would love to have, is a partner in crime in game development. I have been reaching out to several people, but everyone I have reached out to, although seeming to like my ideas, are busy working on their current projects, or don't have the experience needed to partake. One day, perhaps, I will find that perfect person to work with, in the meantime, I will keep coding on!
The Path Forward
Balancing game development with full-time work and parenthood is undoubtedly challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding. By managing my time and energy, setting realistic goals, and relying on a supportive network, I am determined to continue making progress with Zippster Studios and pursue my dream of becoming a successful game developer.
To all the other aspiring game developers juggling multiple responsibilities, remember that the key is to stay focused, be patient with yourself, and keep pushing forward. Stay tuned for more updates on my journey, and I hope my experiences can inspire others in similar situations to continue pursuing their dreams. Happy gaming and developing, everyone!
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