In my perspective, side projects sit at the intersection between hobby and work. Because of that, side projects balance having fun, learning, and creating new things possibilities.
You don’t need to be a “creative professional” to do a side project. I believe people with any professional background can start a side project to explore possibilities and learn.
If you plan to start one, here are 4 things you may consider:
#1 State what you want to achieve. The success of a side project doesn’t need to be an MRR. It can be a goal like creating a prototype with a trending technology, testing a new tool, or learning a new skill or method. Knowing what you want to achieve helps reduce the feeling that you should be doing something else; it also relieves the load of considering a side project as “more work” while making it a little more structured than a hobby.
#2 Use an actual situation as input. It can be something you want to improve in your productive routine; it can be solving a problem for a friend or family member. Having a concrete scenario makes the project real.
#3 Start with projects you feel you can finish. It doesn’t mean that you need to launch a complete product, for instance. Instead, it means you achieved the desired outcome, your measure of a successful side project.
#4 Document the journey. Creating a side project can be a fuzzy and nonlinear process. Take some time to organize the outcomes. Write a short narrative explaining why, how, and what you did. It helps you build a portfolio to leverage unexpected opportunities.