Side Projects Made Me a Better Person

Most of my day goes to my main job. I’m happy with it, but I’m not the type of person who can just stay still. Outside of work, I always want to build something. You can call these “projects,” but for now maybe “side projects” is a better name.

For me, a side project means working on something I care about without pressure. Of course, there is a tricky part: if you set big goals and push too much, it can quickly feel like “work.” That’s why I believe side projects work best when the goals are realistic and minimal.

Why Side Projects Matter

There are many reasons, but I can answer from a personal perspective. The biggest benefit for me is making good use of my time. When I look at what else I could do in my free time, I don’t find a better answer.

One reason is freedom. There is no client, no deadline. This increases creativity. It’s like a playground where you can do whatever you want. That is amazing.

You can also try technologies you may never use at work. It’s the perfect chance to experiment. No responsibilities. You can test something and throw it away later. It’s up to you.

Side projects can also become real opportunities. Maybe not at the beginning, but if you keep building, you may earn extra income, create real products, or expand your network. That is almost unavoidable.

My Journey Through Side Projects

Yakut
When I started podcasting, Spotify didn’t even exist. My friend Serdar and I just put an iPhone in front of us and recorded our voices. We talked about the Ruby world. We started in 2015, and it’s still going today. Personally, I learn a lot, I meet new people, and I stay updated about the Ruby ecosystem. The best way to learn is to explain, and that’s what I try to do almost every week. It keeps me fresh.

Üretim Bandı
After taking a break from Yakut, I met my friend Eran and joined Üretim Bandı. In 5 years, I was the voice of more than 130 episodes. It was an amazing project for me. I even went on stage and became a moderator. My speaking skills improved. I learned how to run a podcast. My network grew a lot, and I met many people who became good friends. But at some point, I had to move on. Sometimes it’s good to finish things while they’re still beautiful.

Enderinko
This is my newest project. A new experiment, a new channel. Recently it’s the one I spend the most time on. It’s where I try to share my experience, my network, and contribute a little to the software community. I approach this more professionally: I use AI for SEO and try to set short-term goals. It’s still a baby project, but I believe in it. Because I love sharing.

Podiscover
A project I strongly believed in. I even thought: “Maybe I can sell this to Spotify.” It taught me what it means to take a real project from zero and push it forward. The tech stack was not new for me, but as the project grew, I had to think differently. I couldn’t scale it because of time and money. I learned that building software is not just about writing code. A big part is making people actually use your product. That’s where I failed. So I closed it. Like I always say: knowing when to stop is an important skill.

Bloudme
My newest playground. A project born from my own need. Again, not with new technologies, but it makes me happy because it’s my playground. I test many ideas here. It’s smaller than Podiscover and I didn’t promote it much, but it has potential. If I give it more attention, it can grow. I want that. But wanting is not always enough.

Others
Of course, there are other side projects too. Writing this blog, sending newsletters, giving talks, recording videos, and more. I’m not the type to sit still. I love to try.

Key Lessons I Learned

I already mentioned some of them, but let me summarize:

• The biggest thing I learned is fun. I also enjoy my main job, but it’s professional. Side projects are more playful, almost childlike.
• Feedback matters a lot. I like sharing what I build, and feedback helps me improve.
• It’s a slow process, but it’s valuable.
• Leaving the daily routine and tempo gives your brain and soul new energy. I believe this keeps me fresh.

Encouragement to Other Developers

Can you do the same? Yes. Don’t say you don’t have time — make time. Start small. Finish what you start. Don’t search for perfection. Share and keep going.

Remember: you’re not doing it for a reward. You’re doing it because it’s fun.

Conclusion

I gained a lot from my side projects over the years. I’m not unstable — I don’t start dozens of projects. I don’t have time or energy for that. I use my energy well and I enjoy them. That’s the point of life: to enjoy it. And we should spend our time on things that bring us joy and move us forward.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments. If you like this post, please share it — it will motivate me. I could try cheap tricks to increase engagement, but that’s not the point. My goal is to share my journey and my experiences.

Are you ready?