From 9 to 5 to Thriving: Building in Public Without Burning Out
It’s August 10th, and I’m preparing to start my vacation. A few weeks earlier, after abandoning hope for our previous project, both Kostas and I decided to take a break—or so I thought.
Apparently, Kostas had other plans. He had already plunged into a new SaaS project, chasing his dream of a 9-to-5-free life.
Then my phone started buzzing, bombarded with messages.
“Hey, I need you. I’ve already started working on a scheduling app for Threads.”
That one line was enough to pull me back in. Moments later, I found myself wrestling with Turborepo, setting up our monorepos, and embarking on yet another startup journey.
But this time, something was different. As I sit writing this post, I realize this journey isn’t like our previous ones. The difference? We now have real users—people who not only pay for what we offer but also praise our product. From fast responses to the quality of our app, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
However, all this comes with a steep price: Time.
Balancing Work, Passion, and Sacrifice
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I work full-time as a Frontend Engineer at eShare, one of the best places I’ve had the privilege to work at (by the way, we’re always looking for creative people—check it out if you’re interested here!). But like any demanding job, it consumes at least 8 hours of my day.
After finishing my day job, I dive straight into our side project, working seven days a week on everything from development to support tickets. With just the two of us on the team—and let’s be honest, Kostas does more than his fair share—things can get overwhelming, especially as we grow.
We’ve reached a point where we have a decent MRR, but not enough to expand our team. It’s a tricky spot: too much work for just two people, but not enough revenue to hire help.
Finding Balance in the Chaos
So, how do we handle this intense routine?
Let’s be clear: it is stressful. But the nature of building in public comes with a unique kind of stress—a productive one. It’s the kind of pressure that drives you to stay up late, push through challenges, and keep improving.
To stay energized and maintain balance, I’ve made significant changes to my daily habits:
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Workouts Are Non-Negotiable
Exercising has become an essential part of my routine. Every day, at the same time and place, I spend one to two hours disconnecting from everything—no phones, no computers, just me and the workout. It’s my way of isolating myself and recharging. -
Weekends Have a New Purpose
While I still work on weekends, I’ve reserved Sundays for myself, friends, and family. I only handle priority support tickets, keeping the rest of the day free for personal time. -
Change of Scenery
Recently, I worked remotely from a small Greek village with two friends. The combination of nature, a cozy apartment, and the serenity of village life was a game-changer. Even though I worked more than usual, I felt far less drained. -
Embracing Mornings
I used to think I was a night owl, but it turns out I’m an early bird. After some effort, I’ve adjusted my schedule to wake up around 7 AM. From 7:30 to 9:30, I have two uninterrupted hours to focus, plan my day, and tackle important tasks before my 9-5 begins.
A Side Project for the Side Project
Confused? Let me explain.
During one of our brainstorming sessions for a previous project, Kostas and I had an idea (actually Artemis had the idea but this is for another post): why not start a podcast documenting our journey in real-time? It was one of those "what if" moments that wouldn’t leave us alone, so we decided to go for it.
Fast forward a few weeks, and we’re already on episode 5. And let me tell you—I love it.
The podcast feels like a live retrospective, a space to reflect on our challenges, wins, and lessons learned. The best part? It’s recorded and shared with the world. Maybe, just maybe, it can inspire one or two people to see what it’s like for two engineers to build their own product from scratch.
Because honestly, anyone can do it. You never know the impact of sharing your journey—it might encourage someone to start their own.
Final Thoughts
Balancing a full-time job with a demanding side project is far from easy. Despite everything I’ve shared above, there will be days—or even weeks—when you’re not in the mood, feeling overwhelmed, and emotions cloud your thoughts. That’s just part of the rollercoaster that comes with juggling so much in only 24 hours a day.
It requires sacrifices, discipline, and a strong sense of purpose—but it also takes the support of friends and family to help you through the tough times. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that building in public makes the journey worthwhile—especially when you’re doing it alongside a friend.
The encouragement from our users and the thrill of creating something meaningful keep us pushing forward, no matter the challenges.
For anyone out there balancing similar responsibilities: find your rhythm, adapt your routine, and above all, remember to enjoy the ride.
See you next time!