It's a myth that in order to be a good software engineer you have to spend every free moment coding or that you need to be an open source contributor.
It's also a myth that all or even most employers will ignore or ding you if you have no contributions.
If you want it enough for yourself and for its own sake, schedule one evening (or weekend afternoon) a week for it - just as you would schedule one evening a week for date night or for volunteer work or for anything else you care enough about. Treat it as similarly inviolable.
That goes for anything outside work you want badly enough - learning to play the flute; writing a memoir; whatever.
If you want it enough for yourself and for its own sake, schedule one evening (or weekend afternoon) a week for it - just as you would schedule one evening a week for date night or for volunteer work or for anything else you care enough about. Treat it as similarly inviolable.
I'm kind of annoyed at how simple you just made this sound (and it is) but I somehow overlooked it. I seem to always be putting stuff like that off for some huge block of time that of course never comes.
I agree that even setting aside one night a week isn't really that simple - especially if you have a busy schedule. But it is something most of us already do for the things we care most about.
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Why do you want to contribute?
It's a myth that in order to be a good software engineer you have to spend every free moment coding or that you need to be an open source contributor.
It's also a myth that all or even most employers will ignore or ding you if you have no contributions.
If you want it enough for yourself and for its own sake, schedule one evening (or weekend afternoon) a week for it - just as you would schedule one evening a week for date night or for volunteer work or for anything else you care enough about. Treat it as similarly inviolable.
That goes for anything outside work you want badly enough - learning to play the flute; writing a memoir; whatever.
I'm kind of annoyed at how simple you just made this sound (and it is) but I somehow overlooked it. I seem to always be putting stuff like that off for some huge block of time that of course never comes.
Thanks for giving me some perspective.
I agree that even setting aside one night a week isn't really that simple - especially if you have a busy schedule. But it is something most of us already do for the things we care most about.
Good luck!