Balancing work and life with multiple game projects on your plate. How do you find time to excel in each one?

Identify High-Impact Tasks: Start by determining which tasks are most crucial to the project's success. Focus on features or mechanics that will move the needle. Time Block: Allocate specific times for each task, keeping in mind your energy levels. Tackling high-priority work when you're most focused ensures better results. Delegate When Possible: Hand off smaller tasks to teammates to stay focused on core objectives. Prioritization keeps you progressing smoothly without burning out.

In game development, prioritizing tasks is crucial. I start by identifying high-impact tasks that align with overall goals, such as key feature development or addressing major bugs. For instance, while working on current product, I focus on core mechanics first, ensuring the educational content is engaging before expanding into additional features like the drawing mini-game. This allows me to progress meaningfully across multiple projects by concentrating on the most important aspects.

Desde mi experiencia como diseñador, encontrar un equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida, sobre todo cuando participo en varios proyectos puede ser todo un desafío. Esto es lo que hago para alcanzar ese balance: • 📑 Priorizar tareas: Siempre arranco por identificar las tareas más críticas de cada proyecto, así sé en qué debo enfocarme primero. • 🔍 Desglosar proyectos: Divido cada proyecto en tareas más pequeñas y manejables, lo que me ayuda a sentir que estoy avanzando constantemente. • 🗓️ Establecer plazos realistas: Me aseguro de tener plazos que sean alcanzables, para no sentirme abrumado y mantener un buen ritmo sin saturarme.

Decisions on priorities should be always informed by the vision of the projects and the goals of their current milestones. Solutions should come after formulating problems to be solved, because having the problem clearly defined will make it easy to see which tasks will be most impactful & effective in solving the problem. Clear goals & defined vision also help switching context between different projects, because it minimizes the time needed to analyze the the project & search for the "next big thing to solve"

When I have multiple projects, I use the Pomodoro technique. I work for 25 minutes, then take a short break. This keeps me focused and avoids burnout. I also make sure to rest between work sessions to stay fresh and alert.

Create a Schedule: Plan your day and assign specific time blocks to each project. Break tasks into smaller chunks, ensuring steady progress. Set Realistic Deadlines: Be honest about how much time each task will take. Avoid cramming too much in a short period to reduce stress and improve quality. Use Tools: Utilize time management tools like Trello, Asana, or time-tracking apps to stay on top of deadlines and monitor progress.

Managing my time effectively is key to balancing multiple projects. I create a structured daily routine where I allocate dedicated time blocks to each project. Tools like Trello and Asana help me stay organized, track progress, and ensure that no task is forgotten. By breaking down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces, I can maintain steady progress without feeling overwhelmed. Time management also involves avoiding multitasking, which helps me focus fully on one project at a time, resulting in higher quality work.

Personally, I reckon it's very easy to forget that downtime is fundamental in order to remain efficient at work. As such, it kinda follows that one would need to be just as strict with downtime as we are with work. This is particularly relevant when you're facing an issue that requires some creative thinking to resolve. Having proper downtime helps your brain put the issue in the backburner and slowly chip away at it. In fact, I'd be curious to see actual data on efficiency gains over time with proper downtime as opposed to blasting through work in a red-bull fuelled streak 🤔 At any rate, everybody's brains work differently. Find what works out for you, and don't feel bad about downtime!

To ensure a balance between work and life, consider setting reminder alerts for both the start and end of your dedicated work time. These reminders ensure you stay on track and prevent work from encroaching on valuable personal time. Have a dedicated environment to work in (even if for example you are working remotely) and force yourself to work in that place. This reminds you that when you are in that place, you are working and it avoids overwork and burnout.

Define Work Hours: Establish a strict start and end time for work each day. Avoid letting project tasks bleed into personal time to prevent burnout. Learn to Say No: Be selective about taking on new responsibilities. Know your limits and avoid overcommitting to ensure quality in each project. Create a Distraction-Free Zone: Set up a dedicated workspace where you can focus on tasks without interruptions, maintaining a clear separation between work and relaxation.

Separating your "work space" and "leisure space" becomes especially important when working remotely. It can be anything - different room, different machines to work on (work laptop vs home PC), different lighting in the room. I use the same PC for leisure and work, and the trick I found useful is "virtual desktop" - that way everything work-related sits on one contained space, while games, socials and off-work activities sit on another. It's important to separate oneself from the work activities & notification when trying to rest. Also, as much as I hate it - physical exercises work wonders when it comes to getting away from invasive work-related thoughts!

I tend to look back at early development teams and one documentary that I find fascinating on this topic is the making of Rampage for the Arcade platforms. Guys were putting all nighters around a PC, some sitting on the floor, eating pizza for dinner and so on. Maybe not the healthiest lifestyle knowing what we know now, but clearly the drive to get something done was there, shared naturally between every team member. It's really hard today to get that natural flow of work in such a structured world we have today. Granted some people felt under appreciated or were just flat out ignored despite their contributions. The very first Mortal Kombat game ever is an example of rights not being respected due to lack of formal contracts.

Game development is a very collaborative effort, and there's no silver bullet when it comes to game design, management or other aspects of the process. Each team and every person in it is unique and might require special approach. Keeping an open mind, understanding each other and adjusting to each other's quirks go a long way.

Communicate Clearly: Establish open lines of communication with your team. Use tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams to stay in touch and ensure everyone is on the same page. Leverage Strengths: Identify each team member’s strengths and assign tasks accordingly. This maximizes efficiency and leverages individual expertise. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular meetings to discuss progress, address challenges, and align on goals. This keeps the team coordinated and proactive.

Flexibility is a key skill when managing multiple game projects because priorities can change quickly. Whether it's a new feature that needs immediate attention or unexpected bugs that need fixing, I stay adaptable. I regularly reassess my schedule and shift tasks as needed to accommodate any changes. For example, if one project faces a delay or needs additional testing time, I use that opportunity to focus on advancing another project. Embracing flexibility allows me to stay productive and reduce stress, knowing that plans may evolve.

Legendary games are made by legendary teams. Allow everyone on the team to do their best by trusting them to do what they are good at, and be flexible enough to accept the positive outcome of their work, even if it's not quite the one you imagined. Game development is a creative process, and the creative input of every single contributor should count - when it fits the game's theme and vision, of course.

Regular reflection is critical for balancing multiple game projects. I take time at the end of each week to assess what’s been accomplished, what still needs attention, and where adjustments are necessary. This helps me stay aligned with the overall goals of each project while identifying any bottlenecks or inefficiencies. Reflection also allows me to refocus my efforts on tasks that may need extra attention or to shift priorities as new challenges arise. By regularly reflecting, I ensure that my workflow remains efficient and that I’m always improving.