Introduction
Hiya! My name is Kristopher. I am a 3D Artist and UGC Concept Creator here on the Roblox Platform. As a Modeler, I am constantly working on new projects, and of course, working on these projects comes with sometimes being unmotivated (THAT’S OKAY!!), which leads to me moving on to another project. Today, I will be talking about how to stay motivated and persistent whilst’ working on a project and additional tips on mental health! Fellow Developers will also assist with their own opinions on the topic!
Attitude to have when approaching a new project
I feel like this is a topic that most Developers on the platform can relate to. Below, I will be inputting scenarios that several Developers go through whilst’ approaching a new project.
A Positive Attitude that Developers should have when approaching a new Project:
"Okay, today I’m going to start a new project, I’m going to give myself 5-10 minute breaks every 30 minutes, and I will work on it for approximately 4-5 hours! Let’s do this!
See how I (The Developer) approached the project in a positive attitude? It is crucial to give yourself a time frame to work within, whilst’ still having 5-10 minute breaks, to not get bored of the project.
A Negative Attitude that Developers shouldn’t have when approaching a new Project:
"Alright, today I’m going to make something new, I got bored of what I made yesterday and trashed it lol. Today I’ll probably make something I don’t like and trash that too. It’s cool though, I don’t care.
See how negatively I (The Developer) approached the project? Downplaying your skills as a Developer on the platform is a big No-No. Think of it as a building block for disaster. Undermining your skills and ability to complete a project is something that a Developer should never do. You are capable of anything, with enough hard work, and a good time management schedule, anything is possible!
Learning Time Management
Time Management is one of the most essential things to have when creating a project. It helps Developers time themselves, and ultimately, not overwork themselves. Overworking occurs due to not having a coherent Time Management schedule, that comes to good terms with their real lives.
One thing I suggest is giving yourself a time frame of work for the day. This time frame may vary to be compatible with your daily life, but a 4-6 hour work period is what I find that’s the best fit for my everyday life.
Another thing I suggest is learning that it’s totally okay to go past a time frame, it’s okay to add 5-10 minutes of work! I normally do this once I’m nearing the end of my project when those 5-10 minutes of work can impact the end product tremendously.
Tips from other Developers on the Platform on Mental Health and Keeping Persistent with work
Tarabyte - 3D Modeler
“I guess my biggest thing would be to not get burnt out. Set aside a set number of hours that is reasonable - not overwhelming. Make sure to still do the things you enjoy and give yourself a break.”
Dronetto - Translator
“Basically just prioritize your mental health over work, have breaks and a good sleep schedule, still give some time to your friends and family, don’t expect all day working on your game without taking breaks, otherwise you’ll just start to lose motivation and become even more frustrated, worsening your mental health.”
O1lience - Builder
“Don’t compare your work to others, Don’t give up, Keep going, Believe in urself, Try to enjoy the process.”
Wow13524 - Programmer
“The best way for a developer to stay persistent is to set small, weekly goals that should be easy to complete if they work at a set pace. These goals should be big enough to be considered an integral part of the game, yet not too big as to not induce developer burnout. Trello is a great service for creating and managing a checklist of goals.”
JPG_LARGE - 3D Modeler
“If you enjoy your work and find it fun, it’s easy to return to it. Another way to stay consistent is to work on a team, the people on your team will encourage you to do your work and that’s pretty good motivation.”
SunnyTamos - 3D Modeler
"Developers shouldn’t be afraid to take breaks and step away from a project for a while. I think a lot of us in the dev community tend to bury our heads into projects and don’t pull away from them until it’s too late and we’re left burnt out and unmotivated to do more. Not every person is the same, so people can take this advice with a grain of salt and try and see what works for them… but I usually approach my projects like this:
- Plan and organize. Keep objectives open-ended to start with. Worry about filling in details later
- Take breaks when you feel like you need them. It doesn’t matter if it’s just for a few minutes, a few hours, a few days, etc. Find a pace that allows you to both get things done and doesn’t kill you in the process.
- Ask for opinions/critique from friends and peers. A good support system and people to cheer you on will always help you keep motivated, and it’ll keep a fresh perspective on your work.
- Know when to call it quits. Yes, your project can always be made “better”. It could be worked on until the end of time if that’s what you really wanted. Know when to draw the line, step back, and appreciate what you’ve created! It’ll still be there if you ever want to return to it."
Final Statements & Conclusion
As you can see above, many different factors are implemented into successfully staying persistent with a project. You are capable of doing whatever you want to do, create what you want to create, and accomplish what you want to accomplish. Of course, having that go-getter mentality is what will help you in the long run!! Start small, don’t overwork yourself, and enjoy what you are doing. You are not alone, many other Developers are going through this… Now, will you take action? The platform is in your hands, create something fascinating!
Thank you to the Developers who helped me with their advice on the topic, your time and contributions are greatly appreciated.
Signing off - MissKrissy - 3D Modeler
Love, Krissy! 
