As a general impression, it sounds like you might be putting too much stock in external validation instead of looking within, and then losing interest when soci

As a general impression, it sounds like you might be putting too much stock in external validation instead of looking within, and then losing interest when society or your peers neglect to keep it coming your way. To answer your question, here is my specific methodology for long term personal projects. 1) Do some work on it every day if possible so as not to lose my train of thought. Even if it's only a tiny amount of progress, it all adds up. Expect it to feel like a chore some of the time. 2) Don't let myself start a new project until I've brought the current one to a satisfactory conclusion (by some definition). For you that could mean a minimum viable product, or if you've gone off the idea, then it could mean documenting your efforts to an adequate standard for someone else theoretically to continue it. 3) For something like exercise or personal fitness, I choose a routine calibrated far enough below the ceiling of my endurance that it feels easy most days but on the worst day out of a month I'm glad it isn't any tougher. Then notch it up monthly by the smallest possible increment.