Allocate weekly dedicated time for your personal projects!

Quick tip for tech managers or team leaders:

Self-development and constant learning is an important need all developers and techies have. It is therefore vital to acknowledge it in your team and support it. No one will regret it.

Pick a quiet day in the office, usually Friday afternoons offer themselves, and block out your/everyone's calendars, reserve a separate space or meeting room if possible.

Allow for several hours, ideally the whole afternoon that day, but at least three undisturbed hours.

Then regularly sit together and have a show 'n tell, agree collaborations perhaps.

Finally, make a point to transition some of those pet projects into management-endorsed requirements, for mutual benefit of company and employee.