Starting as a Solo Dev: Your First 90 Days Without Burnout

You made the leap. No more boss, no fixed working hours, you're your own boss now. The freedom feels exhilarating – at least for the first few weeks.

Then reality hits: acquiring customers, writing code, sending invoices, doing marketing, providing support. Everything at once. Everything just you.

53% of all founders experience burnout in their first year. 45% describe their mental health as "bad" or "very bad". These aren't exceptions – this is the norm.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

This guide shows you how to survive the critical first 90 days as a solo developer – without destroying yourself in the process.

The Uncomfortable Truth About the First 90 Days

Let me be honest: Most "How I reached 10k MRR in 30 days" posts on Twitter are either survivorship bias or marketing.

The reality looks like this:

Month 1: You're euphoric, working 12-hour days because everything is new and exciting
Month 2: The euphoria fades, first doubts arise, you compare yourself to others
Month 3: Exhaustion sets in, you wonder if this was the right decision

This pattern is so predictable that psychologists call it the "Enthusiasm Trough." And this is exactly where most people fail.

The key isn't working harder. The key is working sustainably from the start.

The 90-Day Framework for Sustainable Self-Employment

Phase 1: Foundation (Days 1-30)

The first 30 days aren't for making money. They're for building your system.

Set Fixed Working Hours – And Stick to Them

Sounds counterintuitive, right? You're free now! That's exactly the problem.

Without structure, work and leisure blur together. You "quickly" check Slack at 10 PM. You work on "just this one thing" on Sunday. Before you know it, you're working all the time.

My system:

Working hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (with a real lunch break)
No work after 7:00 PM
At least one completely free day per week

Yes, this feels like lost productivity at first. Long-term, it's the opposite.

Set Up Your Workspace

Separate work and personal life spatially. This can be a dedicated room, a corner with a desk, or if necessary a fixed spot at the kitchen table – but always the same place.

Your brain needs this spatial separation as a signal: "Now it's work time" and "Now it's time off."

Define Your "Enough" Number

How much money do you really need to live? Not "would be nice to have," but: What are your fixed costs?

This number is your north star. Everything above it is a bonus. This clarity removes enormous pressure.

Phase 2: Validation (Days 31-60)

Now – and only now – it's time for the real work.

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Your first product doesn't have to be perfect. It has to solve a problem. That's it.

The 7-Day Rule: If you can't build your MVP in 7 days, it's too complex. Cut features until it fits.

I know this hurts. We developers love to build things "properly." But nobody pays for clean architecture. People pay for solved problems.

Talk to Real People

Before you write a single line of code: Talk to 10 potential customers. Not to sell – to understand.

What's their biggest problem in area X?
How do they currently solve it?
What would they pay for a better solution?

These conversations are uncomfortable. They're also the difference between a product nobody wants and one that sells.

The 90/10 Split

90% of your time: Delivering value (building, helping, creating content)
10% of your time: Mentioning your product

This ratio applies to Reddit, Twitter, LinkedIn, everywhere. Nobody likes spam. Everyone appreciates helpfulness.

Phase 3: Momentum (Days 61-90)

You have a product. Maybe even first customers. Now begins the most dangerous phase.

The "More is Better" Trap

Your first feature request comes in. Then the second. Then the third. Suddenly you have a roadmap with 47 items and the feeling of never being done.

Stop.

Ask yourself for every feature: "Would existing customers cancel if I don't build this?" If no, it goes on the "Maybe later" list.

Establish Recovery Rituals

By now you've accomplished a lot. Your body and mind need recovery – active, not passive.

What works:

Movement (walking, sports, whatever)
Time with people who have nothing to do with your work
Hobbies that have nothing to do with screens

What doesn't work:

Netflix as "relaxation" (that's passive consumption, not recovery)
"I'll relax when the project is done" (it's never done)

The Weekly Review

Every Friday, 30 minutes. Three questions:

What did I accomplish this week?
What stressed me out or slowed me down?
What will I change next week?

This small feedback loop prevents you from running in the wrong direction for months.

Warning Signs You Must Not Ignore

Burnout doesn't happen overnight. It builds up. These signals show you that you need to take action:

You can't switch off anymore, even on vacation
Sleep problems, even though you're tired
Cynicism towards your own project
Physical symptoms (headaches, tension, stomach problems)
You avoid social contacts

If you have more than two of these symptoms: Act now. Not next week. Not after the launch. Now.

This might mean:

Taking a day completely off
Talking to someone (friend, partner, therapist)
Radically reducing your workload

No project is worth your health.

Your 90-Day Cheat Sheet

Month 1: Foundation

Month 2: Validation

Conduct 10 customer conversations
Build MVP in 7 days
Launch first version (no matter how imperfect)
Collect and implement feedback
Establish recovery rituals

Month 3: Momentum

Win first paying customers
Prioritize feature requests (don't implement everything!)
Introduce weekly review
Monitor warning signs
Do 90-day retrospective

Conclusion: Slow is Fast

The most successful solo developers I know have one thing in common: They play the long game.

They don't work 80 hours a week. They work focused, recover properly, and do this for years.

The first 90 days set the tone for everything that follows. Use them to build sustainable habits – not to burn yourself out.

You're not building a startup that's supposed to be sold in 18 months. You're building a life.

Treat it that way.

Are you currently in your first 90 days? Or planning the leap into self-employment? I'd love to hear from you – write me on [Twitter/X] or share your experience in the comments.