How do you keep side projects from feeling like more work?

Try the smallest separation that might change the feeling. A separate editor profile, desktop, or set of project folders can give a hobby project its own space without making you maintain two full setups. Keep accounts, repositories, and settings distinct where practical, too.

If that still feels too much like work, a different machine or operating system is a bigger but clearer boundary. I would start small and see which part of the usual setup is actually triggering the work association.

A dedicated physical workspace can matter more than changing editors. If you can, keep work in one spot and do personal coding somewhere else. Even moving to a different desk or using a separate user account may help signal that the session is for something different.

And the boundary can be about time, not just equipment. If coding has started to feel like an obligation, it may be worth taking a break or choosing a non-coding hobby for a while.

There's also a good case for not splitting things up. If you like your tools and they are not employer-mandated, using the same editor for everything may be simpler. A new setup can become another project to configure instead of making the fun project easier to start.

If the tools are tied to work, or work accounts and personal accounts are getting mixed, then separating profiles, credentials, and devices is more than a mood trick. It can help keep work material and personal work clearly apart. Check your employer's policies before using its equipment or accounts for personal projects.

Change the activity rather than the environment. If the appeal is making things, try something hands-on like cooking, woodworking, or drawing for a bit. A hobby does not have to become another place to optimize and troubleshoot.