How do you manage working full-time and your side projects?

My new project relies heavily on content but right now at the planning and keyword research phase. Not as time-intensive yet so spent 1-2 hours after work (I work from home, but from 9-5). I still made sure I have time for my partner and my dog and don't let the side project consume me. I used Asana to keep track of things and planned everything ahead.

My schedule has changed recently due to more pressure at my full-time job and a baby on the way... but I found working 8-11pm the most effective time for me. The rest of the family was quiet at that point so few distractions. I would do that a few nights a week and maybe a few hours on Saturday morning. I’d get in somewhere between 9-15 hours in a week like that. Downside was that i wasn’t always getting enough sleep.
(Sidebar: Doing a side-project while having little kids is quite tough, so I’m curious if others on this thread have shared experience.)

I used to work on my commute to and from work (30 minutes each way), spend my lunch break on my laptop (60 minutes) and then work at night (between 2 & 5 hours).