> But let’s get back to programming. For me, a side project must satisfy specific requirements:

    > It must have high educational value
    > It must be complex
    > It must be monetizable
    > I have to feel it

This boils down to 3 items, educational, complex, and feeling it. You want it to be complex in order to "feel" it. My advice, eliminate the feeling it requirement. You will never feel like pushing something through the finish line, because doing so requires doing some boring stuff, "Work". Instead introduce discipline, working on things you do not want to work on because you want to complete what you started.

Worth reading The Creative Act by Rick Rubin. May help your relationship with side projects.