There will be a time in your life when you need a side hustle to make ends meet and there may come a time when a side hustle turns into something more. It might come immediately, or slowly over time, but your side hustle can turn into something you are too passionate about to give up even though you have a “traditional” 9 to 5 day job.
It’s not called a hustle for nothing. If it is something you want, you will make time to work for it! Here are three helpful bits of advice I wish I had known when I started hustling.
Identify your priorities
Working two jobs will consume the majority of your time, therefore you will need to be an organizational ninja. Find the best system to support your hustle. Since you will be managing separate jobs, you need a system that is easy to distinguish the two, but that also works cohesively together. It can be challenging at times to switch gears from one to the other, especially if your gigs are unrelated.
Have clear, set plans and identify your priorities. Make your goals daily or weekly based on how much time is involved. You don’t want to lose your full-time role because you are dedicating too much time to your side gig, so be sure to communicate with your managers (both of them!).
Make use of intentional time
Everyone has 24 hours in a day, but how you use them is up to you. If you are committed to a 9 to 5 day job, but you like your nights off, then find time throughout the day to work a side hustle that won’t interfere. Wake up an hour early to answer emails you missed yesterday, use your lunch hour to make phone calls, use your commute as conference call time.
Being conscious of how you are spending your time is an easy way to ensure you are getting everything done. That being said, avoid saying “yes” to everything. Don’t let FOMO get the best of you and don’t feel bad for missing the third birthday of a coworker’s child.
Never explain yourself. Your friends, family, or coworkers may not understand why you choose to continue your side hustle when you don’t necessarily “need” to. Don’t feel obligated to explain yourself to them. Find a polite way of saying “if I have to explain it to you, you’ll never understand.”
Take a day off
There will be a moment where it will hit you, where you are past the point of being tired and fatigue will become part of your personality. Usually, once the initial shock of exhaustion is over, you’ll be more productive because you and your body adjust to the additional working hours and lack of sleep.
Even so, take a day off. You deserve it. If you can’t take a whole day, even a half-day can help rejuvenate your mind and get you refocused. Try taking an afternoon off, unplug, get a massage with zero access to phone calls and emails.
As someone who started a side hustle to make extra cash, serving and bartending turned into something more than I could have imagined. I made some really great connections and now work a side gig at a winery on weekends. This industry has opened my eyes to a world more than just drinking my way through; eventually I plan to get my certifications for wine and spirits and maybe even a level of Sommelier.
It won’t be easy and you will have to make some sacrifices, but it will be worth it. If you’re looking for some part-time opportunities or side gigs check out Jobs2Careers.com.
