Do you believe that having one source of income is risky and uncertain? Many people were laid off in 2020 and started weighing how to adapt to the situation. But shifting to a new career or transferring to another company is challenging in this current crisis. With that said, we need to learn how to balance a side hustle with a full-time job.
How To Balance A Side Hustle
1. Optimize Your Work Schedule
Office work setup is where people spend and often lose lots of their time. There are many distractions like small talks with coworkers, team lunches, and after-office socializations. It’s a significant element of the work-life as long as it does not interfere with your primary duties. Also, a lack of energy and motivation won’t help you find time for a side hustle.
To optimize your work schedule, you must:
- Plan the upcoming week on Fridays
- Utilize time slots instead of to-do lists
- Use the “don’t disturb” mode when working on essential tasks. This way, emails and chat notifications won’t distract from work.
Planning is one of the most powerful productivity techniques I’ve ever practiced. It is simple, yet it’s powerful. Applying the technique in your job and your daily life can help you become more productive and find extra time to work on your side hustle. A planning tool like Trello can help you organize your to-do list and keep track progress and deadlines.
2. Establish a Realistic Weekly Routine
A shift in your weekly routine will help build a schedule that effectively combines work, side hustling, and wellness practices.
“Work for your manager and then work as a manager!”
If you want to expand your income sources, build part-time gigs, and make a difference. Once you get there, you’ll have to be ready to work overtime. So, managing your weekly routine will make it easier to achieve your goals.
3. Speed up
Once you feel confident in every job you do — speed up! And If you are improving — speed up. Don’t be afraid to complete your tasks faster or switch activities, if necessary. Your boss wants results, and usually, it does not matter how much time you spend at work.
Once you manage to arrange your schedule effectively, you can add one more task to your monthly and weekly routines. Do it gradually, one by one.
The Framework Might Not Work For You if:
- You got a new job. Use this opportunity to learn new things at work. You won’t have time to fulfill a side hustle since you will have to focus on new responsibilities.
- You’ve been battling with depression or any other emotional disorder. If your mood and health condition drastically change every day, keeping yourself productive and accountable might be challenging.
- You can’t manage your time effectively. It might prevent you from developing an effective weekly routine. Luckily, there are many proven tips to help you become more productive.
Final Thoughts
Some people say side hustling is tiring and a waste of time. On the other hand, others are grateful for discovering a passion in life and becoming independent from the tedious 9 to 5 routine. This 3-step guide might be helpful in learning how to balance a side hustle and full-time work. We hope it will help you optimize your tasks and find time to pursue your passion.
