Harnessing the Power of Your Side Hustle

These days it seems like everyone has a side hustle or is at least considering beginning one. 

What’s a side hustle? It’s basically anything you do outside of your main vocation that can earn you extra money or benefits to enhance your world.  

From freelancing to starting a blog to running an Etsy shop, side hustles can take the form of just about anything and are extremely helpful to not only supplement dreams and financial goals but also to push yourself ahead professionally.

And, as someone who has consistently had a side hustle, let me tell ya, it can still get overwhelming trying to juggle more than one job.

So whether your side hustle is just for fun or to bring in the bucks, here are some tips to help you make the right choices and keep you sane (most days!).

PICK A JOB THAT FITS NATURALLY WITH YOUR LIFESTYLE

If you’re already swamped with current commitments, choosing a side hustle that requires extra time might not be the best fit for you. Instead, consider focusing on something that can offer flexibility while complementing your current routine; the goal here is to be happily productive, not stretch yourself too thin.

EXPAND ON A HOBBY OR PASSION YOU ALREADY HAVE

If the thought of venturing into an entirely new field gives you the shivers another option is to build on what’s already in your wheel barrel.  Figure out a way to monetize (a little research, pick the brains of friends and family for what kinds of needs they have) and take it from there. 

Great with crafts, a master at photography, into repurposing used furniture, like to write or instruct? Turn your passion into a side hustle that can honestly even turn into a full-fledged business.

Heeding my own advice, I’m about to launch a web-design business (will keep you posted) after finding I had way too much fun designing sites and graphics that assist others with their visions for expanding their businesses..see how that works? 

Your passion can actually be a blessing to others needing to fulfill their dreams.

PRIORITIZE ORGANIZATION

If you’re gonna start a side hustle, let’s get super real. One of the key components, besides everything mentioned before, is organization.

Without being organized, I promise, it may not be today, it may not be tomorrow but things will start to unravel if you don’t have some order and a way to track what you’re doing.  My suggestion? Try finding an organizational style that works best for you.  If you can’t do it yourself, search out software, online programs, or tap your circle for anyone who loves doing that sort of thing. You’d be surprised how many undercover neat nicks are out there… #I’m guilty;) 

For me, I love to use my handy-dandy planner (so many out there to choose from to fit you) and write things down the old fashion way (never met some color pens and a good doodle I didn’t enjoy) while transferring important dates and notes to my Google Calendar.

Point is, find what works best for you but the most important thing is to be able to keep track of contacts, important files, deadlines, meetings, and/or schedules.

UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK

Like taping your circle, networking is important for so many reasons but it’s often undervalued. 

Most of the time, we think of networking as a way to grow our business connections or as a source of knowledge but I’ve found it to be helpful in other ways as well.  Why not consider joining professional associations or even informal groups that share similar goals and cultivate those relationships.

KNOW YOUR START-UP COST 

As with starting any project, there will be some cost involved.  This is where planning out your vision comes into play. You may want to do freelancing, consulting, or a full-fledged side hustle business.  Either way, you’ll need to walk through your vision so you can get real about your budget and things like upfront cost.  This is the “seed” money needed to get your side-hustle off the ground and running, as you try to make a profit.  

BALANCE YOUR SIDE HUSTLE WITH YOUR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Once you’ve chosen the right side hustle that fits your talent, your schedule (and your budget), it’s time to figure out how to balance it.

You want your side hustle to enhance other aspects of your life, rather than detract from them. Translation? You may need to embrace time management. 

Keeping track of your days and workload is an essential tool, in making sure that you don’t fall behind. 

SCHEDULE TLC

Having a side hustle will inevitably mean that your days will likely get a whole lot busier, and you might even have less time for TLC. Nonetheless, whether your schedule is jam-packed or looking pretty minimal, important to take care of your mental and physical health. 

Remember that a side hustle is only worth it if you are healthy enough and awake enough to enjoy it.

---

While side hustles can be overwhelming and time-consuming, there’s always a reason we decided to take one on. It might have been by choice or it might have been by necessity. Either way, most are chosen with the belief that working more than one job will be a temporary thing. In the meantime, use these tips and tricks to keep crushing it. You’ve got this!

Want some more girl boss articles? Check out some of my other posts:

• Sunday Prep Like a Boss
• Getting Smart with Networking Prep
• 7 Ways to Boss Your Morning Routine

Do you have a side hustle? What would yours be if you don’t?