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April 12, 2022
If you’re reading this, chances are you have a full-time job and recently started or plan to start a side hustle. You’re not the only one. Many people try to balance a full-time job with another activity meant to provide them with extra cash. In fact, the topic of full-time-side-job balance is quite hot online.
Let’s assume that the concept of a side gig has become a significant part of your life and that you want to pursue additional work to have more money to travel, save, and invest in your passions. However, you’re afraid of burnout, which is unfortunately a real risk for those who work extra hours. However, with strategic scheduling, you can prevent this issue and optimise your time to ensure you don’t compromise your wellbeing or primary responsibilities.
Before engaging in a side gig, it would be wise to define your goals and priorities to ensure you’ll work toward achieving them from the beginning. Suppose you want to engage in copy trading while working in a 9-5 setup; you need to invest part of your time researching how the strategy works and making a list of traders you want to copy. To reach your goal, you might have to spend a couple of hours weekly researching the market and around a half hour every morning to catch up with the latest industry news.
Here are some tips to plan and work towards achieving your goals:
- Identify the niche you want to explore
- Choose a reliable source to gain information about it
- Define your goals
- Establish the strategies you want to use
- Determine how much time you can invest and create a schedule
In the context of having a full-time job and trying to run a successful side gig, time management is paramount for your success. It’s essential to allocate consistent and undisturbed periods to work on it. Figure out if you have more free time in the morning, afternoon, or weekends, and establish a routine you find easy to stick to.
By establishing in advance the time you dedicate to your side hustle you prevent it from bleeding into your full-time job or personal time, which are also vital for your wellbeing. Suppose you’re working on your side-gig in the morning, inform your partner and family to minimise their interruptions, so you can focus and make the most of the time.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to understand time management constraints when you engage in these two strenuous endeavours. You have limited available hours due to your primary job, so make sure you are realistic about your expectations regarding your side hustle. You might be motivated to run a full business on the side, but your time and energy levels do not allow you to dedicate eight hours daily after working eight hours at your primary job.
Growth takes time in everything you do, so maintain a positive attitude and stay resilient when facing challenges. Celebrate each small victory, from completing a project to receiving positive feedback. Acknowledge your progress to stay motivated and invest the necessary resources into your side hustle, even when you’re facing challenges.
You don’t want to overwhelm yourself or underperform at your primary job by working round the clock to run your side gig. Your time is valuable, and while working both at the office and for your business, there might be little time left to relax and spend time with your family and friends. In this case, outsourcing tasks that don’t require your direct involvement might be a smart decision.
However, before outsourcing, review your financials to figure out if you earn enough to cover your expenses and make a profit monthly. From hiring someone to handle the household chores to collaborating with someone to run your social media profiles for your business – it can be worth spending the money to save time and allow you to focus on the things that really require your attention.
Forecasting your next couple of months or even years, you’ll be quite busy, so it’s time to learn to prioritise. Be adamant about the time you allocate to running your side gig, but also about your time. Learn to say no to the activities that would require you to invest energy without gaining something. For example, your friends might be used to asking you to run errands for them, but now you must refuse to do it because you can spend that time working on your side gig or with your family. Time management implies making hard decisions and identifying the activities that conflict with your side hustle schedule.
As mentioned earlier, burnout is a real threat for those that have two jobs or try to build a business while keeping their primary job. Incorporating breaks and resting is paramount to protect their wellbeing, and you should prioritise it as you would do for an activity crucial for your business’ success. Effective time management requires knowing when to step back. This is actually the secret to ensuring long-term sustainability for your side gig.
When you create a schedule, make sure to incorporate rest and relaxing activities. Don’t neglect your wellbeing only because you’re trying to become a successful entrepreneur. It won’t serve you to damage your health and be forced to take a longer break. Your hobbies, the time spent with your family and friends, and physical activity are essential to keep you inspired and energised.
Starting a business or engaging in a side gig isn’t a straightforward journey. You need to review your results and objectives regularly, and adjust as necessary to stay on the path to success. Keep in mind that running a side hustle alongside having a full-time job is a balancing act that requires a lot of energy and planning.
