Prioritizing Self-Care While Launching Your Side Hustle
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Getting a side hustle up and running takes a lot of time and effort, especially if you're working a full-time job, going to school, or taking care of a family. A little preplanning, paired with good time management skills, can help ensure you're taking good care of yourself while you launch your gig. Brittani Sade is a leading advocate of empowering women in the workplace and beyond, offering a wealth of resources designed to help women achieve their goals.
Focus Your Efforts
Knowing what you want to do, and how you want to do it, should be a primary element of the early planning stages of your side hustle start-up. Some people work several side gigs, while others zero in on one primary role. According to Millennial Money, while it can be good to try a few gigs to see what fits best for you, you don't want to spread yourself so thin that other areas of your personal and professional life suffer.
Manage Your Schedule
Side hustles work best when you can integrate them into your existing life and work schedule. For example, if you work a full-time job at a location 20 miles away, you might be able to drive a rideshare on your way to and from work. Not only does this allow you to earn extra money, but you'll also have company for the commute and be able to use the carpool or high occupancy vehicle lanes to get to your destination faster.
Do What You're Good At
While many people take on side hustles just for the extra income, it's nice when you can find a gig that you enjoy, and excel at. According to Small Business Trends, this might include monetizing a hobby - for example making and selling arts and craft items in an online platform. You could also look for ways to work in a freelance or consulting capacity in a side gig that aligns with your professional expertise.
Balance Work and Life
While you could easily run 24/7 when you’re launching a side hustle, maintaining a healthy and realistic work-life balance can help you stay sane. Strive to keep some semblance of a schedule for work, family, gig, and personal time. This is especially important if you’re caring for kids who rely on you for a sense of stability. Even if your schedule varies from one week to another, keep some things sacred - like bedtime stories, a weekly yoga class, or a night out with friends.
Don't Get Run Down
Take care to not get overwhelmed while working your side gig. Eat a healthy balanced diet, get regular exercise, ensure you have adequate sleep, and set aside time for self-care. This might mean spending time in nature, enjoying a solitary day at a spa, or taking a regular spin class to re-energize. Make personal care part of your routine as well. Invest in soft, comfy clothing that doesn’t sacrifice style - for example, stretchy leggings can easily transition from home to work, while a new robe can mark the transition to the end of the day in pampered fashion.
Maximize Your Efforts
At some point, you may decide your side hustle is going well enough that you can catapult it into a full-blown business. If this sounds like a logical next step, start by getting a business license, developing a website and social media presence, and creating a marketing plan. You may be able to convert your side hustle customers into business clients, as well as attract new clients - referrals from happy customers are a great place to start building.
Side hustles can be great for generating extra income as needed, or even advancing your effort to a full-time entrepreneurial venture. Brittani Sade offers a wide range of programs, events, and resources designed to help women achieve their personal and professional objectives. Learn more by visiting the site or connecting via phone or email.
Sheila Johnson has always been a hard worker, but she learned firsthand that her physical and mental health require work too if she wants to continue to excel. All those hours logged at work caught up to her, leaving her run down, stressed, anxious, and experiencing migraines.