How To Balance A Side Hustle With A 9-5 Job

A side hustle is work that you do in addition to your main job. It can be anything from writing, photography to interior design or art… It’s a great way to pursue your passions and build a second source of income. Who knows? Maybe your side hustle could one day grow to become a full-time gig. But when you have a full-time job, deadlines, extra projects, and long hours can make you exhausted and make you feel like you hardly have any time to work on your passions.

I understand how challenging it can be to balance a full-time job and a side hustle without burning out, but I’m here to help! Here are seven tips I have learned along the way:

1. Focus on work before your side hustle

It’s important to be diligent at work and show up on time. By meeting your deadlines and giving your full-time job the necessary attention, you’ll be able to perform well and avoid any added stress that could affect your side hustle. Keep the main thing the main thing, and your security blanket secure.

2. Be clear on your side hustle vision

Ask yourself some important questions like, what would you like to spend your time doing? What would you like to achieve with your side hustle? What’s the big picture dream? Who will your side hustle help? Is there anything currently stopping you from achieving your dreams? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you stay motivated and focused. You can easily create a vision board to help you stay on track, I use Canva for this.

3. Make it a priority

Even though your full-time job is your “main” hustle, your side hustle is still important and should be treated that way. Building your dream career and passion takes time, so you’ve got to put time into it. Just like you prioritise work, exercise, and social activities, prioritise time for your side hustle too.

4. Plan dedicated time for your side hustle into your week

Make it a routine to plan your week. Schedule time for work, life admin, social activities, and your side hustle, which you should treat as a non-negotiable activity.

Think about how this plan can work best for you. Do you have most creative energy early in the morning or late at night? What time do you realistically need to go to sleep in order to wake up refreshed and with energy in the morning? And plan your side hustle around that. No matter how busy the week gets, at least you know that you have saved some time to work on your hustle.

And even if things don’t go according to plan (because that’s life!), give yourself some grace. It’s okay. Pick things up again when you’re able to.

5. Make the most of your free time

Look at how much free time you have during the week, including days off, weekends, afternoons, or evenings with no plans. Those are great times to schedule in your side hustle.

6. Outsource

Consider outsourcing some of your tasks, such as video editing, printing, or graphic designing. This can reduce your workload and free up some time.

7. Be consistent and patient

Remember that building a side hustle takes time, hard work, and patience. With your full-time job, you may not be able to give as much time to your passion as others, so don’t compare yourself to them! Focus on the time that you can consistently commit to each week, and things will grow at the pace that’s right for you.

Some of the best times of my week are when I get to focus on my passion and build my dream career! With a full-time job, the balance isn’t easy, but it is so possible and worth it! I hope these tips help you pursue your passions and find a balance that works for you. You’ve got this!

Are you balancing a full-time job and a side hustle? How are you making it work?