Photo credit: Alisa Anton
By Brad Krause
Whether you want to develop your professional skillset, share your creative talents, or save up more money for a major financial goal, you might be interested in starting a side hustle. Launching a side hustle can be a great way to focus on interesting new projects while making a little extra cash, but if you’re already working at a full-time job, you might be concerned that your side hustle will leave you with limited time to relax.
Is it really possible to make time for self-care when you’ve got a full-time job and a side hustle? If you manage your time properly, the answer is yes! Career resources from Idea Pathway will help you manage your priorities, and these tips will show you how to balance two jobs without sacrificing your mental or physical health.
Hire an Assistant
Right from the start, it’s important to prioritize efficiency in your new business. If you’re disorganized, you’ll waste time throughout the day, and you’ll find yourself feeling harried and stressed rather than productive.
You might want to consider hiring a virtual assistant who can help you stay on top of your to-do list. By outsourcing time-consuming administrative tasks to a freelance professional, you’ll be able to work on the projects that are most important to you. A virtual assistant can take care of everything from answering emails to making phone calls to scheduling meetings. When you’re ready to start looking for an assistant, you can browse freelance job boards. You’ll be able to compare their reviews, rates, and estimated delivery times.
Turn Off Your Notifications
Even if you have a full-time job and a side hustle, you still have the right to fully unplug when you’re not “on the clock.” However, as an employee and a small business owner, it can be tough to figure out where to draw the line – after all, you never know when someone might reach out to you, and you might worry that taking a step back from your laptop or smartphone will cause you to miss out on opportunities.
But when you’re juggling so many responsibilities, it’s even more important to turn off your notifications outside of business hours so that you can fully recharge. Aim to mute your notifications for your email and various messaging apps before dinner time, and try not to turn them back on again until the start of the next workday. You’ll be able to fully enjoy your downtime without interruptions!
Use an Organized Planner
Your to-do list is extensive, and when you’re trying to stay organized at your full-time job and in regards to your side hustle, it’s all too easy to forget about a minor task, email the wrong person, or miss a deadline. That’s why maintaining a planner is key. You can pick up a basic planner at any office supply store, and you should try to keep it on you at all times so that you can jot down notes whenever necessary.
What should you write down in your planner, and how can you properly organize your schedule and notes? The Organization House recommends making daily to-do lists and color-coding tasks – for example, you could highlight everything related to your full-time job in blue and everything related to your side hustle in yellow.
Set an Early Bedtime
When you have so much going on in your professional life, it can be tempting to stay up late in order to get more work done. You feel like your work is never truly “done,” so you might as well stay awake in order to get ahead. But this approach can leave you exhausted and irritable in the long run. Instead, choose a realistic bedtime and commit to going to bed a little earlier. Develop Good Habits recommends listening to soothing music or using a white noise generator, avoiding caffeine late in the day, and turning off your screens well before bedtime so that blue light exposure doesn’t keep you awake.
Prep Healthy Meals
Do you always find yourself short on time to cook during the week? You may want to spend your weekends’ meal prepping so that you can enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals instead of ordering take-out on busy weeknights! To start meal prepping, you’ll need to stock up containers for portioning out your food. You’ll always want to choose a few nutritious recipes that you can easily cook in bulk and keep fresh in the refrigerator for a few days, like chili, soups, or casseroles.
Take Exercise Breaks
Have you been neglecting your gym membership since you began working on your side hustle? When people get busy in their professional lives, they often feel like they have to give up the time they once spent exercising to focus on work instead. But you can keep up with your fitness routine by taking breaks throughout your workday to exercise. For instance, you might be able to step outside for a quick jog before lunch, do a few yoga poses in between meetings, or even do crunches and push-ups when you’re feeling tired just to get your blood pumping again.
Spend Time Outdoors
Getting out into nature is a free form of self-care that has the power to completely transform your mood. When you’re feeling bogged down by work, spending time outdoors can help you clear your mind and remind you of what’s most important in life. Aim to spend at least a little time outside each day, even if you just get out the front door for a few minutes to watch the sunrise or sunset. If you have a packed schedule, time outdoors is a welcome respite.
Starting a side hustle can benefit your career and financial portfolio. However, there’s no question that running a business part-time while maintaining full-time employment is a tough balancing act. With these tips, you’ll be ready to master the fine art of prioritizing self-care while launching your side hustle.
Want to become a better leader? Check out the informative resources from Idea Pathway! Fill out the contact form on our website to get in touch with your questions.