Working is stressful. You have to deal with office politics, and impress your boss and customers. And, sometimes you have to put in more hours than you signed up for.
What’s even more challenging than working a full-time job? Juggling a full-time job and a side hustle.
A side hustle, passion project, or moonlighting gig — whatever you call it — can be time consuming. But, managing your side hustle while working full time doesn’t have to be a full- time struggle.
With these expert tips, you’ll learn how to create the balance necessary to succeed in your side hustle, day job, and home life by:
- Setting boundaries
- Managing customer expectations
- Maximizing your time
1. Compartmentalize Your Full- Time Job, Side Hustle, and Personal Life
Setting boundaries is an important part of successfully managing your side hustle while working full-time.
When all the different aspects of your life blend into each other, it becomes difficult to strike a good work-life balance. But without one, you’ll burn out.
If you can’t balance your needs with your responsibilities, you’re likely to end up unsuccessful all around. You’ll perform poorly at your main job, your side job, and let your personal life fall by the wayside.
Here are some tips for compartmentalizing work and play:
Don’t Work on Your Side Hustle While You’re at Your Day Job
It might seem harmless — taking a call related to your side gig or working on your website.
However, if you get caught slacking on the job you’re being paid to do, you could be in big trouble. Don’t get fired. If you’ve just started, you probably can’t support yourself with just your side hustle… at least not yet.
Schedule Time to Work on Your Side Hustle
Avoid the temptation to work on your side hustle while you’re at your full- time job by scheduling in the time when you’ll do work for it.
Looking forward to the time when you can focus on your passion project may help you get through any day job drudgery.
Additionally, having time set aside on your calendar will keep you accountable. Schedule the side gig tasks you need to accomplish, and stick with it.
Separate Yourself From Distractions
Physical boundaries are the easiest kind of boundaries to stick to.
Separate your side hustle from your work and home obligations by doing them in different places.
Keep your full-time job at the office. Work on your side hustle at a cafe or library. And, keep your family time sacred in your home.
Of course, leaving home isn’t possible all the time.
If you don’t have a home office, you can still designate a space (or even just a chair) from which you can focus on your side hustle. Give yourself permission to ignore the dirty dishes and piles of laundry while you’re working.
Managing your side hustle while working full- time is a balancing act.
2. Be Transparent With Customers When Juggling a Side Hustle and a Full- Time Job
You know your side hustle is a part-time venture, but your customers may not.
Your clients might try to reach you while you’re busy at your full-time job. Don’t lose customers because you missed too many calls. Be transparent about your availability.
Let your clients know when they can get in touch with you.
Put your hours on your website, in your email signature, and in your voicemail prompt.
Set expectations on your website’s “contact me” page. Explain that you respond to emails within 48 hours, or that you check your inbox only on weekends.
Include your office or store hours in your email signature. In your voicemail greeting, let clients know you don’t respond to phone calls before five p.m.
Setting client expectations is one of the keys to successfully managing your side hustle while working full- time.
3. Maximize Your Time to Maximize Your Side Hustle
When you work 40 hours per week, your time is limited. Add in time spent growing a side business, and you might feel like having time to sleep is a luxury.
One of the secrets to managing your side hustle while working full- time is learning how to maximize your time.
Here are three ways to do that:
Spend Less Time on Repetitive Tasks.
Do you find yourself writing the same email over and over again? Create email templates you can copy and paste.
Are you constantly answering the same questions about your products? Create a FAQ page on your website.
Come up with solutions that decrease the time spent on busy work. Spend the time you save on impactful initiatives for your side hustle.
Invest in Tools That Free up Your Time
Many time-consuming tasks can be done more quickly, or even automated, with the right software.
For example, instead of manually publishing all of your social media posts, use a scheduling tool to automate publication.
Use software to automate as much of your side business as possible. There are lots of free and low-cost options available.
Outsource Help for Your Side Hustle
It can be difficult to give up control when you run a business. However, learning how to delegate means you can focus on the things only you can do for your side hustle.
Document common processes in your side business, then train someone else to do those tasks.
You can also outsource help in your home life to gain more time to dedicate to your passion project.
Hire someone else to mow your lawn and clean your house. Have your groceries delivered. Schedule a babysitter during the time you’ve carved out for your side hustle.
Time is of the essence when you’re simultaneously working a full-time job and pursuing your passion on the side. Automate repetitive tasks, embrace software, and hire help to make the most of it.
Entrepreneurship is exciting, but it’s also demanding — even more so when it’s done alongside a 40 hour per week job.
But, managing your side hustle while working full- time can be done without you ending up drained. Just set clear boundaries, as well as customer expectations, and optimize the time you have.
Ready to take your side hustle to the next level?
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