The current global pandemic has unexpectedly led to an increase in personal introspection. With most operation modes switching to remote, commuting time became significantly shorter or even disappeared completely, ensuing in people having more potential to capitalize their time productively.
Numerous minds began to explore new ventures or simply act upon dreams they might have pushed to the back burner before. With this extra time and the whisperings of passion, a side hustle can be born. And who knows? If pursued sincerely, it could transform into a notably profitable venture.
Even if your side hustle doesn’t bring in a fortune, every cent counts. But starting a side business is hardly a walk in the park. Not only must you establish the mindset to work on it, but you also need to put into consideration the start-up costs, the time allocation for it, and whether you have the energy to embark on something new and demanding.
According to research,
– 93% of employed Americans manage a side hustle.
– 37% embark on a side business out of passion.
– And 41% begin a side gig to spend more time on hobbies or interests that bring them joy.
Despite the intriguing notion of setting up a side hustle, several obstacles stand in the way, mainly:
– Making time for your side hustle, accounting for about 30% of the challenges.
– Discovering and working on the right idea, accounting for 28%.
– Or simply not knowing where to start, amounting to the remaining 14%.
The question is, how can one possibly balance full-time work, family life, and a side hustle? Although it seems impossible, the very fact that the idea has crossed your mind means that it is doable. How, you ask?
Here are some tips and strategies to help squeeze just a bit more productivity out of your regular 24-hour day:
1. Wake up early
Starting your day earlier, while contributing to your wellness, provides you with that extra bit of time to focus on tasks you usually can’t find time for. Break this down into manageable increments of 10-20 minutes to finally reach a full hour.
Implementing the Pomodoro technique, a proven time management strategy that was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, could also help manage your time better. This technique requires that work is divided into intervals with short breaks in between.
2. Implementing time-management techniques
– Keeping a spreadsheet is an efficient way of tracking where your time goes. You could find a number of Excel templates online to help maintain this.
– Begin to schedule your tasks the night before. This enables you to stay aware of your priorities for the following day, creating consistency and eliminating distractions.
– Coordinate your calendar to align with your weekly goals.
– Avoid multitasking.
3. Overcoming distraction
Producing high-quality work at a swift pace amidst this digital era’s distractions may seem like a tough act, but it’s not impossible. Here is how you can do it:
– Use technology to your advantage by getting rid of digital distractions.
– Try more traditional methods, like writing down ideas on paper, instead of relying solely on digital tools.
– During your break time, allow yourself to get distracted. This can serve as a reward for your focused working period.
Remember: the key to ensuring you have time is willpower. Just a bit of dedication and allocating a couple of additional hours to your side hustle each week can significantly impact your life and potentially even lead you down the path of independence from conventional 9-to-5 job schedules.
I’ve always believed and practiced that the first step to achieve anything is to truly desire it. So, go forth and apply these tips, and let us know in the comments which ones you found most helpful. Feel free to add anything you think we might have missed.