Business

July 21, 2022

By Dana Sitar

Starting your own business is hard enough. But trying to fit that business into nights or weekends after hours of full-time work at a day job can be downright exhausting.

It's tempting to give up or become disenchanted with the side hustle when long days sap the energy and creativity you need to build your business. When in doubt, try these tips to stay fresh and keep your business chugging along, even around a demanding day job:

1. Fit your side hustle in during your most productive times. - Do whatever you can to be in control of the hours you get to spend on your passion, rather than settle for cramming it in around your day job.

2. Take control of your off-work hours. - If you have absolutely no control over your job schedule, optimize the hours that surround it. Make your side hustle a priority to keep room and energy in your mind for it. Set up a home office, visit a neighborhood cafe, go to the library, or rent a desk at a co-working space.           

3. Utilize small windows of free time. - The most difficult part of running a side hustle is mustering the energy to do all that extra work after a full day. Instead of extending each day by several hours, regularly dedicate small windows to your side business.

4. Allow yourself time to rest and refresh. -  Go for a walk, do yoga, wash the dishes, and listen to your favorite music after dinner, etc. Take your clear, refreshed mind and renewed energy to work on your side hustle before bed.                       

5. Know what's worth your time. - Not all opportunities are created equal. When you are brand new, taking whatever free work comes your way may be a smart way to build a portfolio and experience. As you gain experience, you'll have to let go of "lesser" work to make room for better opportunities.

6. Manage your promises. - Use your time wisely, and respect your right to time for family, friends and fun, too. You also have to respect a potential client's right to quality work -- don't cram in more than you can do well, or you'll not only burn out, but also burn your chances for good referrals and testimonials.

7.  Love, love, love what you do. - You can so easily become caught up in the myriad tips, tutorials and well-meaning advice for running your business and making money. Before you know it, you lose sight of the passion that once drove your business. Don't let that happen. Always choose the path you'll love, and the extra hours and energy you pour into this business will be exhilarating, not exhausting.

Read the full article here:

How to Avoid Side Hustle Burnout (entrepreneur.com)