Guest post by Laurie Abner from safehappyhouses.com.
Side Hustle Nation points out that taking on additional work outside of your regular job – commonly referred to as a “side hustle” or “gig” – has become increasingly popular. Writers often work side gigs or do their own writing on the side to complement a 9-5 job. But is side hustle burnout something you should worry about?
Thanks in part to technology, opportunities exist now that are as varied as our collective needs and talents. The extra income helps make ends meet for those who come up short before payday, provides others with savings and investment opportunities, or helps those looking to transition into a new career before quitting their current job prematurely.
Those are all compelling reasons; however, when so many people already lament about not having “enough hours in a day,” the burden of filling those already over-taxed hours with additional work can take an unwelcome and unhealthy toll on your well-being.
As with all things, achieving balance is key, which can be difficult without some help and guidance. Here are some tips to help you avoid side hustle burnout.
Schedule Self-Care
Adding self-care activities to your calendar helps you solidify your commitment to follow through on doing them, notes Path Forward, just as you do any work activity that claims a position in your busy day. It doesn’t need to take hours, and committing to activities you can do at home or at or near work will also save time.
A few ideas include getting up 30 minutes earlier for a brisk morning walk to add movement to your day, 20 minutes of yoga or meditation, or just reading a few chapters of an enjoyable book.
A great way to facilitate all this and really optimize your surroundings for self-care is by taking some time to cleanse your home of negativity. That means eliminating self-doubt and self-criticism as much as possible, but it also means eliminating more tangible obstacles like clutter and mess that interfere with your normal routine and subconsciously add a great deal of stress and anxiety to our lives.
This also includes scheduling when your day ends so that you get enough sleep. Sleep has, unfortunately, been relegated to something of a “luxury” for many people, yet it is the one activity that, in the right amount, benefits everyone and positively impacts every aspect of our well-being – from our weight to our mood to our immune system, and that’s just a partial list. If you’re still not convinced, be aware that getting enough sleep makes you more productive, which can be the difference in your ability to juggle two jobs and do them both well.
It’s hard to settle down for rest or time to relax when negativity has set up residence in your home, where you spend the most time. Signs of negativity include excessive arguments and bickering amongst family members, as well as criticism and people playing the blame game.
Reduce these stressors by taking some simple steps, such as decluttering, cleaning, and incorporating some houseplants and feng shui. Opening the curtains and blinds to let in more natural light is a good strategy, too.
It may take some time to adjust your mindset so that you recognize and internalize that self-care activities deserve a time slot right alongside a new client meeting, but remember that it’s not about adding more to your day – it’s about getting more out of your day.
Consider that the average person spends over two hours a day on social media. While some of that time might be work-related, you will likely be surprised at how just changing your social media habits can free up time for self-care pursuits – and in many cases, reducing social media consumption can be considered a self-care activity on its own.
If you are still unsure of where to start, schedule a consultation with a healing practitioner. They can help you set goals and collaboratively help you design strategies to meet them. Taking that step can lead to greater self-accountability and an understanding of the benefits you can achieve by incorporating self-care into your daily routine.
We Need to Work, But We Can Do it Better
The familiar quote, “I don’t live to work; I work to live,” is a sentiment that is worth remembering, but the reality is that most of us need to work to survive. The lucky ones also enjoy their work, so much so that they get wrapped up in it until the line between working and living does indeed become blurred – or, as Vincent Van Gogh so aptly put it: “I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.”
One way to improve the efficiency of your work is to practice good time management. It’s all about being more productive to mitigate the effects of overwork. A big part of this is to automate tasks that are repetitive and time-consuming. For instance, if your job requires you to create banners for YouTube, you can use a free online tool to do most of the work. This process is as simple as picking a YouTube banner template and plugging in your information. All of the platform’s requirements are met (sizing, image quality, etc.), and the end product is easily downloaded for use.
Whether you love your work or you need to work two jobs to get by, you can create a better balance by finding support. Talk to your supervisor at your regular job to see if you can delegate some of your workload. One compelling argument may be to suggest creating an internship. After all, it provides an invaluable service to college students, and you may be able to work with the college so the student gets class credit in lieu of a stipend from the employer.
You should also evaluate the pool of available freelancers and consultants, for either your regular job or your side gig. You won’t have to look hard; online job platforms can streamline your search and keep the task within your budget. For example, if you have been trying to find time to create a website for your new business, consider hiring out that function. If writing is not your strength, look at hiring a content writer for your business writing needs.
The Candle That Burns Both Ends Can’t Stand Up
No one gives out badges of honor if you work so hard that you experience side hustle burnout – that is no way to celebrate your professional successes. Being able to live a healthy life by finding and achieving balance will be your long-lasting reward.
Peter Wyn Mosey is an experienced writer, editor, and proofreader. If you’d like to talk about working together, send a message to [email protected].
Photo courtesy of Unsplash