Launching a business is no easy feat, and getting it off the ground while you’re working another job is a whole new world of hard work altogether. If you’re able to dive straight into your business full time from the get-go, you can count yourself lucky. But the truth is most creative entrepreneurs and solo business adventurers don’t have that luxury, and it seems almost impossible to make room for your side hustle around the rest of your life.
So many of our guests of Season 02 of CulturallyOurs share the same sentiment. Megan Steffen of Dishique worked on her side-business for well over 3 years while maintaining her full-time job whereas Maggie O’Reilly of Mayta Collection and Meeta Wolff both still have a full-time job and are working on their thriving businesses in parallel.
One of the biggest struggle side-hustlers have is finding the time and energy to make headway, with so much to think about and not enough hours in the day to dedicate to it. So we’ve put together a few things you can do to help you make room for your side hustle.
Remind yourself it’s just a season
One of the most common reasons why we dive into business in the first place is to create the space and flexibility we need to live our lives on our own terms – whether that means spending more time with family, travelling more often, or just working at a schedule that suits you better. But wishing you had more time and sitting around waiting for that time to materialise in your life isn’t going to get you anywhere.
Like the saying “you have to spend money to make money”, in order to find the time you need, you have to sacrifice a little of the time that you have now. Maybe you could get up an hour early a few times each week, dedicate your lunch hour to your side hustle, or say no to a weekend brunch every now and then.
Don’t hate your day job
When being your own boss is so close you can taste it, it’s SO easy to fall into the trap of hating your day job. It might not be ideal, but shifting your mindset to one of gratitude will make going to work much easier to bear in this season.
Instead of focusing on why your job is holding you back, start thinking of all the positives, like the security of a regular paycheck while your business is still growing or the annual leave you are accruing so you can take a day off here and there to work on your own gig. You’ll find yourself in a much better mindset that will benefit your own business too.
Work smarter, not harder
While time is definitely not infinite, you have more time than you think you do – if you use it wisely. Learn to work smarter by tweaking your habits and you’ll find yourself being more productive in your spare moments.
One of the best ways to work smarter is to batch like tasks together. Whenever you have a big stretch of time, like a Saturday afternoon or a Friday night in, schedule in the bigger jobs like writing content or editing photos. For tasks that can be broken down into little pieces or things that take less than five or ten minutes, save the tasks up for when you have a few minutes to spare, like after you’ve put the kids to bed or while you’re waiting for the bus.
Look after yourself first
The progress you make might happen little by little, but that’s okay. You cannot compare your own journey with someone else’s, or the success you see on the outside; you don’t know what it took them to get to where they are today (and it certainly didn’t happen overnight for them either).
Remember that done is better than perfect, and don’t be too hard on yourself. You have to be realistic and keep your expectations for yourself in check. Don’t overcommit yourself or you’ll burn out fast, and you’ll wind up hating the business that you used to love so much.
Jump when you’re ready
Fear is an instinct that holds you back from potentially harmful situations. Most of the time, it’s there to keep you safe – but sometimes your fear holds you back from things that will help you grow.
Taking the leap and turning your side hustle into your main hustle will always come with a healthy dose of fear, no matter how prepared you might be. While it might be nice and easy, the comfort and security of your day job could be holding you back. ‘Ready’ doesn’t mean comfortable. So learn to lean into the fear, listen to your intuition, and jump when you’re ready.
Keep showing up when and how you can, and soon enough you will find yourself right where you want to be.
{Credit: Words and Photos by Montana Pratt; Website: Montana Pratt ; Instagram: @montanapratt}
Montana is a writer and creative soul living on the Australian south-east coast. A dreamer and list-maker at heart, Montana embraces slow living and simplifying as a way to live a life worth having, documenting her journey online where she explores all things simple living, zero waste and becoming a better version of yourself. When she isn’t writing, she says you can usually find her buried in a book, experimenting in the kitchen, or tending the garden.
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