Having a side hustle can be fun, motivating,and inspiring. It can also be incredibly stressful, especially for those who are working full time to pay the bills, while still chasing their dreams and passions. I recently started working as a virtual assistant, which has allowed me to combine my love for social media, blogging, podcasts, and connecting with others. However, I am still working full time as a high school special education teacher and being a mom to a rambunctious two year old while doing both of these things. The transition hasn’t come without hiccups, but it has been smoother than I thought because going into the side hustle, I had plans put in place to help myself be successful and stay happy. Here are 5 tips that help me to (insert whatever title works here or something along those lines).

  1. Have strong systems in place. These systems can differ for everyone, but for me they are:
  • having a planner where I track and stay on top of tasks
  • having a designated, clean work space to help me stay focused, 
  • having a clear schedule that designates time for teaching work, VA work, and parenting. 
  1. Just get started. It can be hard to know where to begin when there are many tasks to complete and this can easily lead to feeling overwhelmed and not making progress at all. I like to brain dump on the whiteboard on my desk everything that needs to be completed over the course of the week for my VA job and then just start tackling it as I can. If there is something more pressing, such as a social media post that needs to be fixed for the next day, I will start there, but if it’s just a list of things that can be done in any order, I start with what feels right at that moment. Once you get in a flow, it is easier to continue with the rest of the tasks.
  1. Ask for help. This is the hardest of the 5 tips for me to do! I am someone who has always felt like she had to do it all by herself and do it perfectly, but that’s just not possible. If you can outsource any of your work, do it! If you have a teammate who is willing to help you meet a deadline, ask them! If you have a partner who is able to take the kids to the park for an hour or handle the bathtime routine that evening so you can answer emails, let them! People are more willing to help us than we realize if we just ask. Balancing working full time while also working on your side hustle takes up many hours, which can take hours away from other tasks. Do not hesitate to ask those in a position to help you so that you can make things happen!
  1. Solo task. Compartmentalize the full time job and side hustle. You do not want to be doing both at the same time, and this can actually get you into trouble. Be sure you have clear cut times for when you are doing each and that they never overlap. We live in an age where multitasking has become the norm, but solo tasking is actually better for overall productivity and preventing burnout. Focus on one task at a time for one specific job. When it’s finished or you get to a place where you need to move on, then stop and move on to the next job. It’s also not a good time to have the game on in the background or be trying to scroll Instagram. Keep all distractions away and just focus on the important task in front of you.
  1. Take care of yourself! It’s a lot to manage working full time and having a side hustle, especially when you are in a place where you prefer the side hustle, but have to work full time. Do things that help you feel recharged and refreshed so you can give your best energy to the side hustle when you are able to. Go for walks, get yourself an iced coffee, listen to your favorite podcast, try to get to bed earlier, whatever it is that makes you feel refreshed and recharged, do it. You can’t pour from an empty cup and you absolutely can’t be working multiple jobs if you are running on empty. It is better to take a little bit of time off to feel taken care of than to try to tackle work while you can barely keep your eyes open or have a splitting headache. Prioritize your own health and needs before anything else.

By: Cate Ortiz