How to Juggle Your Side Job and Full Time Work

One of the biggest challenges in this era of the gig economy is not finding a legit hustle (there are plenty of gigs out there), but striking the right balance between a side hustle and a full-time job. 

Yes, it is easier said than done, but it all comes from experience. I’m a full-time employee juggling my side gig as a career blogger and juggling the two is no easy task, especially at first, but you can excel at it over time. Use the below pointers to help make this balancing act less overwhelming. Take your time to digest it all and use it to ease the stress and pressure of having a side job. 

Juggle only when you can

Have you ever tried to fit in your side hustle in a day full of work commitments and meetings? If you did, then I can imagine how it turned out – a disaster. Never try to juggle your side hustle when your day job takes up most of your day; it will only stress you out without any productive outcome. This is the exact reason why you should always choose a flexible side hustle.

Pro tip – Make time to work on weekends if your full-time job takes up most of your week time.

Learn to manage your time

If you have a full-time job/flexible work and you want to jump into side hustling, then first train yourself to manage your time. Effective time management is the key to becoming successful in having a side gig and a job.

Learning to be more intentional in using your time, cutting down distractions and focusing on your work targets can help you better utilise your time.

Pro tip – Use some times of the day to schedule work like daily commute, break time at work, etc.

Prioritise. Prioritise. Prioritise. 

When you start juggling a side hustle with a job, everything seems important. Both of them need the same attention, but sometimes you need to prioritise to make things work smoothly.

For example, giving more priority to a task related to your full-time job is understandable because that’s your main income and your side hustle can be adjusted accordingly.

Pro tip – Though a full-time job and a side gig might seem equally important, you should always set priorities before you even start a hustle. This reduces your overwhelm when something related to work comes up.

Choose a flexible gig

Like I said earlier, side hustling is all about doing something you love on the side. Most of the side hustlers have full-time jobs, and they find a great balance between both. So, what’s the secret to it? Simple, you should always aim to find a flexible and convenient side hustle, if you intend to manage it with a full-time job. This can be really helpful when you have extra work pressure or family emergencies.

Pro tip – Do thorough research before you start a side gig to find out suitable options for your lifestyle. There are many flexible side hustles today that you can do from anywhere and anytime.

Don’t be afraid to get help

No matter what your reason is to side hustle, you can always take help. Whether it is your work mate or a family member or even a super useful app, make use of any help you get to make things easier when going back and forth between your job and hustle. Productivity apps like Todoist or Toggl are very resourceful when you need to keep a check on your work goals.

Pro tip – It can be helpful to find more ideas and tips about your side hustle if you join groups which are related to your hustle. It’s all about growing together.

Don’t get overwhelmed

It can be really exciting to start something new, but it can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t take time out for self-care. Don’t underestimate the value of ‘me time’. It could just be a walk in a nearby park, having a cup of coffee with your workmates or a small vacation with your family. In this busy age of working 24/7, self-care is a very underrated term and can be the make or break between juggling the two jobs. 

Pro tip – Always make it a point to take time off no matter how pressing your work is when it comes to your job or hustle. Having a no work day in a week is a great way to re-energise and get back to work with your full potential.

If you follow these simple tips and see how you can adapt to the new lifestyle of having a side gig, then it can be the most enjoyable thing to side hustle even with a full-time job.

This article was produced for Career FAQs by Sireesha Narumanchi. Sireesha is a career blogger and founder of Crowdworknews.com. She loves discovering new ways to earn money online through legitimate work from home jobs, online businesses and side hustles. Sireesha has also been featured on Business Insider and Forbes.