A passion project. A side gig. A business you’ve always dreamt of running—and perhaps you’re chipping away at the idea one weekend at a time.
More people are side hustling than you think. In fact, more than a third of U.S. adults have a side hustle, according to a new Bankrate survey of 2,332 people. According to Marketwatch, more than half (54%) of Americans say they’ve adopted a side hustle to supplement their primary source of income in the last 12 months.
With rising costs of living across the United States and beyond coupled with the purpose void people may feel in their own personal and professional fufillment, it makes sense why so many Americans are weekend warriors.
That’s the thing about side hustles: they fit into the margins of your life. People are still working their regular full-time jobs on top of other responsibilities, like caregiving, parenting, and more.
So, what happens when your day job and your side hustle start to feel a little too overwhelming?
We’ve outlined what it takes to help manage your time effectively while working full-time and balancing a side hustle. We’ve also compiled some necessary skills for any person to invest in on their side hustle journey.
8 time management strategies to navigating the side hustle
Balancing a full-time job with a side hustle can be challenging, but with the right time management strategies, it's definitely achievable. Here are some effective strategies to help:
1. Set clear priorities. It’s hard to know what’s important if you don’t make the space for reflection and bring an awareness to what will have most impact.
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Identify non-negotiables: Clearly define the most important tasks for both your full-time job and side hustle.
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Rank tasks by urgency: Use methods like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by urgency and importance, helping you focus on what truly matters.
2. Create a schedule—but stay flexible. Of course, your schedule will change. But put your guardrails up on your time and see where you can bend as projects and priorities pop up.
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Time-blocking: Dedicate specific blocks of time each day or week to your side hustle. Use evenings, weekends, or early mornings if possible.
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Use a planner or a calendar: Keep track of both work and side hustle activities to avoid overlap and burnout.
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Plan your week (or month) in advance: Review your tasks and block out your schedule at the beginning of the week for both jobs.
3. Set realistic goals. Launch a business within a month? Probably not going to happen. But create your business website by the end of the month? That might be feasible.
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Break down large tasks: Focus on manageable, bite-sized goals. This reduces overwhelm and increases productivity.
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Create weekly and monthly goals: Establish short-term and long-term objectives for your side hustle, and regularly review your progress.
4. Leverage your full-time job breaks. Think: Holidays, lunch breaks or downtime, even paid time off or vacation time, if you have it.
5. Outsource or delegate where possible. Especially if you’re an entrepreneur or starting a business from the ground up, odds are, you’ll need help at some point.
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Re-evaluate your needs frequently. If your side hustle starts to grow, consider outsourcing tasks that don’t require your direct involvement (like bookkeeping, graphic design, content writers, or web development).
6. Establish boundaries. Even if you’re committed to turning your side hustle into your full-time gig, you have to be cognizant of burning out. Taking care of yourself and investing in self-care can look like boundaries.
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Work-life boundaries: Set clear times for when you will work on your side hustle and when you’ll rest. Avoid overextending yourself.
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Say “no” when necessary: Protect your time by learning to decline tasks or opportunities that don't align with your main goals.
7. Focus on high-impact activities. Prioritize activities that generate the most value or income for your side hustle. Focus on efficiency and making the most of your limited time.
8. Practice self-care. Yes, you. You need it.
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Prioritize sleep, exercise, and downtime: Avoid burnout by scheduling regular breaks and taking care of your health.
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Monitor energy levels: Work on your side hustle when you feel most productive, whether that’s in the morning or after your full-time job.
For those of who squeezing in the work in the margins of your life, we see you. We’re here to help set you up for success—whatever that looks like for you.
Written by Madeline Miles
