Time management and self-motivation are two crucial elements for a successful stampede. When juggling multiple projects or clients with traditional work, you might find yourself rushing to meet deadlines, which can negatively affect the quality of your work, not to mention your physical and emotional well-being.
We are going to save the full list of productivity hacks that you can find with a quick internet search. The big picture is to reevaluate how you want to spend your time. You have 1,440 minutes per day. Do you really want to spend that time crossing off endless menial tasks on a to-do list?
In The Art of Non-Compliance , Chris Guillebeau says that rather than creating a to-do list, which usually adds to our feelings of being overwhelmed, make a not-to-do list. Force yourself to analyze which of your daily tasks are the ones you do out of habit or out of a sense of activity rather than a meaningful contribution to your goals.
Remember that productivity should never happen at the detriment to your well-being. In a 2016 study of musicians in the UK, participants reported lingering feelings of relentless pressure to stay afloat, financially and in line with their professional goals, but also feelings of guilt and anxiety when they choose to miss work. These feelings can produce a type of activity that makes us feel busy without actually accomplishing meaningful tasks. Perhaps you dream of a future course while neglecting to modify the one that was promised to your clients a week ago.
Routine self-check-ins are essential for the lateral do-it-yourselfer. Review your initial motivation for your extra work. Start with these questions:
1. Did you intend to binge past a certain point?
Side hustles are called that for a reason. This shouldn't be your main focus unless you want it to be. If you're a full-time parent selling crafts on the side, don't feel the need to scale your business, build a fancy website, or spend hours selling yourself online. Well-meaning friends can often do more harm with compliments on your company's potential. Politely but firmly tell these well-meaning friends that you are happy with the current status of your stampede.
2. Are you okay with where your side hustle is now?
To be able to honestly recognize these upstart friends, you need to really assess your side hustle situation. Maybe you really want to scale your business, but now is not the right time. At this point, you can then put a long-term plan in place that allows you to effectively manage it at its current size, and then put in place all of your steps to scale it down the road when the time is right.
3. Would you be okay if your hustle ended tomorrow?
Have you ever felt guilty for wanting to end your sideways hustle? Your situation, your state of mind, your availability can change overnight. What got you excited about starting your stampede may no longer be true. If this is the case, feel free to take a break or even close your store permanently. The purpose of a side hustle isn't to create another tedious task you need to worry about; it should be something that brings you joy, matches your natural talents and, as a bonus, earns a little extra income.
4. What would you do if you weren't working on your side hustle?
Let's take this example:Marty is a successful lawyer who owns her own practice. On the side, she also runs a part-time digital marketing agency for lawyers. She enjoys her career and her sideways hustle, but both are pretty exhausting and she feels like her life is completely swallowed up by the law. When she has free time, Marty spends hours practicing hand lettering, watching calligraphy videos, and sending handmade cards to friends and family.
You see where we're going ? Your jostling should be pleasant. Even if your current side hustle (or career) is successful, a side hustle that focuses on your passions and interests can balance your life and allow you to explore different interests without risking hurting your current career or income.
