I’ve Done Over 20 Side Hustles - Here’s How To Avoid Burnout

Trying to make the most of done over side hustles? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.

Key Takeaways

• Are you worried that your side hustle is starting to take up too much of your time and energy?
• A side hustle can be exciting at first.
• You’re making extra income, working toward a goal, and doing something that can hopefully improve your life.

Are you worried that your side hustle is starting to take up too much of your time and energy?

A side hustle can be exciting at first.

You’re making extra income, working toward a goal, and doing something that can hopefully improve your life. Maybe you want to pay off debt, save more money, have more flexibility, or even turn your side hustle into a full-time business one day.

But side gigs can also be a lot.

I’ve done numerous side hustles over the years, and while I’m so thankful for them, I also know that it’s very simple to take on too much.

So, what is side hustle burnout?

Side hustle burnout is when your side hustle starts to feel mentally, emotionally, or physically draining. Instead of feeling excited by it, you may start to dread it, feel like you’re always behind, or feel like your side hustle has become just one more thing on your never-ending to-do list.

Some signs of side hustle burnout include:

• Being tired all the time
• Dreading tasks you used to enjoy
• Feeling guilty when you rest
• Getting irritated more easily
• Having trouble focusing
• Not enjoying your free time because you’re always thinking about work

So, what can you do if your side hustle is starting to feel like too much?

How To Stop Side Hustle Burnout

Below are my best tips for how to avoid side hustle burnout and find something that actually fits your life.

Recommended reading: I’ve Done Over 20 Side Hustles in My Life: Here’s What I Think of Each

1. Choose a side hustle that actually fits your life

I have done a lot of side hustles in my life (over 20!), and I have always made sure that they would actually fit my life.

Back when I was paying off my student loans, I had around 5 side hustles going at the same time. I made sure that they:

• Had a flexible schedule
• Didn’t require me to drive anywhere on a set schedule
• Allowed me to work from home
• Didn’t require a lot of in-person interaction

And, I think this really helped because this made my side hustles more likely to work for my life situation and keep me happy.

I think this is one of the biggest things that can help prevent burnout from the start.

Not every side hustle is right for every person, and that’s okay.

Some people need something flexible that they can do in short pockets of time. Some people want something low stress because they already have a demanding day job. Some people want a side hustle where they can work alone, and others want something more social. Some people want extra income right away, while others are okay with building something slowly over time.

For example, if you’re already mentally drained at the end of the day, then starting a side hustle that requires a lot of focus every night may not be the best fit. If your weekends are already packed with family activities, then maybe a weekend-only side hustle isn’t realistic. If you don’t like talking to people all day, then a side job where you are with shoppers the whole time may not be for you.

I think it lets you to ask yourself questions like:

• When do I actually have time for this?
• How much energy do I really have?
• Do I want something flexible or a side job that has a strict schedule?
• Do I want something online or in person?
• Do I just want a side hustle that’s super simple, like one that I can just do on the couch?
• Will this still fit my life a few months from now?

I know it can be tempting to pick something only because it seems profitable, but I think fit matters more.

A side hustle that fits your real life is much easier to stick with, and that can make a huge difference.

Recommended reading:

• 17 Low Effort Side Hustles That Can Make You Extra Money
• 18 Best Side Hustles for Introverts To Make Extra Money

2. Start with less than you think you should

I know it can feel like you need to go all in right away.

You may feel like if you’re serious about making extra money, then you should be working on your side hustle every night, every weekend, and during every spare minute you have. But truthfully, I don’t think that’s the best approach for most people.

I think it’s typically much better to start smaller.

That may mean working on your side hustle two or three times a week instead of every day. It may mean focusing on just one income stream, one service, or one main goal at a time. It may mean telling yourself that for now, you’re only going to do what you can actually keep up with.

If you spend all of your free time on a side hustle and don’t spend any time doing things that you enjoy, then you may get tired of it really fast.

And then you may burn out, get frustrated, and may even quit something that could have worked really well if you had just built it more slowly.

Now that being said, for some people, working a lot on their side hustle can be doable if it’s for a relatively short amount of time. For example, when I was paying off my student loans, I knew that I wanted them paid off as quickly as possible. I ended up paying off my $40,000 in student loan debt in just 7 months, and between my day job and my side hustles, I was consistently working 100 hours per week. Could I have done this forever? No! I definitely would have burned out. But I knew that I had a clear deadline for when I would stop.

3. Set work hours so your side hustle doesn’t take over everything

One thing that can make a side hustle feel extra draining is when it starts creeping into every part of your life.

For example:

• You answer messages while making dinner.
• You work your day job and then work your side hustle with all of your remaining evening hours, with no relaxation.
• You work while watching TV.
• You think about your to-do list while trying to relax.
• You tell yourself you’ll take a break later, but later never really comes.

I think this is where boundaries can help a lot.

Even if your gig is part-time, I think it lets you to decide when you’re working and when you’re not. That way, your side hustle doesn’t take over every extra second.

For example, maybe you work on it:

• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday mornings only
• For one hour before your regular job
• During certain blocks of time each weekend

I also think it lets you to have boundaries around what you will not do. Maybe you do not answer emails after a certain time. Maybe you do not book clients on Sundays. Maybe you do not take rush work. Maybe you limit the number of jobs you accept each month.

Recommended reading: 16 Ways To Find Time To Make Extra Money

4. Give yourself time off without feeling guilty

This is a big one.

I know a lot of people feel guilty resting when they are trying to make extra money. If you’re trying to pay off debt, save for something key, or grow a business, it can feel like you should always be doing more.

But, this can actually hurt you because you need to rest!

You need days when you are not constantly thinking about your side hustle. You need evenings where you just relax. You need time with your family, time outside, time to reset, and time to just be a person.

Rest is not wasted time.

In fact, I think rest is one of the things that lets you you stay consistent. When you’re always pushing, always working, and always trying to squeeze in more, it becomes harder to think clearly and harder to enjoy what you’re doing.

I think it lets you to plan time off before you feel desperate for it.

That might mean taking one full day off each week, setting a nightly cutoff time, taking a lighter week after a very busy one, going on a daily walk so that your mind feels fresher, or deciding ahead of time that certain weekends are for family and not work.

And yes, there will probably still be things left on your to-do list. There almost always are!

5. Stop saying yes to every opportunity

This can be really hard when you’re making money on the side.

Maybe:

• A new client wants to hire you.
• Someone asks if you can do one extra project.
• You see a new side hustle idea online.

It can all sound like a good idea, especially when you’re motivated.

But, I think saying yes to everything can sometimes be a problem because it can mean more stress. Sometimes it takes you away from the work that is actually going well, sometimes it’s not worth the time, and you may just not have enough time for everything you want to do.

I think it’s really key to get more selective.

Before saying yes, ask yourself:

• Do I actually have time for this?
• Does this fit the kind of side hustle I want?
• Is this worth the energy it will take?
• Will this make my life better or more stressful?

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your side hustle is say no to the things that are stretching you too thin.

6. Look for ways to make your side hustle easier

I’m a big fan of making things easier if possible.

If something keeps taking too much time or mental energy, then I think it’s worth asking: How can I simplify this? That may mean creating a routine, using templates, batching your work, or setting up systems.

For example, you may be able to:

• Batch similar tasks into one day a week or a certain time (like, only checking your email inbox one time each day or getting all of your shipping done at the same time)
• Use a checklist so you don’t forget steps (I have checklists for everything!)
• Set up automatic invoices or reminders
• Keep a running to-do list sorted by priority
• Use tools that save you time (scheduling tools, templates, auto-replies, and apps)
• Hire help. I know that your goal is probably to make more money, but sometimes hiring out can help you make more because you may be able to free up time from tasks that don’t need you specifically, or if your time is better spent elsewhere (or, if it’s just a part of your side

  Final Thoughts

  Before you check out, double-check done over side hustles against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

  Originally published at makingsenseofcents.com.