How to balance your full-time job and your side hustle

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I started blogging and consulting as a social media strategist long ago as a creative outlet, but in the past three years, Hangry Woman and my media company became a side hustle as my husband and I had financial goals like paying off my student loan debt and buying a house.

This creative thing I love also became a way for us to have a more stable financial future and a better life.

And while neither of us necessarily need a second job to make ends meet, nearly 5% of Americans are holding down a second job for their families.

For us, the extra funds are a helpful safety net — especially since I invest a lot of resources into my blog.

My side hustle has been a huge part of the last three years of my life. I spend just about all of my free time working on this – weekends, nights, overnights, my lunch break, whenever.

I also do this while working 45-ish hours per week at my regular, full-time job.

Oftentimes, people ask me why do you have a side hustle and a full-time job? Why would you want to do that?

The biggest answer is that I’m passionate about what I do in my daily work. I love my blog, and the creativity that comes with it, but having a full-time job means we have security, the chance to do what I love, and a creative outlet that affords me lots of possibilities.

The second question I always get is “how do you stay sane with your job and your side hustle?” Here are some ways I manage and balance the two.

Keep work and side work separate

Your side hustle is just that – it’s supposed to be on the side. When thinking about what you might want your second shift to look like, think about things to do outside of your day job. Make sure you don’t burn yourself out, because neither thing becomes enjoyable.

Additionally, don’t mix work! Keep your 9-5 separate from your 5-9 so that you can focus on your work.

Say no to your side hustle when it gets overwhelming

I tried the year of yes thing, and when it came to my side-hustle, I got burned out. This year, I only said yes to opportunities that I was either passionate about, or that paid well. If it didn’t meet either of those two criteria, I said “pass,” and recommended bloggers in my network that I trusted.

Saying no is okay. If the opportunity doesn’t align, or it’s going to overwhelm you to get it done. Push it aside for your sanity. Something else will come around.

Get organized

My planner is one of my go-to tools for staying organized. I also love the to-do toolbar on my Gmail account, to organize my tasks, and slack to chat with my team members. Keeping myself organized helps me maximize the time I spend on my blog. That means I have more time with my husband, and to do other things I enjoy.

Know your priorities and set some goals

This goes along with getting organized. Make a list of the things you want to accomplish, and form some goals to go along with them.

It’s helpful to know where you’re spending your time, and if you’re getting the most out of it.

Make your side hustle enjoyable

Lastly, do something you love.

Making your side-hustle your full-time job may not be something that you’re aiming for. If you’re spending time on it, though, it should be something you love doing. If it doesn’t bring you joy, is it worth doing?

What are your tips for keeping that balance, and enjoying what you’re working on?