It’s thought that over 57 million Americans have a side hustle. You may have started your own business from home. You might be working as a freelancer in your spare time, some of us have turned our blogs into successful businesses or branched out into e-commerce sales. Some unique side hustles from home tend to start out small.
They make a little pocket money and give you something to do when you are bored. Others are more than this. You might hope to one day leave work and take your side hustle full-time.
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Side Hustle And Your Career
For some people, a side hustle is a necessity. Low-paid work and high costs of living and housing mean that for some of us, one job isn’t enough, even if it’s full-time.
Our unique side hustles pay for birthday presents and luxuries and even cover some of our bills. Modern life means that we often do what we can to make things work, even if it means that we’ve got very little spare time left.
There are even some apps that make you money today.
Career Impact
But, one thing that you might not have considered is the impact that side hustles from home could have on your career. If you have given it any thought at all, it might be because you are worried that your side hustle might mean that you are tired and unfocused at your day job.
However, you might find that your side hustle improves your performance and your prospects.
How A Side Hustle Improves Your Mood
Going to work, day in, day out, sticking to the same routine, and going through the motions can get boring. Over time, doing the same things each day can start to affect your mood and your focus.
You might find that you begin to become depressed, or that you begin to wonder if the career that you used to love is really right for you. This boredom often leads to people leaving good jobs and trying new things. Only to get bored again as soon as things settle.
But, sometimes it’s not your job that’s the problem. You just need to inject some passion into your life. Having a unique side hustle can be great for your mood. It can make you happy and give you something to look forward to.
Being in a good mood when you arrive at work in the morning is never going to be bad for your work performance and relationships.
It Gives You Financial Freedom
There is two main reason people start side hustles from home. One is to follow a dream or to give something a go. The other is financial motivation. We need to work more to earn more money.
If money is tight, and you’ve only got one job and one way to earn it, there is pressure. You need to work as much as you can. You can’t afford to take time off or do anything to risk your job. If a promotion comes up, you need to get it. You have to accept overtime, even if you don’t really want it.
This kind of pressure can ruin any enjoyment you might have had of your job. It can mean that you push yourself too hard and that you start to resent work. It affects your performance and your chances of success.
If work becomes all about money, then it can stop being something that you can love.
Having another way to earn money gives you options. Even if you are only making a minimal amount on the side, it can reduce the pressure and give you more freedom, at work and at home.
How A Side Hustle Improves Your Skills
When we start a new job, we learn a lot quickly. We have to gain new knowledge and practice new skills. Then as time goes on, we stop learning. That’s part of why we get bored.
Your side hustle gives you a fantastic way to learn new skills. You might learn more about social media and other forms of digital marketing. Or, you might gain experience in web design and coding. Finally, you could brush up on your photography or writing skills.
The best thing is, you’ll be enjoying learning again, and your mind will be awakened.
Keeps You Fresh and Improves Your Motivation
Having something else to occupy your mind doesn’t just stop you from getting bored. It can also keep you fresh. You’ll bring all of those new skills to your job, and you’ll find ways to use them, even if it isn’t always obvious.
You’ll push yourself, you’ll try new things, become more motivated and you’ll adapt your style.
This can help you to feel motivated at work again. You’ll feel fresh, and like things are new. In this way, your side hustle can have a massive impact on your career.
Increases Your Chances of Promotion
Promotions, unfortunately, can be hard to come by. Sometimes, we can feel stuck in the same position. It can feel as though you’ve stopped moving forward and you can start feeling as though you are stagnating, standing still, becoming dispirited and uninspired.
You might be desperate to move forward. You might have looked at other options and side steps in your chosen field. A nurse might have considered a DNP and looked at a DNP salary in the hope of moving forward again.
Your side hustle could be useful here. It shows your employer that you’ve got more skills than they’ve seen and that you are organized and able to manage your time.
It shows that you have commitment and passion and that you are the kind of person that does what it takes.
However, selling wrong and your side hustle could make you seem disloyal or like someone keen to move on to new things. Make sure you sell yourself, and the benefits of your side hustle to your career if you want it to work towards a promotion.
It Looks Great On Your CV
Even if you love your job, you might not want to stick with it forever, but you might not want to turn your side hustle into a full-time career either.
If you ever find yourself looking for a new job, having your side hustle and the skills that it has brought you can give your CV (Course of life) a considerable boost.
What is a CV you may be asking? The difference between a CV and a resume lies in the length, layout, and purpose of these documents. CVs have no length limit; resumes tend to be one to two pages long.
A CV details the whole course of the candidate’s academic career; a resume summarizes skills and work experience.
You Could Make Important Connections With Your Side Hustle
A side hustle doesn’t just give you a way to make money and develop new skills. It can also be a fantastic chance to meet new people and make new connections. Some of these connections might be useful at work. Or, they might give you opportunities in the future.
Others might just become good friends, who become part of your support network and offer you friendship, advice, and support whenever you need it.
Your side hustle can lead to lifelong friendships and vital business connections.
A Side Hustle Sets You Apart from The Crowd
It’s harder than ever to stand out in the workplace. More people than ever before have higher education degrees and qualifications. Hundreds of graduates with almost precisely the same resume apply for every job, and a degree isn’t ever enough to get your resume to the top of a recruiter’s pile.
If you are ever looking for work, your unique side hustle could be what gets you noticed, what helps you stand out, and what gets your foot into the door.
A Successful Side Hustle Can Be A Confidence Boost
Confidence is a tricky thing. It’s tough to build up, but a small slight setback can see it knocked right back down. We all struggle with our confidence sometimes, and it can be hard to find ways to boost it.
Therefore, running a successful side hustle gives you an achievement that can see your confidence skyrocket. Whether you start a blog, create unique items to sell on Etsy, or sell feet pics, you will most likely have some fun along the way while making money and boosting your confidence. It’s all a win-win situation!
Your Turn On Starting Side Hustles From Home
Are you working a unique side hustle today? Have you gone from side hustles from home to a full-time business as I have here? Has it boosted your confidence? I’d love to know more in the comments below.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 12 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
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Hey, Lisa.
I appreciate how you provided practical insights and tips on how to start and manage a side hustle effectively. The inclusion of real-life examples and success stories adds depth and credibility to the article, inspiring readers to take action and explore the possibilities of pursuing their own side ventures.
Furthermore, the article recognizes the importance of balancing a side hustle with one’s existing commitments and responsibilities. The author emphasizes the need for proper time management, prioritization, and setting realistic goals to ensure a harmonious integration of the side hustle into one’s career journey.
I found the your positive and encouraging tone throughout the article particularly uplifting. They convey a sense of enthusiasm and optimism, motivating readers to tap into their creative potential and pursue their passions alongside their main careers.
In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation to the author for shedding light on the transformative power of a side hustle. This article serves as a valuable reminder that a well-managed side venture can have a profound impact on personal growth, skill development, and overall career success. It encourages readers to step outside their comfort zones, embrace their entrepreneurial spirit, and leverage the opportunities that a side hustle can offer. Well done!
Hi Ali, welcome to Inspire To Thrive. I’m glad you appreciate and liked this post with my real-life experiences. Time management and setting priorities is key to having a side hustle while working at another job. It can be done but it’s a lot of work but if you love what you do you will get satisfaction from the work. Thanks for coming by and have a great day.
Fabulous idea! I remember back when I started my side hustle, I was soooo excited! The first 2 years were really good. Then I started getting bored. I got aggravated at what I was doing because clients demanding more for pennies and I refused. Sadly and slowly, I lost my passion for my side hustle and just this year, let it go. I did it to help others, not so much for the money. However, there are people out there that will take advantage at any chance they get. I know my value. I stayed economical to help newbie bloggers but like most things, people always expect more for less. When you lose your passion, it’s basically done. Now I’m back doing my lifestyle hobby blogging and may allow it to turn into a side hustle. But mostly, if I can help someone by sharing my experiences, that is better than money.
Thanks for a great read, Lisa! The weekend is almost here!
Bren
Hi Bren, thank you. Yes, I do remember that time. I’m surprised but wait, not really that you got bored 🙂 Oh yes, clients can be quite demanding at times. It’s when you have to set the expectations a little lower. Otherwise you’ll go nuts for sure. But I like to set expectation low and then deliver above that. It took years in sales for me to get that one Bren. That’s great that you can help others that way. I know you are very generous about that. Thanks for coming by and enjoy the weekend ahead. I hear we are going to have rain here. Today and yesterday has been beautiful though. Enjoy!
Hi Lisa
Wow, I completely agree that a side hustle can be a fantastic chance to meet new people and make new connections.
I worked on Fiverr for some time before starting my blog. I created marketing plans and did competitive research for clients.
Some of my most paying clients now came from that little side hustle.
Thank you so much for sharing
Hi Tanyi – thank you. How long did you do that for on Fiverr? Very interesting. Thanks for sharing that with us here and have a great day ahead Tanyi.
Hi Lisa,
You rightly said sometimes people get bored of their daily jobs. I am also a person who is in the same situation and trying to sought out things. I don’t know what I’m doing in my job.
This is the reason I’m trying many other things which can make me feel excited and get some money also.
Like I like to design and I’m working on it.
This article is really relatable.
Hi Kaushal, I was like that too for quite some time. You have to take that chance and jump in. When I did, things did start to happen like other full time bloggers told me. It was scary for a week but then I dug in and got busy! Glad you could relate to this article Kaushal. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions etc.
Hi Lisa,
I agree with your points, more so that it builds your confidence. We have several examples of those who started blogging as a side hustle, but eventually gave up their 9 ~ 5 jobs and became full time bloggers. Why? Because they started making money from their blog and saw the need to convert to blogging full time. All other points are exceptionally incredible!
Hi Moss, Yes, many have done just that. It does take a lot of time and can’t be one overnight as some might say or think! It takes a lot of hard work and patience to grow it to do full time. Thanks for your input on this one Moss, enjoy the rest of your day.