Goal
To regain personal control and autonomy in life by pursuing a passion or interest outside of the main job.
Problem
The central issue is feeling stuck in the grind, which often leads to stress and dissatisfaction. Additional concerns include:
- Lack of financial stability 💵
- Limited personal freedom due to rigid work schedules
- Feeling unfulfilled with the current job role 😔
- Absence of outlets for personal creativity or skills
Solution
Engaging in a side hustle or personal side project. Set up a secondary business or job that is fun (!) and brings in extra income.
In a nutshell:
- Identify a skill or interest that can be monetized.
- Research the market need and competition.
- Plan and start the side project while maintaining the current job.
- Allocate specific times daily or weekly for this venture.
- Gradually grow the side business into a profitable venture.
My Take
If there is one thing I have learned over the years, then it’s this: stress or even burnout symptoms often come from the feeling “I don’t have control over my life.”
Such a lack of control can come from e.g. a busy family life or a stressful job. And then, this is often why we look for ways to relax, to battle symptoms – instead of addressing the real problem 🧐
Years ago, I noticed a foundational mental change when I started fun projects on the side. It was like taking back the reins of my life. Suddenly, I was not just dealing with stress. I was instead preventing it from happening in the first place 🤘
These side hustles weren’t really about making extra money. The whole thing was about doing something meaningful to me that helped others or simply brought me joy.
And that’s been a mental game-changer for me, which at the same time, then positively impacted my body. I mean, it’s kind of different from other “relaxation techniques.” But it definitely reduced the need for more direct relaxation efforts for me.
The effect can be massive ☝️
PROS
- Additional income (optional)
- More control over one’s life
- Outlet for creativity or skills
- Potential for financial independence 💰
CONS
- Time-consuming
- The initial phase can be overwhelming
- Risk of neglecting other important activities (sports, social, etc.)
INSIGHTS
From my personal experience, here are some tips for starting a side hustle or little side project:
- Ideas: I regularly listen to several great podcasts to learn about potential side hustle ideas. It’s just fascinating and fun. The possibilities are endless. Side hustle nation is a great starting point to explore ideas.
- Time management: Ensure you allocate specific hours for your side hustle without disrupting your main job. I reserve the first hour in the morning for my projects. With this, I can make steady progress, i.e., it slowly adds up 📈
- Market research: Even if it’s only a side project, I’d recommend understanding the demand for your potential product/service to ensure profitability. You will learn a bunch of interesting things when considering e.g. monetarization and user needs.
- Patience: Success won’t come overnight, so persistence is key. We are talking about many months here. I have also noticed that the flow generates the fun, i.e., the “doing” and not necessarily the immediate results. Once you get started, just keep the ball rolling.