No Time for a Side Hustle? Here’s What Actually Works
How I make time for my side hustle (with a full-time job)
When I started my first side hustle, I had no idea what I was doing.
I worked a full-time job from 9 to 6 and wanted something of my own.
But I wasted a lot of time.
I wish someone had told me the things I had to figure out the hard way.
Here are 7 things that actually helped:
1. Find your time
Time doesn’t just appear. You have to go get it.
Most of us think we need more time, but the real challenge is using the time we already have better.
Start by reviewing your calendar. Where are the gaps? What can you drop?
Once you know, you can set aside blocks for focused work.
2. Focus on priorities
We treat everything as important.
But when everything is important, NOTHING is important.
Most people try to juggle too much and end up burned out.
The fix? Choose one thing. The task that truly matters today.
Put your energy there and let go everything else.
3. Know your energy
Not everyone works best at 5 AM. I don’t.
But some people perform best early, and others are night owls.
Try watching your energy levels for a few days. When do you feel sharp and motivated?
Use those moments to tackle your side hustle work.
I use three time blocks: morning, lunch, and evening.
Here’s what my ideal day looks like:
6:30 AM: Wake up + family time
8:30 AM: Quick side hustle session
9:00 AM: Start work
1:00 PM: Short side hustle session
1:30 PM: Back to work
5:30 PM: Family/personal time
8:30 PM: Another side hustle block
4. Match tasks to time
Every task expands to fill the time you give it. That’s why timers work.
I often set a 20-minute timer for writing or content planning.
That time limit forces me to focus and get to the point.
And I usually finish faster than expected.
5. Batch similar tasks
Jumping between tasks kills momentum. Your brain needs time to switch tasks.
Instead, group similar work. Schedule social posts all at once.
Write multiple newsletters in one session.
You can even theme your days — Monday for email, Tuesday for social, and so on.
6. Sacrifice something
You can’t add a side hustle without letting something else go. That’s just math.
For me, it meant cutting out endless scrolling and passive content. Think about what you can pause, cut, or simplify.
Make space for what matters most to you.
7. Learn as you go
A side hustle often means trying something totally new. And learning on the go is part of the process.
Use moments like commutes or workouts to listen to audiobooks or podcasts.
Try things, fail and adjust.
Action teaches more than any online course.
One last thing?
Don’t just read this. Pick one tip, put it to work, and build your own system.
Thanks for reading!
— Robin