It seems that wherever we turn, we are bombarded with this notion of having to do the hustle. No, not the dance, but the hustle culture that seems to prevail in most people's lives. Whether this is taking on a second job, having to put in a lot of legwork in order to even get started on a career ladder, or having a side hustle, there can be huge amounts of prep that we need to put in place. As a parent, learning to start something like a side hustle can be tough because of the demands of parenthood. So what strategies can help?
Set Realistic Expectations
You might feel like you want to get started as soon as possible to capture the momentum, but understanding that balancing a side hustle with parenthood may not always be easy is important. That's why it's crucial to set realistic expectations and put components in place to ensure that the business and your family life can benefit.
For example, if you need to dedicate a good few hours to putting the finishing touches on your website, this could be very challenging because if you've got children who need something every few minutes, a job that can take five minutes can instantly turn into 45 minutes. Therefore, for the big tasks, you may benefit from getting extra help, whether it's from your partner, a babysitting service like Care.com, or asking friends or family members to take the children off your hands for a few hours.
Schedule as Much as You Can
Establishing a clear schedule with dedicated time for your side hustle is critical because it will give you a better chance of being organized and ensuring you have time for your side hustle and your priorities in life.
One of the most useful tools that can help you keep on top of your priorities is the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, which you can find out more about at Eisenhower.me. This will help you determine what is actually important, urgent, or a varying combination of the two.
Flexibility is Key
We have to understand that there will be times when unexpected events occur, especially as parents, and maintaining some degree of flexibility is key to managing both our side hustle and parenthood effectively.
This is why it's always essential to determine what's urgent and important at any one time so you can prioritize effectively but also have a backup plan in place when there are several spanners in the works.
Don't Forget to Look After Yourself
It is so easy to become swept away by the excitement that after a while, you can slowly start to burn out without even noticing.
You need to get the bare basics right, especially as a parent, and this means making self-care a priority so you can avoid burnout and maintain your physical and mental well-being.
These can include taking breaks when necessary, exercising, and of course, getting enough sleep.
Starting the side hustling process healthily is completely achievable even as a parent, but it's about making sure that you have the right perspective.
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