A decade or so ago, if someone told you that you should start a “side hustle” you’d probably assume that they were talking about either selling drugs or working part time at a fast food joint. Back then, the term side hustle didn’t mean what it does now. Insert obnoxious eye roll and obligatory “duh” here. Side hustles were also pretty limited. You could work part time somewhere (your choices here were also limited think babysitting, fast food, or retail) or you could hit the streets and start slangin’ drugs as all the rappers say. Yeah, not very appealing options right?
To say it wasn’t a hot topic or something that people wanted to do is an understatement. Who wants to work a second job when you’re already logging 40+ hours a week? Sure, the extra money is great but do you really want to get off work at your 9 to 5 then drive somewhere for your next shift? Yeah, me either.
However now, side hustling has become popular and a lot of people make their entire income off of multiple side jobs. And the best part of this? Most of it can be done from the comfort of your own home. Yep, you read that right. You no longer have to leave your house and log hours at a brick and mortar to earn some extra income. You can sit down on your couch with your laptop or kick back in your chair at your desktop and earn away.
With this surge in popularity, terms like “gig economy”, “freelancer”, and “project-based work” have become household names and pop up in everyday conversations. Plus, you’re sure to find them on multiple blogs, social media posts, and articles. But the fact that they’re reaching our inner circles and friends are participating in this trend is exciting. It also speaks volumes of the success of side hustling.
Did you know that according to a study conducted in 2017, 44 million Americans have a side hustle? That’s a lot of people taking control of their work flow! And for 70% of these folks their motivations for snagging side hustles is financial. Many are trying to pay off student loans, credit cards, mortgages, save up for retirement, or earn some extra cash on the side. And working for yourself from home isn’t a bad way to do it. After all, you get to set your own hours and for the most part you can even set your own pay.
*Don’t expect to charge someone $100 an hour for article writing though. That’s probably not going to happen…
Take it from someone who has left their 9 to 5 and now earns a solid income from side hustling (IE me) that it’s a great market to dive into. I started by writing and editing works as a way of exercising the creative side of me. While it was just a way to break up the monotony at first, I took what I was doing seriously and put out my best stuff. Eventually, I had so many people wanting my skills that I was able to leave my everyday work. And I’ve never looked back since. I know, it sounds way too good to be true but I can assure you it’s not. Success won’t happen overnight, but if you’re patient side hustles can definitely work miracles for you too.
Okay, if I haven’t sold you yet on starting your own side hustling adventures, then take a look at this list for more inspiration and encouragement:
#1 You Don’t Have to Quit Your 9 to 5 Immediately (or at all!)
One of the scariest things about taking on a new job is quitting your old one. Sure, the pay and incentives might look enticing, but will you really enjoy this new company? Will you fit in? Will you like it? Will your boss totally suck? There’s a lot of anxiety associated with leaving your current income in pursuit of a new one. That anxiety is heightened even more when you start thinking about being completely responsible for your own income.
That’s what’s great about side hustles. You don’t have to quit your 9 to 5! You can work in side jobs during your free time. This means that you can earn extra income without sacrificing all or even much of your spare time depending on your goals. You can also choose to work harder during some periods and lessen your load at other times. You’re in control of this aspect of your life so you can accept/decline as much work as you want. So if you’re trying to get the ball rolling for Christmas, you can log more hours and earn more. Or if it’s summer and you’re looking to kick back a bit, accept less work.
If you’re looking to leave your 9 to 5 but don’t want to take a pay cut or jump into something you’ll ultimately hate, you can always try a variety of gigs for awhile. This way, you can find something that fits and works for you. Then, you can leave your regular job when you’re 100% ready to. You can also build up a “savings safety net” to carry you through any predicted slow times so that you’re not quitting with nothing to back you up in the case of an emergency.
#2 Take Advantage of Free Time
A side hustle is a great way or putting a unique spin on the work-life cycle. Outside of your 9 to 5 job, you probably have quite a bit of free time. And while I’m not saying you should give all (or any) of that up, I am suggesting that you consider putting a side hustle into some of that time.
As I’ve said before, a side hustle doesn’t have to eat away all your time or even very much. You can earn some side cash by working just a couple extra hours a week.
If you don’t know much about side hustles, then what I’ve written probably doesn’t sound great. “Why would I want to come home from my job just to work another one when I could kick back and finally relax?” I had that sentiment for awhile but it’s the wrong mindset. Side hustling doesn’t have to be boring or feel like another grind. There are a lot of opportunities out there that are fun, unique, and will feel more like a hobby than a job.
You can also dedicate your time.You don’t have to “clock in” (your assignments/tasks are due at certain times though and you’ll have to follow those restrictions) or log a certain amount of hours either. So if you want some extra cash on the go but you still want plenty of free time to unwind from your regular job, then side hustling is definitely a good fit for you.
#3 Set Your Own Hours and Work at Your Own Pace
In addition to taking advantage of your free time, with side hustles you also get the super ultimate omega badass makes everyone else jealous perk:
Set your own hours.
Imagine having an “off” day where you’re not feeling your best. Normally you’d have to suck it up and go into work, right? Or perhaps you’re lucky; your boss is really understanding and will let you take the day off to recover. More than likely though, you’re getting a lecture either way. Because of this, most Americans that work a 9 to 5 don’t take off when they’re sick. (Finances also influence this decision, but many admit that they won’t take off because of fear of being fired).
Well, with a side hustle you don’t really have to worry about that. If you have a project in queue, you can typically ask for an extension without any negative feedback or issues. If you don’t have anything lined up and you typically hit up websites like Freelancer to find your daily tasks, then you can skip out entirely and just rest.
This also works for vacations and days when you just want to kick back and enjoy the nice weather. Calling in the morning of your job to go fishing instead of coming in will likely get you fired. In the world of freelance and self-employment, the only punishment you’re getting is that you won’t be paid for the hours you’re not working.
Setting your own hours also means that you pick the times you want to work. If you prefer to sleep in, then sleep as late as you want and start collecting tasks when you get up! Are you a night owl and do your best work in the middle of the night? Then log on and get to work at 1 am.
You’ll also get to work at your own pace. This isn’t to say that you’ll get to entirely dictate when projects are due, but you can accept how much work you feel you can handle. You can also suggest due dates that work with your schedule and in my experience, most clients are pretty flexible. You also get to decide when “enough is enough”. If you have too many clients and too much work, you can always drop some to free up more time/energy.
#4 Work from Home (or Anywhere with an Internet Connection!)
Remember that super ultimate omega badass makes everyone else jealous perk?Yeah, it comes with another benefit:
Work from home.
Yep that’s right. You can get out of bed and get straight to work (or take your time) in the comfort of your own home without changing clothes, doing your hair/makeup, or ever leaving the house. This also means you won’t need to set up your favorite show to record if it normally airs during working hours; you can catch it live.
Warning: Once you start working from home you’re never going to want to go back to working at a brick and mortar! There’s nothing like sipping coffee on your front porch in comfortable clothes while working at your own pace on your laptop doing something you genuinely enjoy.
Freelancing is great for people who are constantly on the go or want to live a more “nomadic” lifestyle. You can also take your work with you wherever you go (provided there’s an Internet connection). This means if you’re going on vacation but want to make some extra spending cash while you’re at, slip your laptop into your travel bag and pull it out poolside for some work. Having the freedom to work anywhere at anytime is a big benefit! This means that you’re free to move around as well as travel and vacation as often as you like. You’re not confined to one city or area because your job is close to it. So if you don’t like the city you’re currently in, pack your stuff and move! Your job comes with you!
#5 There are a LOT of Side Hustles out there to Explore
And with plenty of them out there, you’ll have plenty of options to explore. For starters, Airbnb is a great side hustle that can be incredibly fun and rewarding. You can make your spare room or property work for you while getting to meet and interact with people from around the world. You can also go my route and get into creative writing. I enjoy what I do and sometimes I forget I’m even working!
So what are some examples of side hustles? Well, glad you asked!
1.Coding-A lot of people opt for this one and there’s a lot of work to be had in this field. If you’re good with coding, you won’t have any problem finding work.
2.Tutoring- There are a ton of tutoring optionsout there. You can teach English to Chinese children (you don’t have to know or speak Chinese for this job either), online tutoring, and even face to face tutoring during after school hours.
3. Writing/editing- There are a ton of websites devoted to writing and editing tasks. A simple Google search will net you tons but my personal favorite is freelancer.comThey update their page all the time with new tasks and you can “bid” on ones you want. And since you’re not under contract, you can write/edit at your own pace. Feel like taking time off? Then don’t sign on and accept new tasks. It’s that easy.
4. STR hosting- As I said earlier, if you have a spare bedroom or property, make it work for you! You’ll want to do your research before diving into this field but it’s pretty lucrative.
5. Selling products online- Okay, so this isn’t my personal favorite but a lot of people have success with it. And there are so many of these companies out there that it’s not hard to pick and choose your favorites.
6. Photography- You might have noticed that there really isn’t a lot of 9 to 5 options for photographers; especially with cellphones. However, you can still make plenty of money in this field if it’s something you’re passionate about. You can photograph weddings, do real estate photography, or even hop from dealership to dealership taking pics of their cars.
While there are a ton more options out there, these tend to be the most popular and most well known. However, the side hustle gig is full of endless opportunities.
#6 Find Your Passion and Make Money off of it
If you’re passionate about something, chances are you’re putting your heart and soul into it. And we all know that passion sells. So if you pick something that you’re passionate about as your side hustle, then it will feel more like playtime rather than work. You’ll also be able to draw a lot of inspiration as well as motivation to push forward with the tasks and finish them. IE you’ll have more drive to do your work than you probably have at your main job.
Not sure what you’re interested in? Not sure what you’re passionate about? See the topic above. There are so many side hustles out there that you’re bound to find several things that you’re into. And because you can work them at your own pace as well as pick what you want to do, you can explore a number of options until you find something that works for you.
You can also explore areas that are unfamiliar to you. Never tried coding before but been curious about it? Give it a go! You won’t get fired if it’s something you’re not good at/interested in like you would at your 40 hour week job. You might not get any more gigs from that particular client, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of that business forever. So explore away consequence free! And who knows? Maybe you’ll find your passion in an unlikely area.
Either way, it’ll feel less like work and more like fun!
#7 Dip Your Toes in the Water
Let’s say that you have a stellar idea for a business venture. You know it’ll make a lot of money and it’s been your childhood dream to start it up. However you aren’t quite sure how to start it and get it off the ground. Side hustling is a way for you to dip your toes into the water without putting everything at risk. It gives you a chance to do research, experiment/play with the field that your venture is a part of, and begin setting the foundation for your business… On your own terms.
For example, let’s say that you’re a marketing manager for a major brand. You’ve been working for the company for a decade but now you want to spread your wings and start your own marketing agency. You can start a small side hustle by offering low-cost consulting to clients before you make the leap into entrepreneurship.
By side hustling like this, not only will you start building a steady client roster, but you’ll also have experience in self-management (combined with the experience of your 9 to 5). You’ll also have a good idea of how to run your business when it’s time to finally start that chapter of your life. Plus, you’ll still have your regular paycheck to rely on until you’ve got a steady enough income to quit altogether.
#8 Don’t Like Your Side Hustle? Ditch it!
With so many side hustles out there, you can easily drop the ones you don’t like in order to pick up others to try. There’s also very few consequences to ditching one side hustle in favor of another. This isn’t to say that you should quit mid task and leave your client hanging, but if you discover that something isn’t working for you, you can leave it and try something new.
Yeah, imagine trying that with your desk job boss.
“Hey boss? I really don’t enjoy filing all these requests and sending out invoices. I find it boring and the pay isn’t really that good either. So I’m going to do something else; something I find more engaging. I also want to make more off of it, so yeah.”
If you don’t get fired immediately, your boss is likely to laugh you right out of the building. But in the world of side hustles, this is acceptable. Letting go of clients and freelance jobs you don’t like is perfectly fine. In some cases, you don’t even really have to give a heads up; especially if you’re picking your tasks off of a website like TextBroker or any of the others. Stop signing on and accepting new tasks. Easy!
The same applies if you’re still working a 9 to 5 and using side hustling as a way of making extra income. If your side hustle is taking away too much time or you’re not enjoying it, you can always quit it without guilt. Whether you pick up something to replace it or not is entirely up to you.
#9 Spend more Time with Family
Being a stay at home parent is one of those dreams that many have but assume is unattainable unless one parent makes the entire income necessary to keep the household up. In a lot of cases, that’s true. One parent will need to be the bread winner in order to make things work. However with the introduction of side hustles, both parents can “bring home the bacon” while one stays home with the kid.
Having a stay at home parent that’s earning income is not only great for your household and child expenses, but it’s also great for the child.Having a parent present during the early stages of the child’s development is incredibly beneficial. Many studies have shown that children who are around at least one of their parents during their early years are far more likely to be better off all around.
A stay at home parent also erases one of the biggest childhood expenses out there: daycare. On average, Americans shell out $11,666 per year on daycare. That’s $972 a month! That’s close to what people pay on average for rent. By having a stay at home mom or dad, that’s a big chunk of money that goes back into your pocket.
Side hustles also give bothparents the option to stay at home with their child. You can easily earn a 9 to 5 income through freelancing. Side hustling means that you don’t have to choose who has to go to work and who gets to spend time with the baby; you both get to spend time with Junior.
Freelancing also means that you work odd hours that best suit your child’s needs. If your baby is sick and not feeling well, you’d typically have to take off work to take care of them. If you’re working from home, you can continue to work while keeping an eye on your baby and taking care of them. If your child needs to be fed or put down for a nap, you can easily walk away from your task and take care of it when you’re done.
#10 Freelancing Works Great for those with Disabilities
Showing up consistently at a desk job isn’t always an option for everyone. Those with any number of disabilities may have difficulty showing up for work. Being perfectly candid here, I have severe anxiety. And to be completely honest with you, it’s so bad that I don’t drive. If I want to go somewhere, I’m at the mercy of Uber or friends/family. So a desk job really isn’t a good fit for me. I would end up shelling out more for Uber than I’d probably make and it would be hard to work around my family’s/friends’ schedules if I were to ask them for rides. Plus, my mental illness severely hinders me. I get panic attacks around large groups of people and I freeze when asked questions. Answering the phone can send me into a full blown panic attack.
I’m not alone out there either; there are plenty of others who feel the exact same way. So what are we to do? My landlord still expects rent and I don’t exactly qualify for a disability check. Well, we freelance! Working on the Internet gives me the space and the separation from people I need. I work at my own pace and I don’t have to explain to anyone why I can’t work on particular days. I just simply say I’m unavailable and then I take a mental health day.
Also, unfortunately many jobs don’t come with options for the disabled. I’ve seen plenty of places where wheelchair access isn’t a thing for employees. It sucks, but that’s how some of the businesses operate. This means limited options and a lot of financial hardships for some. Working from home is a great solution though. You can work from the comfort of your own home where you don’t have to worry about these issues. It also gives you the financial freedom as well as confidence that so many of us who don’t fit the 9 to 5 regimen have lacked for a long time.
Want even more reasons to quit your 9 to 5? Check out Forbes’ list:
7 Benefits of Freelancing You Don’t get with a Desk Job
Let me know how your side hustle goes and which one you choose! I have all the faith in the world that you’ll be as addicted to being your own boss as I am! And don’t forget: Be a Hero today and do something wonderful 🙂 -J
