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How to Manage a Side Hustle and a Full-Time Job

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When you have a full-time job, it doesn’t need to be the only thing you want to do in life. You might have another hobby or passion you want to take more seriously. The good news is that you don’t need to leave your job to pursue your passion. A side hustle is a great way to make some money on the side while doing things you love. This could be teaching, writing, dancing, or anything which lets you earn apart from the money you get paid for your primary job. But it’s not that easy.

Since a side hustle is an addition to your professional and personal responsibilities, it can add a lot of pressure. But if you manage it the right way, you can end up making more money while exploring if that’s what you want to do later on in life.

Here are 5 ways to manage your side hustle and full-time job:

1. Plan a schedule that works for you

Since you will be managing your side hustle along with your full-time job, a schedule is necessary to avoid overworking. You cannot work on your side hustle any time of the week you like.

There has to be a schedule. This can be 2 hours before your office time, 2 hours in the evening or maybe on the weekends. Plan out a schedule that works for you which can be managed in a way that your professional and personal tasks don’t get compromised.

It’s essential to stay consistent with this schedule. Otherwise, you may end up overworking yourself without any progress. Having a schedule will help you manage time adequately and maximize focus on the task at hand.

“There is no downside to a side hustle. There are only benefits to building more than one source of income.” – Forbes

2. Minimize distractions

A full-time job takes up a significant part of your day, and if you want to manage it along with a side hustle, there is no space for distractions. At the same time, it also does not mean that you forget having a personal life, it just means that you balance it in a way that you only give time to what is important at the moment.

While working, mute your chats, or put your phone on airplane mode because believe it or not, your mobile phone is your biggest distraction. Doing away with distractions will not only help you concentrate in a better way, but it will also help you do tasks much more efficiently while maintaining quality.

3. Have a time-based action plan

Like any other form of business, a side hustle also requires an action plan. This should include your goals – short term and long term. It should also have an attached timeline with every goal so you can work towards it accordingly.

An action plan is essential because it motivates you to work because the goal is in front of you, and the timeline makes sure that you complete your tasks in time to achieve it. Without an action plan, you will be lost starting from a base point and going up the ladder. It will also make your side hustle very vague, and as a result, it won’t grow.

If you’re investing your free time in something of your own, then you might as well do it the right way, and that starts by defining an action or business plan. After you have laid down the plan, you can prioritize your tasks and start working towards them.

4. Constantly keep upskilling yourself

For a lucrative side gig, you need to work on your skills. If you’re selling your services, you need to be the best at what you do. Many things come into the picture when you’re working for yourself, and upskilling yourself is the way to go.

There are many free resources available online which can enhance your skills like reading blogs, doing free courses, listening to podcasts, following industry leaders, and networking with people.

You don’t have to take out time for these things separately. You can consume them while you’re sipping coffee or taking an evening break. Learning is the only constant, and it will help you when you want to upscale your side hustle such as starting a blog or launching a podcast among other ideas.

5. Find a mentor or become a part of a community

While you work with a team at your job, in a side hustle, you’re mostly working alone unless you’re planning to start a business with someone. Since you don’t have a lot of spare time exploring options, it’s best to find a mentor who can guide you through the process. 

You can also join a niche community of side hustlers or industry workers. Being part of a community helps in finding answers to complex questions and connecting with like-minded people. You can find these communities on Facebook and LinkedIn, or you can become a part of a private community.

This can drastically help you do your work in a better way by putting you on the right path among people who want to walk the journey with you.

“When you receive paychecks from different sources, it allows you to take more chances in your regular career. More income means more options.” – Forbes

Managing a side hustle is stressful and can get overwhelming, but if you have an action plan for it, and are committed to achieving your goals, it’s not difficult. Many successful brands like Apple and Instagram started as side hustles and the rest is history. If you have the will to do something extra for yourself and put in the effort to do it, nothing is impossible.

If you love what you do as a side hustle, it will not even feel like work. You’re doing what you enjoy, and it will reap benefits for you. The extra money that you’re making on the side is the cherry on top.

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

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The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

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