The Fight to Keep Up the Motivation
I know a friend. Rachel. She launched an online jewelry business while holding down a demanding 9-to-5. At first, it was thrilling. Orders rolling in, customers satisfied, creative freedom. But soon, reality hit. Late nights. No weekends. Endless social media updates. An infinite feedback loop of things to do.
She felt drained. That fire which she was once illumined by? Fading fast.
HANDCRAFTED OUR DATA UP TO October 2023.
The problem? A side hustle is not just a hobby. It’s a business. And a business takes attention, planning, effort. Add a full time job and personal life to the picture? Burnout isn’t far away.
Usually, two common reasons side hustlers overwhelm themselves:
Hundreds of tasks and never-ending time.
Having no clearly defined goals or direction.
Unrealistic expectations.
Feeling alone in the journey.
Fear of failure.
Rachel faced all of these. And she almost quit. But she found ways, instead, to push through.
Realistic Strategies to Keep Motivation Up
Remember Your Why
Why did you start this? Was it extra income? Passion? Freedom? Growth? Go back to that.
Rachel put her reasons on paper. Stuck them on her wall. On days when she felt like giving up, she looked at those kids. Told herself — this was her dream.
Break It Down
Big goals? Exciting. Also? Overwhelming.
Instead, take small, daily measures. Need to launch a website? Start with picking a domain. Need to grow on social media? Plan a week’s worth of posts. One step at a time. Small wins add up.
Create a Manageable Schedule
Rachel made time available for her side hustle. No more whenever I have time.
Mornings: Emails, admin work.
Midday breaks: Scrolling through social media.
Evenings: Making products, shipping orders.
Weekends: Large projects, planning for the future.
A structured routine? Helps prevent chaos.
Set Boundaries
It’s not your whole life, it’s a side hustle.
Set work hours. Stick to them.
Don’t respond to emails at midnight.
Take real breaks.
Asking for the work to be done is just more work in a long list of things to do.
Boundaries = balance.
Find a Support System
Going solo? Tough. Having a network? Game changer.
Join a mastermind group.
Networking with fellow entrepreneurs online
Share wins and struggles.
And Rachel found an accountability partner. They checked in weekly. Encouraged each other. Kept each other on track.
Celebrate Progress
Not just the big wins. Everything.
First sale? Celebrate. Finished a tough project? Reward yourself. Progress fuels motivation.
Adjust When Needed
Feeling stuck? Change your approach.
Rachel found herself stretched too thin. She outsourced small tasks. Automated processes. Concentrating on what only she could accomplish. Suddenly? Less stress. More clarity.
The Reality of Side Hustling
Some days will be hard. That’s normal. But staying motivated? That’s a skill. A mindset.
Rachel? She kept going. Her jewelry business? Thriving now. But she still recalls the struggle. The doubt.
You don’t need to be perfect. Just persistent.
Your side hustle? It’s worth it. Keep going.