The Power of Routine
I know a friend. Jake. Full-time job. Passionate about photography. Wanted to convert it into a business. But the problem? No structure. No consistency. Hustling at odd hours, doing tasks whenever we can. It wasn’t working.
Then, he built a routine. Set dedicated work blocks. Prioritized what mattered. Then suddenly things were in motion. More progress. Less stress.
The Importance of Routines for Side Hustlers
A side hustle isn’t a hobby. It’s a business. Businesses require consistency, discipline and time management. Without a routine? It’s chaos.
Challenges side hustlers experience:
Skilled at acquiring a lot to do.
The problem is, you are still not making much headway.
Working in a perpetual realm of fatigue.
Not separating personal life from hustle time.
A routine takes the guesswork out of it. Makes work manageable.
How to Create a Routine That Works
Identify Your Best Work Hours
Some hours are more equal to others. Others are morning warriors. Others, night owls. Discover what times you are productive and book that time for side hustle work.
Jake? A night owl. He planned to edit photos and market from 8 PM — 10 PM.
Divide Your Goals into Daily Activities
Big goals are overwhelming. Rather than launch a website, consider:
Day 1: Pick a domain name.
Day 2: Choose a hosting plan.
Day 3: Set up the homepage.
Small steps. Big results.
Time Block Everything
Time blocking = control. It gets rid of distractions and procrastination.
Mornings: (2hr) Personal development, Exercise.
Lunchtime: Social media activity.
A few evenings: Side hustle deep work.
We: Weekends: Planning, big projects.
No working whenever you have time. Create time.
Set Boundaries
Your side hustle shouldn’t consume you completely.
Set work hours. Stick to them.
Disable alerts after hours.
Take real breaks — walk, sit, recover.
Decline the tasks that don’t propel you forward.
Boundaries = balance.
Automate & Delegate
Doing everything manually? A time-waster.
Automate Emails and Social Media Posts
Organize yourself with something like Trello or Notion.
Delegate small tasks that can be done by others.
Less busywork. More growth.
Track Progress & Adjust
A routine isn’t set in stone. It evolves.
Are you as productive in your hours sitting with the task as you can be?
Are some tasks going on for longer than they should?
Do you feel fatigued or recharged?
Evaluate. Adjust. Keep improving.
The Business of Being a Person: A Reality Show
It won’t always be easy. Some days will feel off. But the secret? Show up anyway.
Jake? He stuck with his routine. His photography business? Thriving now. But he remembers the struggle all the same.
You don’t need perfection. Just persistence.
Your side hustle? It deserves your best time. Establish a structure that enables it. And watch everything change.