How to balance a side hustle with a full-time job

Building a side hustle while having a full-time job can be a low-stakes way to turn your passions into profit, test out a new career direction, and even boost your income.

A recent survey by MarketWatch found that more than half (54%) of Americans have a side hustle. In today’s uncertain job market, side hustles provide extra income, meaningful work, and a safety net in case your main job falls through.

However, balancing two hustles can also be challenging. Here are eight tips for balancing a side hustle with your primary job.

Prioritize your primary job

When balancing a side hustle, your primary job must come first. Even if your side hustle is more fulfilling, prioritize your main job because it provides your paycheck. When I built my coaching practice while a vice president at a non-profit, I scheduled coaching clients or training after work or on weekends to keep my primary job as the priority.

Confirm you are clear to hustle

You should also check your organization’s policies. As side gigs become increasingly common, many employers have policies regarding outside employment. Check if you need to disclose your side gig and adhere to any restrictions on using office equipment, office space, or time for your side hustle.

Be transparent

Open communication with your boss, team, and HR leaders fosters trust. Likewise, inform your side hustle clients that you have a full-time job, maintaining transparency and ethical practices. Being honest and upfront demonstrates integrity and professionalism in main and side roles.

Steer clear of conflicts of interest

Avoid overlaps between your regular job and side hustle. Conflicts can arise if you leverage your organization’s business relationship or intellectual property for your side gig. Ensure your side hustle clients aren’t vendors, team members, or customers of your main job. Matt Gjertsen, who built a leadership development side hustle while at SpaceX, advises: “You want to be careful that you’re not signed up for something that could put you in direct conflict with your main source of income.”

Show the benefit to your employer

If you’re in a senior role, demonstrate how your side hustle benefits your organization. When I started my coaching business, my forward-thinking employer saw it as a way to enhance team practices and apply coaching principles to my leadership.

Gjertsen echoes this sentiment. “I pitched it as an opportunity to build skills that benefit the company and test new tools on somebody else’s dime,” he says.

Maximize your time

In order to successfully balance your side hustle with your main hustle, you will need to optimize your schedule. With a demanding primary job, efficiency is crucial. Designate specific times for your side hustle, like evenings, or weekends, or take PTO days to focus on it. Clarity on priorities for both roles can help you manage your time effectively. This also can help you set clear boundaries between your two roles.

Take incremental steps

Make daily efforts to nurture your side hustle, even if it’s a small task like reading an article related to your business. I set annual goal milestones like designing a logo, getting a new certification, or creating offers, then broke them into manageable steps.

Jeff Cobb, managing director of Tagoras, a consultancy in the business of continuing education, decided to focus more attention on his music with the goal of producing an album. “I started dedicating time to it as something I was going to do, day in and day out, and make it a consistent, regular part of my life going forward,” says Cobb. “I think it’s just trying to get disciplined about consistently doing even very small amounts of whatever you’re doing related to your side hustle.” Gradual progress accumulates over time, and your side hustle will grow when intentional effort is put into it.

Set boundaries between your personal and professional lives

Balancing one job is hard enough, let alone two. Inform your family and friends that you’re dedicating specific times to your side gig, so they understand your limited availability. To avoid burnout, set clear boundaries for both roles and prioritize your health, family, and community.

Simple practices like not checking emails in the evening, taking at least one day off on weekends, and reserving some evenings for relaxation can make a big difference. Find rejuvenating activities that work for you, such as daily meditation, exercise, socializing with friends or simply enjoying some downtime.

While some can sustain having two hustles long-term, you might eventually choose to focus on one. This could mean transitioning your side hustle into your primary job. The decision is up to you.

Jennifer Lewi, MBA, CAE, ACC, is founder of Design Your Next Step, a boutique executive coaching and career strategy firm. She built her coaching practice for three years while vice president of career development and conferences at the School Nutrition Association.