Running A Business

Carving out Time to Build Your Side Business

Dec 16, 2019 • 2 min read
Female entrepreneur working from home
Table of Contents

      Making money on the side when you’re not working at your 9 to 5 is catching on. According to Bankrate, 37% of Americans have some kind of side job.

      If you’re dedicated to growing your side gig, it could eventually turn into a full-scale business. The key is finding time to do it. These tips can help you find room in your day to build your side business.

      Conduct a Time Audit

      Auditing your time is a little like auditing your finances. You look at the big picture to see where you are using your resources.

      A daily time log is a simple way to figure out where your time goes. Record everything you do each day for the next 2 weeks. Then, review the log to see where you’re committing your time.

      Get up Earlier (Or Stay up Later)

      Consider bookending your days to include time for your side hustle. Get up half an hour earlier or stay up an hour later.

      A new routine may take some getting used to, but it can give you the time you need if you’re committed to growing your side business.

      Use Small Pockets of Time to Your Advantage

      One misconception you might have about building your side business is that you need big chunks of time to do it. The truth is you can still get things done when you only have a few minutes here or there.

      Think about the smaller windows of time you have in a day. You might get a 15-minute break in the morning at work. Or you might have a doctor’s appointment, which usually means spending 30 minutes in the waiting room.

      It all goes back to doing a time audit. When you focus less on finding hours to work on your hustle and use the minutes you already have, that’s an opportunity to get things done for your business.

      Ditch One Bad Time-Wasting Habit

      Love vegging out in front of the TV? Can’t go 10 minutes without checking Facebook or Instagram? Are weekends all about sleeping in an extra 2 hours?

      Those things can help you unwind from the stresses of a busy lifestyle, but they’re also sucking up valuable time you could be putting toward your side business. You don’t have to necessarily overhaul your habits or hobbies completely, but taking one time-waster out of the equation can give you time to focus on your side gig.

      Learn on the Go

      Learning about your side hustle is one of the keys to growing it. Audiobooks and podcasts are a great way to build your knowledge base because you can tune into them while doing other things.

      For example, you could listen to a podcast on entrepreneurship while you’re mowing the lawn or taking your lunch break. Or you might digest an entire audiobook on your daily commute to and from work.

      The more you can use downtime to your advantage, the faster you may begin to see results from your business-building efforts.

      About the author
      Rebecca Lake

      Rebecca Lake is a financial journalist covering small business, investing, and personal finance. Her work has appeared online at U.S. News and World Report, Investopedia, and The Balance. She also works with top banking and insurance brands, including Citibank, Ally, Discover Bank, and AIG.

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