Anybody who works a full time job, like I do, and also has a side hustle too can tell you they know what it’s like to feel tired. In fact, I can personally tell you I am running on fumes a lot of the time.
I know I am not alone. There are plenty of other people who also work hard at a side hustle so they can turn their dreams into reality. If you are one of them you likely already know what it is to feel exhaustion.
Having a full time job and a side hustle that rivals it isn’t easy. There are plenty of nights when I don’t get enough rest to feel really good the next day. So how do you keep hustling when you are wiped out?
1. Know Where Your Stopping Point Is
Up until a couple of weeks ago I have been working a full time job that frequently requires overtime in addition to two different side hustles. On top of that my husband and I own and operate a farm with crop ground and cattle.
But I know where my stopping point is. That is one reason why I recently let one of my side hustles go. In addition, it was the one I work the least hours at, therefore making it the lowest paying job I was holding.
It wasn’t necessarily easy to let that job go, however, because I really enjoyed what I did there. The hours were very flexible and that made it easy to work into my crazy schedule.
The deciding factor for me was the fact that sometimes I have had a hard time functioning at the level I need to be at my current 40 plus hour per week job. Something had to give.
If any of this sounds familiar to you, my advice is to know where your stopping point is. Don’t try to push beyond it because you could be working yourself into a state of sickness.
2. Sleep as Much as You Can
Right now I do plan to continue to side hustle. The reason is because my master plan includes turning my side hustle into a full time job so I can leave my other full time job.
However, some of the time I simply don’t get enough sleep. As a result, I sleep as much as I can whenever I can because there really isn’t a good alternative to getting enough sleep.
A constant state of exhaustion and sleep deprivation eventually catches up with you. It can cause your immune system to not function as well leaving you vulnerable to sickness. You may also experience higher blood pressure, weight gain, and other negative effects to your health.
Productivity can be affected too. I notice it at my full time job as I try to stay focused while being very tired. I feel like I am lucky because my full time job keeps my attention.
One other way I combat exhaustion, and you can too, is by finding places in my schedule to take a short nap or rest break. For instance, I may lay my head on my desk for 20 minutes over lunch and shut my eyes. Sometimes it makes all the difference on getting through the day.
Another tactic is to get up early in the morning and work instead of working late at night. When I get so tired in the evening that I start doing the head nod, I stop and go to bed.
Working in the early morning hours has the advantage of allowing me to work after just having had a few hours of much needed sleep. This allows me to be fresher and finish my work more timely, using my time more productively.
3. Eat the Right Foods
I am the first to admit I am struggling with eating the right foods right now. It can be difficult to take the time to cook and prepare food properly when time is so short.
Avoiding sugary foods and snack that contain a lot of carbohydrates in them can help combat sluggishness. Therefore, I almost never drink soda pop.
Instead I reach for ice water. The coldness helps to keep me alert and focused as I work during the day. Drinking water has many health benefits that make it a better choice than other drinks as well.
When it comes to food, I eat as many fruits and vegetables as I can. I also limit carbohydrates most of the time to prevent the afternoon “blahs”.
Take a page out of my book and eat dried fruit or nuts as an afternoon snack. The extra protein in nuts provides a boost without added sugar. Additionally, my dried fruit is low in added sugar because I dehydrate my own.
These are just a few of the many tactics I use that you can use too in order to keep hustling when you are wiped out. I also try to exercise when I can, ask for help when I need it, and say no to some requests instead of always saying yes. As you get tired from your own side hustle, try some of these ideas to help you keep hustling your way to success.
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Personal Capital lets you see all of your accounts in one convenient place. Sign up now for free.Are there other things you have tried to help you keep hustling when you are wiped out?
Yes to eating the right foods! It’s so easy to let go of yourself and just grab an unhealthy snack or stuff your face with sweets or (unhealthy) comfort foods when you feel tired!
I’d add another important one to the list: regular exercise. It helps so much, especially when it comes to boosting confidence. Even when I don’t have the time during the day, I insist at least on going for a walk in the evening.
I think it’s also really important to take some time out for yourself.
A few years ago I was working from home and I was in the office whenever I was home, after a while productivity took a dive. I think (for me anyway) a work structure is really helpful, and saved my sanity 🙂
I’m drinking too much sugary drinks and eating terrible food, so my next steps are food and exercise. (I’ve been saying that for years)
I can relate one to one quote after reading this article, “Good things happen to those who hustle.” Post motivates and guides in the right direction to hustle.
Hustle is rarely a term used to describe the activites of people working in the SEO industry. However, that’s exactly how I would describe my experience of starting my own SEO Company.
SEO and Digital Marketing is extremely dynamic and everyone has to be responsive and ‘hustle’ to deliver client performance objectives. Peter points out how important it is to take time out, which I completely support. I regularly spend ‘quality time’ with my family to balance the ‘hard work’.
Thanks for the article.
Yes, it’s hard to find the time to rest when you work hard. But it’s also hard to keep going without the rest. I’m glad you are finding some balance. Thanks for your comments.