What is a “side hustle”?

I’m currently writing this blog while on a plane coming home from my last work trip for my corporate job, and it has inspired me to chat about the beginning stages of my side hustle. 

Starting a week from today, I will officially be a full-time entrepreneur. This is a major step and one that still brings giddy butterflies to my stomach each time I think of the idea.

Like many entrepreneurs, my business began as a side hustle. 

The moment I learned about health and nutrition coaching, it was like my heart finally found its compass. I saw a destination I wanted to reach and was willing to put in the work to get there. 

With my passion as guidance, I set out to learn what it takes to successfully run a nutrition and health coaching business. 

At first, I felt nervous, but at the same time, I knew I had found my calling. With excitement and hope, I set out on my journey.

Something tells me that, like me, you’re on a path to find success as a coach who no longer needs a job to support your passion. These are the steps that led me from full-time employee side hustling coaching, to now fully in with my own coaching business.

Setting goals for your side hustle

When I first started my business, I expected too much of myself in a given week. The results were as could be expected… I felt burnt out and disappointed (and you know that’s not good for momentum). 

I learned very quickly what types of things were attainable and what was wishful thinking.

It’s important to be honest with yourself about your availability each week, keeping in mind that your schedule is not always going to be consistent when you are working a side hustle. 

You may have more family obligations one week, or other work-related activities that will take priority over your side hustle.

When in doubt, only give yourself a couple of things to accomplish. By consistently crossing off things on your list, you are showing commitment to yourself and your dreams. Achieving more would be a bonus!

Every Sunday, I dedicate 15 minutes to this practice and plan out the week ahead. Then on Wednesday, I take note of what has been accomplished, and where I may need to adjust my planning for the remaining days.

Another helpful method I learned was to work backwards when working on larger projects. 

Start with the end result, then outline everything it will take to get there. 

For instance, if you are creating an ebook of recipes, you will need to develop the recipes, design the book, take photos of the recipes, edit the book, release the book, market it, etc. This will feel overwhelming at first, but once it is broken down, you can see which tasks will need to be prioritized.

Value your time immensely… It makes a difference!

When you have a side hustle, the value of your time increases exponentially. 

This means goal setting and prioritization are key. It also means you will need to do some personal reflection to see which activities, social events, and tasks are worth your time.

If you genuinely enjoy mowing your own lawn because it relaxes you, that’s awesome and you should keep it up! But if it is a time-waster that could be used for business activities instead, it might be time to hire someone else.

It can be scary to outsource activities… especially ones that you can do yourself. However, the mindset of valuing your own time enough to invest in an expert (like a graphic designer or web developer) or someone to help with the little things (like a lawn care service) is priceless when it comes to creating a successful side hustle.

Set healthy boundaries with your clients

Setting boundaries with your clients ensures that your time is protected and you’re earning what you are worth. 

Consider designating only certain days or time blocks to coach and reserve the rest for the other business operations. 

When coaching on the side of a full-time job, you will need to decide if you are willing to meet with clients on the weekends.

Your definition of success will help you understand the value of your time. 

For some, success will be money-related. For others, it could mean spending more time with family or friends. This is completely up to you and should be decided early on. 

Having a measure for success will help you prioritize when it comes to choosing between two tasks or activities. You can simply refer to that end-goal to know which is the right decision.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself

I have a confession to make — I’ve never been unhealthier than when I started my nutrition coaching side hustle. 

As paradoxical as that sounds, running a business can take a lot out of you. Burnout is real. Comfort food is a consistent craving. Exercise seems like a lower priority. However, it is incredibly important that you remain healthy.

This business you are creating cannot exist without you, which means you need to continue to feel your best even during the emotional rollercoaster that comes with running a business.

Understand what “healthy” looks like for you

When defining success in your side hustle, make sure you include your criteria for what healthy looks like for you.

For me, being healthy means that I am relaxed and present. To do that, I learned I needed to have forced relaxation time and so I began a consistent meditation practice.

For a while, I felt guilty whenever I wasn’t working on my business. However, guilt is not good for anyone. Remember, it’s okay to relax. It’s okay to go workout instead of writing a blog (even if you wanted to post it that night), and it’s more than okay to make time for yourself that is completely separate from your business.

Valuing yourself and your time will also make you a better coach!

How to create a schedule that promotes your health and success

Some of this may seem easier than it is. 

Especially for those of us in the health and wellness industry, we don’t like to admit when we feel under the weather or burnt out. That kind of goes against the image we want to display to the world of what it means to be healthy, right? 

However, firing on all cylinders all hours of the day is impossible for anyone, so pay attention to when you are in your flow state.

Digging into understanding what works best for our work schedules has an immense effect on our side hustle productivity. As you think about what will help you be the most productive, here are a few questions to consider:

• Do you do your best work in the morning or at night?
• What atmosphere encourages your best work?
• What times of day do you tend to have a dip in energy?
• When are your clients most likely to call or respond to your work?
• Are you most inspired in the morning or at night?
• For women, what time of the month are you more creative versus analytical? Our menstrual cycles affect our energy.

And for all of us, the seasons can also affect how we feel and work. Designing a schedule for yourself is something only you can do, and as you work to have a side hustle, time management will be critical to your future success.

Once you discover what is best for you, craft your schedule to support your health and create ease in your life as much as possible.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Maintaining a side hustle is no easy feat. However, your passion and purpose will be your motivation to keep going through all the amazing ups, downs, and rounds of having a nutrition coaching side hustle (and absolutely crushing it!)

If you want to chat more about some of these things, comment below and let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts and start a conversation right here!