Balancing a side hustle without burning out is possible if you take a sustainable approach. For the past few years, I’ve been working full-time and blogging on the side. Writing has allowed me to express myself creatively, learn new skills, and connect with others in the wellness space. With that being said, it does take up a lot of time. In the beginning, it was hard to manage both while maintaining my sanity. I had to make a few changes in order to show up to both effectively and still have time to relax.

Here is my guide to balancing a side hustle without burning out:  

Find a Company That Supports Work-Life Balance or Remote Arrangements

Having a remote job or a company that supports work-life balance is a game-changer. One of the most effective ways to balance a side hustle is to have more time to work with. If your full-time gig requires you to work 50+ hours a week plus a commute then finding time for your side gig is going to be hard. Not impossible but in order to not burn out, you need some downtime. Try to find a company that supports remote arrangements (even if it’s just 1 day a week) or organizations that allow for work-life balance.

Create Healthy Habits

I find it just as important to incorporate healthy habits into my daily routine as it is to schedule time for my side hustle. The better I feel, the more productive, efficient, and creative I am. My healthy habits are as simple as making a nutrient-dense smoothie for breakfast before I start my work day or ensuring I power down my electronics at 7pm every night. These sustainable habits keep me balanced.

Schedule Downtime

Having a side gig doesn’t mean you have to dedicate every free waking moment to work on it. It’s just as important to schedule downtime so you can hit pause and refresh. I believe the energy we have when we are doing tasks is reflected in our work. If you want to do your best work, you need to be well-rested. Some of my best ideas or problem-solving come from those moments of downtime.

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

Don’t get stuck in the rabbit hole of comparing yourself to others. Many times you’re comparing your beginning to someone else’s end. The comparison game is a never-ending one that will surely burn you out and unfortunately will not get you any further in your own projects. It’s an effective way to procrastinate and that’s about it. Use others for inspiration but learn to cut yourself off.

Listen to Your Body

Our bodies are amazing vessels constantly sending us warning signs. When it comes to balancing a side hustle, you need to be attuned to those signs. When you feel overtired, take a nap. If you’ve worked so much on a task that you can’t think straight, power down for the day. If you feel cracked out on caffeine, drink some water. When we learn to listen to our bodies, we can prevent burnout.

When it comes to balancing a side hustle or hobby, my honest unsolicited advice: hustle less. Work towards your goals but in a sustainable way. That way the quality of your work is high and so are your spirits.