If/when your boss asks you to return to the office; will you continue working on your side hustle, and how?
Like many people, I started a side hustle when the pandemic hit, and remote working became the norm. Not having to commute (2 hours each way) gave me 4 free hours every day and I started advertising my translation services; something I’d wanted to do for a long time as I speak several languages.
I’ve been lucky enough to secure some regular high-end clients but most of the time the translation is needed quickly therefore, turnaround time is paramount. I’m required to return to the office in January (I work in HR – yes, the irony is that we are the ones having to champion returning to work, and won’t allow flexible working). This means I will only have weekends free for my side hustle, and I will lose most of my clients who require my services in the week.
It feels like a real blow having done it for two years to essentially lose all that overnight. Unfortunately, though it doesn’t pay enough for me to quit my 9-5. I have a family and mortgage to pay for and our outgoings are between 5-6k per month. I’m earning half that from my side hustle, and my partner only works part-time. No savings either due to a number of unexpected big costs over the last 2 years. If it wasn’t for my side hustle income then we’d actually be in a lot of debt right now.
Anyway, I can’t see how I’d continue my side hustle in the week as I’m out of the house by 6am and not home until after 8pm. But the alternative isn’t something I want to consider either. I don’t know what to do.
Is anyone else in the same position – having to go back to the office and wondering how this will impact their side hustle? What’s your plan? Any advice?
Maybe speak with your boss? Ask for more flexible hours.
We're back at three days at the office, and it's tough. If we go back to an entire week, I'm not sure I'll be ok with that. A whole week of working from the office concept is something I can't go back to.
You have a long commute everyday, can you use that time for your side hustle?, maybe answer some emails and planning next tasks?. And using your lunch break and nights is a good choice. It all depends on how much time does your side hustle need from you, maybe you could outsource some tasks.
It all depends on the volume of work, but another thing I would consider is your happiness/mental health: do you really want to continue?, is it profitable for you?: not just monetarily: does it make you happy? or it drains your energy?. Can you afford outsourcing some of the work?.
Maybe during the week you could answer emails and give code-less support and on weekends build new features and solve issues that require coding. (assuming you code for your hustle lol)
you have a pretty long work day man, but you can work on it during your lunch break and after work, that would be a rough day, so you can work till 23pm on your project but also du breaks. I mean you should not do it every day but 2 times a week and on the weekend is okay. Your situation is really hard but i see no other way, also you can work full time in your vacation to bring forward your sidehustle, good luck man
I’m in the same position. Don’t have a 2-hour commute though so could still work on my hustle in the morning or evening. I think I’d prefer the lie-in in the morning and free time in the eve so I’m just going to work on it on the weekend. Mine isn’t time bound as it’s just a game I’m building and don’t have clients/users etc. and not earning an income from it. Like others have said, depends what your priority is – mental health, earning money, ability to quit your 9-5, etc. Good luck with whatever you decide.
That’s tough. I’m lucky that the company I work for are offering flexible working still so I can still work on my hustle. Your situation is completely personal and only you know what you are capable of. It sounds like you wouldn’t be getting enough rest/sleep if you worked on it in the week to me. But I guess it depends what you want to prioritize. If building the business and increasing revenue is the number 1 goal then focus on that for 6 months and see what happens. If you can get to 6k MRR quick enough then you can quit your job and you won’t have to be working crazy hours for too long.