Real FREE Self Care Tips for the Side Hustler
Have a side hustle and feeling overwhelmed? Trying to look up self-care tips but only finding advice about spending lots of money on yourself, indulging in things, and not caring about other people?
Been there, tried that. As someone that’s a full-time web developer AND photography business owner/hustler, I have too-often experienced the burnout that comes with trying to build a business in an already-busy life. And I’ve also struggled with figuring out what true self-care looks like for me!
If you are also struggling, here are some real self-care tips to try out this week:
Schedule your time off each day. I have a hard time balancing my job and hustle, since they pretty much take up my entire day. I have found that I need to actually put in my schedule time off - where I turn off my laptop and phone notifications, put them away, and engage in real life. Some days, it’s only 15-30 minutes; other days, it can be hours. Assess what you need for yourself, and DO IT. And don’t feel bad about “falling behind” - the more you prioritize time for yourself and your health, the more rested you will feel and motivated to get working the next day!
Read a book FOR FUN. Reading is great and stimulates the mind, but too often I feel pressured by others to read books that will better my business and self. Although those books are good, it’s also important to just indulge in some books that you actually enjoy - for myself, it’s always a good fantasy book. Doing this will help distract you from thinking about your side hustle 24/7, lift your spirits, and actually inspire more creativity in your life!
Plan time with a friend(s) each week. It’s easy to fill your time with potential clients and networking meetups - so plan some time to just be yourself and be filled up by your friends. This will take away the pressure of always having to be “on” and let you loosen up a bit.
Don’t use your phone as an alarm clock. Just don’t. The first thing I do in the morning is wake up and check my emails - both for my full-time job and side hustle. This one is probably the biggest struggle for me, especially because my full-time job really does start almost when I wake up, but even scheduling 15 minutes of NO PHONE TIME helps your brain wake up as well as not start your day stressed out.
Keep a journal. Yes, this is actually helpful to your self-care journey. Journalling is so helpful, as it gives you time to reflect, track progress, note your gratitude, and just write down your thoughts. My favorite way to journal is through a bullet journal - I set each month up at the beginning of the month, and it takes me only 10-20 minutes each day to fill it out. This allows me to start my day in a time of reflection, which is really important in terms of setting your mental health up for success.
I hope these free tips can help you start on your own journey towards self care and positive mental health. What are some ways you invest in your own self-care?
