In the past month, I have learned the true definition of hustle. I have been working full time, while simultaneously running my online boutique, as well as the blog! Although the blog has definitely taken a back seat (which I hate) I still have been busier than I have ever been with work! To say it has been A LOT would be a major understatement. I get up at 6 am each morning to get ready for work, and usually, don’t go to sleep until midnight most nights. Which, for me is super late haha.
I really need to do a life update blog post, because there are a few changes that have happened in both my personal life and job situation in the past few months! But, for now, I wanted to share this blog post with tips for all of you who are working two jobs! I know a lot of my readers are fellow bloggers or store owners that also work full time. Balancing your 8-5 job and running a business is super tough, so I wanted to share some tips that have been helping make my life easier!
white tunic top // high waist skinny jeans // wedges // bracelets (1) (2) (3)
photos by Layne of The Rosemary Hen
Schedule your social media posts on Sunday night
This is something I’m trying to get better at, but when I do it, it helps SO MUCH. Every Sunday I try to take 10-15 minutes to sit down on my phone, edit all my photos and come up with captions. I try to do this for both my blog and store account.
I have been using the app Buffer to schedule Twitter and Facebook. It has been so helpful, and it’s very user-friendly! I keep all my Instagram posts in my drafts, as I haven’t found an app that will actually go through and post on Instagram for me. Saving them as a draft is nice because all I have to do is just go in and click share. This is convenient because I try to post at least 3 times on my store’s account every day, and once on my blog’s account. So just having to click one button is nice when I don’t have a ton of time to sit down and write a caption and do all the photo processing!
Planning ahead and scheduling posts ensures you’re still active on social media, even if you don’t actually have the time for it!
Make a goal & plan every day
On my commute to and from work (about 3 hours combined) is usually when I’m making a plan for my day after work. I usually make this plan in my head or jot it down in my notes on my phone. But, you can do this in your planner if you need a physical schedule!
I always have one goal that I make a priority on getting done, and put plans in place to get it done. So if my goal was purchasing inventory for the night my plan would be to sit down and block out 30-45 minutes to shop and look around.
Whatever your goal is, try to make actual steps on how to achieve it so you aren’t wasting time!
Figure out the what’s the most important
As a business owner you take on ALL the roles, and it can feel like all you ever do is a million and one tasks without any real end result.
Working a full-time job, and hustling on the side can be tough to balance and is a lot mentally and physically. Try to figure out what tasks are the most important, and what can actually wait.
For me and my business packing up orders is always the most important, and I know it’s something that cannot wait so I always do that right when I get home since I know it’s going to have to get done regardless. If I don’t have orders to package I will make myself sit down and write out at least one blog post draft. Everyone is different!
Put tasks that equal an end goal on the top of your list.
Let yourself relax
I’ll be the first to admit I am a workaholic when it comes to my businesses. I don’t like spending any free time not doing anything that’s going to benefit the store, or the blog. For me, it’s so hard to set aside downtime and not work. At night if I’m on the computer watching YouTube or Netflix I start to feel guilty or like I’m wasting valuable time.
Setting aside time to relax is so important! Chances are you’re working 60+ hours a week between both jobs, and that means your body REALLY needs (and deserves) some downtime!
Time block/schedule everything
I’m not going to go into this too much as I have a full blog post about it, but this is so important! Schedule your whole dang life out. If you’re working a 8-5/9-6 chances are you have a LOT going on for your lunch breaks and after work.
Schedule out 30 min/60 min chunks so you can hold yourself accountable and stay on task!
Set an end-goal
Keep your end goal specific and set small goals to hit to lead up to it so you can measure your growth.
I think setting an end-goal is the most important thing you can do while you are working full time, and running your business. It’s so important to have a goal to strive for… something that will keep you motivated.
Having an end-goal makes all those long nights, and 7 day workdays worth it. Whether you have a side hustle that you’re doing solely to pay off a student loan, or if you’re growing a business with the goal to make it your full-time job, you need to keep that goal in mind!
Have a great week babes! Thank you for reading today’s blog post, and sticking around! I hope these tips help you, and I would love to hear from you in the comment section if you are working full time and hustling on the side.
