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How to Stick with Your Side Hustle: A Realistic Routine for Busy People
How to Stick with Your Side Hustle: A Realistic Routine for Busy People ⏰
Starting a side hustle isn’t the hard part. Sticking with it over time? That’s the real challenge.
As someone who started side hustles out of financial necessity, I’ve gone through countless trials and errors. What I discovered is that the biggest hurdle wasn’t motivation or skill—it was routine.
In this post, I’ll share a realistic daily and weekend routine that helped me maintain my side hustle, even with limited time. If you’re a full-time worker, freelancer, or just a busy person trying to do more—this one’s for you.
🧩 1. Before You Build a Routine: Do These Two Things
① Identify Your Peak Hours
Everyone has different windows of energy and focus. Find yours—and protect that time.
For me, mornings and late evenings work best. Here’s what a typical weekday looks like:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5:00 | Wake up |
| 6:00–8:00 | Light workout / Side hustle brainstorming |
| 8:00–17:00 | Work (Remote software job, occasional speaking gigs) |
| 18:00–21:00 | Work-related learning |
| 21:00–24:00 | Content creation, planning next side hustle steps |
I work remotely for a U.S.-based company, and staying up-to-date is essential to keeping my job. At the same time, I support my family—so yes, my schedule is packed.
But you don’t need to go this hard. Just observe your own day and find your ideal focus window. Then, start building a simple habit around it—even just 30 minutes a day. That adds up to 3.5 hours per week and 15 hours a month.
One warning: If something doesn’t work for you physically or mentally, don’t force it. Remember—you’re building a side hustle to live better, not burn out.
② Define the Type of Work
Not all side hustles are the same. Your routine depends on what you’re doing: Writing, design, automation, content planning… each requires different types of focus.
If you’re unsure where to start, blogging is a great entry point. It builds your portfolio, trains your thinking, and becomes a long-term asset—even if you change side hustles later.
🗓 2. Weekend Routine: Time Block Like a Pro
Weekends feel long—but if you’re not careful, they’ll disappear. That’s why I use “side hustle blocks” to organize my time.
Here’s my basic structure:
- Morning Block (10:00–12:00): Deep work (new content, planning)
- Afternoon Block (14:00–16:00): Repetitive tasks (editing, uploading, admin)
- Evening Block (20:00–21:00): Input time (research, market trends)
💡 You don’t need to use all the blocks. Even doing just one block a day gives structure to your weekend—and helps you stay on track.
⚙️ 3. Automate the Repetitive Stuff
Many side hustles involve repetitive work: uploading, organizing, copying, posting… And time is energy.
Here are some tools I use to save time and automate tasks:
- Notion + Templates for organizing content and planning workflows
- Zapier / Make to automate inputs (e.g. Google Sheets → Notion, auto-post to socials)
- ChatGPT for idea generation and draft writing
- Google Sheets Automation for tracking earnings and creating visual reports
Once set up, these tools become your silent teammates—saving you hours over time.
📌 4. How to Protect Your Routine
- Let go of perfection: Missing a day won’t break your progress.
- Focus on flow, not time: Even 10 minutes counts—it keeps the momentum alive.
- Track your progress: Use Notion, a blog, or even a simple calendar.
- Break plans into micro-tasks: Don’t say “Work on side hustle.” Say “Write outline” or “Design thumbnail.”
🧘 Final Thoughts: Routines Build Results
Consistency isn’t talent—it’s structure. You might not lack time—you just might not have a system to protect your time.
If I could build a routine after long workdays and family responsibilities, anyone can. Even 30 minutes a day can take you far. One small routine is all it takes.