Happy New Year! Ah, it’s 2019, and I’m not gettin’ any younger. (Thankfully, though, I’ll be 29 this year, which means I’ll still be a millennial!)
Speaking of millennials, it’s no secret that millennials are an ambitious bunch, especially when it comes to our career aspirations.
According to Refinery29, 37 percent of Americans have some sort of side hustle. And in case you were wondering how many of those Americans are millennials, it’s about 1 in 2. These numbers shouldn’t be surprising; there have been countless studies documenting the uprise of side hustles amongst millennials due to declining perceptions of yucky managers and selfish businesses.
OK. So, we hear about and see all these millennials side hustling away. But don’t you ever wonder how exactly they do it when they spend eight hours of their day at their, well, day jobs?
As our resident expert Stephanie Breedlove pointed out in an exclusive piece she wrote for On The Dot:
“Juggling a side hustle alongside a full-time commitment will stretch you in every way possible. It is the harder path, but thanks to the obstacles you’ll be forced to overcome, the rewards are fulfilling and potentially sizeable. If you love what you’re doing, it will feel like a passion rather than work.”
So, are you ready to make the commitment? If you’re someone who’s laid out ambitious goals for yourself for the new year, read on to make sure you reach those goals.
1 in 2 millennials have a side hustle.
Work in a coworking space. It’s easy to fall off track if you’re trying to work on your side hustle immediately after work at home, with the dog jumping all over you and the TV silently calling your name. Find a coworking space in your area that you can work at.
Most people who are chasing their dreams enjoy being around other like-minded people. Think about it: Working in a library is much more motivational, for example, than working at home (and possibly drowning in your self-defeating thoughts about your “crappy” venture). By being surrounded by others who are working off the clock, you’ll push yourself that much harder.
Collaborate or find a partner. Whether your side hustle is an entrepreneurial venture or just a part-time job, having a partner will mean investing less of your own time after 5 PM. By dividing and conquering, you’ll still be able to see the fruits of your labor (and someone else’s) come to life.
Not to mention that when you work alongside a partner, you have someone to bounce ideas off of. One of the things we heard a lot at On The Dot’s See it to Be it Success Summit was that many women suffer from self-doubt—so if you’re one of those people who gets trapped too easily in her own head, it’ll be extremely beneficial for you to work with someone and not get in your own way.
Going it alone isn’t ever easy, especially when it comes to professional tasks. Here at On The Dot, we fully stand behind the idea of finding your tribe. Why, you ask? Because it works!
Get some interns. If there are certain aspects of your job that can be easily delegated to other people, considering taking on an intern (or a couple). Usually, people still in school are willing to take on an internship that will give them experience in their desired field. Reach out to students via student boards and college events to find your mentees.
Oh, and if you can afford to, throw your intern(s) a sizeable stipend at the end of the internship. They’ll be indubitably grateful.
De-clutter your life. In order to truly find both the time and energy for your side hustle, it’s absolutely pertinent to de-clutter your life. I recently de-cluttered my life of unnecessary people and things, and it has made a world of difference. (New year, new me!)
Toxic friends, boyfriends, coworkers, bosses, you name it—get rid of them all. Any sort of lingering toxic energy in your life will drain you mentally and physically (trust me!), which leaves less energy to focus on your dream. You'd be surprised how much your personal life bleeds into your professional life without you even realizing it.