I’ve Done Over 20 Side Hustles – Here’s How To Avoid Burnout

Are you worried that your side hustle is starting to take up too much of your time and energy?

A side hustle can be exciting at first.

You’re making extra income, working toward a goal, and doing something that can hopefully improve your life. Maybe you want to pay off debt, save more money, have more flexibility, or even turn your side hustle into a full-time business one day.

But side gigs can also be a lot.

I’ve done many side hustles over the years, and while I’m so thankful for them, I also know that it’s very easy to take on too much.

So, what is side hustle burnout?

Side hustle burnout is when your side hustle starts to feel mentally, emotionally, or physically draining. Instead of feeling excited by it, you may start to dread it, feel like you’re always behind, or feel like your side hustle has become just one more thing on your never-ending to-do list.

Some signs of side hustle burnout include:

• Being tired all the time
• Dreading tasks you used to enjoy
• Feeling guilty when you rest
• Getting irritated more easily
• Having trouble focusing
• Not enjoying your free time because you’re always thinking about work

So, what can you do if your side hustle is starting to feel like too much?

How To Stop Side Hustle Burnout

Below are my best tips for how to avoid side hustle burnout and find something that actually fits your life.

Recommended reading: I’ve Done Over 20 Side Hustles in My Life: Here’s What I Think of Each

1. Choose a side hustle that actually fits your life

I have done a lot of side hustles in my life (over 20!), and I have always made sure that they would actually fit my life.

Back when I was paying off my student loans, I had around 5 side hustles going at the same time. I made sure that they:

• Had a flexible schedule
• Didn’t require me to drive anywhere on a set schedule
• Allowed me to work from home
• Didn’t require a lot of in-person interaction

And, I think this really helped because this made my side hustles more likely to work for my life situation and keep me happy.

I think this is one of the biggest things that can help prevent burnout from the start.

Not every side hustle is right for every person, and that’s okay.

Some people need something flexible that they can do in short pockets of time. Some people want something low stress because they already have a demanding day job. Some people want a side hustle where they can work alone, and others want something more social. Some people want extra income right away, while others are okay with building something slowly over time.

For example, if you’re already mentally drained at the end of the day, then starting a side hustle that requires a lot of focus every night may not be the best fit. If your weekends are already packed with family activities, then maybe a weekend-only side hustle isn’t realistic. If you don’t like talking to people all day, then a side job where you are with customers the whole time may not be for you.

I think it helps to ask yourself questions like:

• When do I actually have time for this?
• How much energy do I really have?
• Do I want something flexible or a side job that has a strict schedule?
• Do I want something online or in person?
• Do I just want a side hustle that’s super easy, like one that I can just do on the couch?
• Will this still fit my life a few months from now?

I know it can be tempting to pick something only because it seems profitable, but I think fit matters more.

A side hustle that fits your real life is much easier to stick with, and that can make a huge difference.

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2. Start with less than you think you should

I know it can feel like you need to go all in right away.

You may feel like if you’re serious about making extra money, then you should be working on your side hustle every night, every weekend, and during every spare minute you have. But truthfully, I don’t think that’s the best approach for most people.

I think it’s usually much better to start smaller.

That may mean working on your side hustle two or three times a week instead of every day. It may mean focusing on just one income stream, one service, or one main goal at a time. It may mean telling yourself that for now, you’re only going to do what you can actually keep up with.

If you spend all of your free time on a side hustle and don’t spend any time doing things that you enjoy, then you may get tired of it really fast.

And then you may burn out, get frustrated, and may even quit something that could have worked really well if you had just built it more slowly.

Now that being said, for some people, working a lot on their side hustle can be doable if it’s for a relatively short amount of time. For example, when I was paying off my student loans, I knew that I wanted them paid off as quickly as possible. I ended up paying off my $40,000 in student loan debt in just 7 months, and between my day job and my side hustles, I was consistently working 100 hours per week. Could I have done this forever? No! I definitely would have burned out. But I knew that I had a clear deadline for when I would stop.

3. Set work hours so your side hustle doesn’t take over everything

One thing that can make a side hustle feel extra draining is when it starts creeping into every part of your life.

For example:

• You answer messages while making dinner.
• You work your day job and then work your side hustle with all of your remaining evening hours, with no relaxation.
• You work while watching TV.
• You think about your to-do list while trying to relax.
• You tell yourself you’ll take a break later, but later never really comes.

I think this is where boundaries can help a lot.

Even if your gig is part-time, I think it helps to decide when you’re working and when you’re not. That way, your side hustle doesn’t take over every extra second.

For example, maybe you work on it:

• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday mornings only
• For one hour before your regular job
• During certain blocks of time each weekend

I also think it helps to have boundaries around what you will not do. Maybe you do not answer emails after a certain time. Maybe you do not book clients on Sundays. Maybe you do not take rush work. Maybe you limit the number of jobs you accept each month.

Recommended reading: 16 Ways To Find Time To Make Extra Money

4. Give yourself time off without feeling guilty

This is a big one.

I know a lot of people feel guilty resting when they are trying to make extra money. If you’re trying to pay off debt, save for something important, or grow a business, it can feel like you should always be doing more.

But, this can actually hurt you because you need to rest!

You need days when you are not constantly thinking about your side hustle. You need evenings where you just relax. You need time with your family, time outside, time to reset, and time to just be a person.

Rest is not wasted time.

In fact, I think rest is one of the things that helps you stay consistent. When you’re always pushing, always working, and always trying to squeeze in more, it becomes harder to think clearly and harder to enjoy what you’re doing.

I think it helps to plan time off before you feel desperate for it.

That might mean taking one full day off each week, setting a nightly cutoff time, taking a lighter week after a very busy one, going on a daily walk so that your mind feels fresher, or deciding ahead of time that certain weekends are for family and not work.

And yes, there will probably still be things left on your to-do list. There almost always are!

5. Stop saying yes to every opportunity

This can be really hard when you’re making money on the side.

Maybe:

• A new client wants to hire you.
• Someone asks if you can do one extra project.
• You see a new side hustle idea online.

It can all sound like a good idea, especially when you’re motivated.

But, I think saying yes to everything can sometimes be a problem because it can mean more stress. Sometimes it takes you away from the work that is actually going well, sometimes it’s not worth the time, and you may just not have enough time for everything you want to do.

I think it’s really important to get more selective.

Before saying yes, ask yourself:

• Do I actually have time for this?
• Does this fit the kind of side hustle I want?
• Is this worth the energy it will take?
• Will this make my life better or more stressful?

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your side hustle is say no to the things that are stretching you too thin.

6. Look for ways to make your side hustle easier

I’m a big fan of making things easier if possible.

If something keeps taking too much time or mental energy, then I think it’s worth asking: How can I simplify this? That may mean creating a routine, using templates, batching your work, or setting up systems.

For example, you may be able to:

• Batch similar tasks into one day a week or a certain time (like, only checking your email inbox one time each day or getting all of your shipping done at the same time)
• Use a checklist so you don’t forget steps (I have checklists for everything!)
• Set up automatic invoices or reminders
• Keep a running to-do list sorted by priority
• Use tools that save you time (scheduling tools, templates, auto-replies, and apps)
• Hire help. I know that your goal is probably to make more money, but sometimes hiring out can help you make more because you may be able to free up time from tasks that don’t need you specifically, or if your time is better spent elsewhere (or, if it’s just a part of your side hustle that you don’t enjoy).

Little things like this can make your side hustle so much easier and can even save you a lot of time.

7. Pay attention to what is actually draining you

Sometimes people think they’re burned out with their entire side hustle, but really, it’s just one part of it that’s making them unhappy.

This is why I think it helps to pay attention to the tasks that you may not like about your side hustle.

For example, maybe you enjoy freelancing, but you hate all the back-and-forth emails. Maybe you like selling things online, but you’re tired of packing and shipping. Maybe you like blogging, but social media is what drains you. Maybe you like the money from your side hustle, but you hate the unpredictable schedule.

I think knowing this is helpful because then you can do something about it!

You may be able to change how you do that task, do less of it, outsource it, raise your rates so it feels more worth it, or switch to a side hustle that fits you better.

8. Stop comparing your side hustle to everyone else’s

Comparing yourself to others can make your burnout happen quicker.

I think this is because you see someone online talking about how much money they make, how early they wake up, how many clients they have, or how much they get done in a day, and then all of a sudden, you feel like you’re behind and it messes with your mind.

But the truth is, you probably don’t know the full story:

• You do not know what support they have.
• You do not know how long it took them to get there.
• You do not know what they’ve sacrificed.
• And you do not know if their version of success would even make you happy.

I think this is really important to remember because it’s easy to start chasing someone else’s goals without even realizing it.

Maybe your goal is not to build a huge side hustle. Maybe your goal is to make a few hundred extra dollars a month without feeling overwhelmed. Or, maybe your goal is to have just a flexible schedule where you can make some extra money.

And that is great!

You get to decide what success looks like for you.

9. Remember the reason you started

Back when I was paying off my $40,000 in student loan debt, my reason was really clear. I didn’t want my debt hanging over me for years and years, and I wanted more freedom with my money and my life.

This was the reason for “why” I wanted to side hustle, and it gave me a lot of motivation to continue. Paying off each of my student loans was extremely freeing and an amazing feeling!

Whenever I think about staying motivated, I always think it helps to come back to your reason for starting.

So, why did you want a side hustle in the first place?

• Maybe you wanted to pay off your student loans.
• Maybe you wanted more room in your budget so that you have enough money for groceries.
• Maybe you wanted to save for travel, buy a home, or have more freedom in your life.
• Maybe you wanted to start a business, but you wanted to start it as a side hustle first to make sure it’s right for you.

Your reason matters because it helps you stay focused on what actually matters, and it can also motivate you.

And, it’s also helpful because if your side hustle starts taking over your life, then it’s worth asking if the way you’re doing it still matches the reason you started.

For example, if your goal was more freedom, but your side hustle now makes you feel trapped, then maybe it’s not the best option for you.

Recommended reading: How To Pay Off Student Loans Faster by Starting a Side Hustle

10. Pause or change your plan

I think one of the most helpful things you can remember is that you are allowed to change your mind.

You are allowed to slow down, take a break, or change your side hustle.

It doesn’t mean you failed – you’re just doing what’s best for you!

Sometimes a side hustle sounds good on paper but doesn’t feel good in real life. Sometimes you just realize there is a better, easier, or more enjoyable way to make extra money.

I think people stay stuck too long sometimes because they feel like they have to keep going no matter what. But forcing yourself to keep doing something that is clearly draining you is not always the best answer.

Now, you may not need to quit. Perhaps you just need a month off, fewer clients, to raise your prices (so that you have less work), or maybe you just need to pick a different side hustle.

You have many options!

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to questions you may have about how to avoid side hustle burnout.

Can a side hustle cause burnout?

Yes, definitely. A side hustle can cause burnout if you’re trying to do too much, if you never give yourself time off, or if the side hustle doesn’t fit your life very well.

Why does side hustle burnout happen?

Side hustle burnout usually happens when you try to do too much, work too many hours, or never give yourself real time off. It can also happen when your side hustle doesn’t fit your life, schedule, or personality very well. For example, if you already feel tired after work, then adding a side hustle that takes a lot of energy every night may quickly feel overwhelming.

How many hours a week should I spend on a side hustle?

There isn’t one exact number. I think it depends on your schedule, your energy, and your goals. The best number is the one you can realistically stick with without feeling overwhelmed.

Should I quit my side hustle if I feel burned out?

This is hard to answer. It may help to see if you can make things a little easier, reduce your hours, set better boundaries, or take a short break. But if it’s clearly not working for you, then it may make sense to stop.

What is the best side hustle if I already feel overwhelmed?

Usually, I think the best option is something flexible and easy to fit into your current life. A side hustle that works with your schedule is usually much better than one that adds even more stress.

Is it okay to take a break from a side hustle?

Yes, taking a break can be a really smart move if you’re feeling drained. Sometimes a little space is exactly what helps you come back with more energy and a clearer mind.

How To Avoid Side Hustle Burnout – Summary

I hope you enjoyed my article on how to avoid side hustle burnout.

I love side hustles, and I really do think they can change your life.

A side hustle can be a great way to make extra money, pay off debt, save for goals, and have more freedom in your life.

That’s exactly what it did for me.

But I also think it’s important to build it in a way that feels realistic and manageable. If your side hustle is making you feel tired, stressed, or like you never get a break, then it may be time to make some changes.

Have you ever felt burned out from a side hustle? What helped you the most?

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