Tips to Keep Your Mind & Body Right While

Starting a Side Hustle

 

        By Jennifer McGregor

 

 

These days, many people are looking to earn extra income through a side hustle, and why not? This is a chance to make money during your spare time that can be used to provide for your family or buy nice gifts for those you care about. However, while it may be easier to start a side hustle these days, the effort of working more than one gig can take a toll. To assist, the Aquatic Exercise Association has compiled some tips for making your new busy life easier and help you to stay on your game both physically and mentally during the ride. 

Stay Organized

The first step to incorporating a side hustle into your life is to figure out where this job will fit within your routine. You need to have order, both to ensure that your business runs smoothly and so that you can fight the stress that often comes with disorganization. Your side hustle is important, but you also need to get enough sleep and ensure that you are fulfilling your family responsibilities so you can stay calm and collected through the day and know that every task is being accomplished.

If your side hustle proves to be a success, then you may be able to bring on employees who can help with the workload and further reduce that stress. Even someone who can answer the phone and schedule gigs can be a game-changer.

When you do start hiring and essentially become your own business, consider creating it in the form of a Limited Liability Company (LLC), which will allow more flexibility, in addition to requiring less paperwork and creating several tax advantages. If this is your first business, utilize the assistance of a formation service to help you register; each state has its own guidelines, so do your research. Using an online formation service like ZenBusiness is optimal, as it streamlines and simplifies an otherwise tedious process; just be sure that the service you choose has good ratings and reviews.

Healthy Eating

When someone starts a new business, there can be a tendency to put all of the focus on work and not enough on maintaining a smart diet. Although you may often be on the go, you don’t want to resort to only stopping for fast food. Meals at fast food establishments are often filled with an excess of carbohydrates and sugar which will make you feel sluggish and may cause medical issues.

Instead, look to healthy foods such as fish and chicken which often contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart and nervous system. Also, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially kale and avocados, both of which are packed with vitamins.

If time is short and you rely on snacks to get through part of the day, then look to healthy options. Bring a bag of assorted nuts during your travels, with an emphasis on almonds and hazelnuts which are good for your heart and will give you the energy boost you need to get through the day.

Keep a Healthy Mind

While your physical health is of utmost importance, keeping your mind sharp is just as important, especially when juggling two careers. First, you need to set a schedule for when you work and when you rest. Doist suggests ending work at the same time every day and spending the rest of the evening with your family. Not only will this routine keep you from overworking, but it will also require you to manage each day, so you get everything done in a timely manner and on schedule.

If you start to get overwhelmed at any point, then take a moment for yourself. Clear your mind by taking a short walk or by practicing yoga or meditation. Swimming for exercise also has mental health benefits, according to Swimming World magazine. As with other forms of exercise, endorphins are released when we do a few laps, and we also naturally use regulated breathing when we’re in the water, which is a wonderful antithesis to the short, shallow breaths we take when we experience anxiety. Even though time may be money, it is okay to take a break and reset your mental mind frame.

When your work-life ever starts to be too much, you can also try breathing exercises that will lower your stress levels and help your brain relax. The most basic breathing exercise you can do is to inhale slowly through your nose and then slowly exhale out of your mouth. Repeat this exercise for several minutes until you feel better.

The most important thing you can do is cut yourself some slack. Starting a side hustle isn’t easy, but as you work through the kinks, it will get easier. Remember to keep your body and mind the priority and you will see a light at the end of the tunnel.

AUTHOR

Jennifer McGregor is a pre-med student, who enjoys writing about health and medical topics and providing reliable health and medical resources. Together with a friend, she co-created PublicHealthLibrary.org as a way to push reputable information on health topics to the forefront, making them easier and quicker to find.