5 Tips for Managing Your Freelance Side Hustle

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In the past year or so I’ve been trying to build up freelance work alongside my part-time job. And I have to say, I love it!

I get to write website content one day and edit blog posts the next. There’s so much variety – and I can still manage my own blog and social media platforms, too.

Freelancing allows me to do the work I want, on my own terms – all while going to my “regular” job for a bit of financial stability.

However, if you’re managing your freelance side hustle alongside other responsibilities, such as kids or another job, it’s so important to effectively organise your time.

In this post, I’ve come up with 5 simple tips to manage your freelance side hustle + my experiences

1. Don’t just use one calendar

Although you might like to keep track of your work, deadlines and blogging schedule in one place, don’t forget to utilise all the different ways that you can organise your time.

I like to use alerts on my phone or computer to remind me of upcoming deadlines, but I also use a paper diary, as I like to have everything out in front of me.

2. Don’t spend too long on one task

As a freelancer, you might have 2 projects or even 20 at any one time. However, it’s important to avoid spending all your time on just one task.

Time is a precious thing, so unless I have a deadline, I tend to split my time between projects – and this keeps everything fresh.

You might be surprised about the kind of work freelancers can pick up! It’s not just writing or blogging, it can be anything from creating graphics to interpreting services or translation.

As well as working on current projects, you should also regularly look for new gigs. This means that any short-term projects can be easily replaced when they’re over.

3. Give yourself a cut-off time

If you’re going out with friends or taking a weekend away, make sure to give yourself a cut-off time to do your work.

For me, my side hustle tasks can be quite ad hoc. If I have something planned, I usually say to myself “okay, so I’ll finish everything I have at the moment, and anything that comes in after 5 can be done tomorrow.”

This stops me from obsessing about work when I should be focusing on something else.

4. Create a separation between work and rest

One of the key ways to manage your freelance side hustle is to make sure you create a separation between work and rest.

This could include working at a desk (and not your bed) or even doing your work in a separate space, such as a café. Resting your brain is so important – and it can help you avoid burnout.

5. Use your spare time wisely

It can be tough to manage a job and a freelance side hustle at the same time – and that’s why your spare time is so valuable.

Plan your day in advance or prioritise your tasks to make the most of your time. You don’t need hours and hours to create quality work. It’s all about properly utilising the time you have.

For more freelance tips, check out my guide to turning your side hustle into your job + my freelance journey.

How do you manage your freelance side hustle? Do you have any tips for managing your side hustle? What are your blogging or freelance goals for the future?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x