2041: Don’t Let Addicting Side Hustles Ruin You by Jeff with Making Sense of Cents on Work Life Balance

[00:00:00] It's time to refresh your yard during Spring Backyard Days at The Home Depot. Get low prices guaranteed on propane grills starting at $179 like the NexGrill 3 Burner Gas Grill. Or get $50 off a select Weber Spirit Grill and bring big flavor to your backyard. Then set the scene with Hampton Bay String Lights that bring it all together. Shop Spring Backyard Days for 7 days at The Home Depot, now through May 6th. Exclusion Supply, see homedepot.com slash price match for details.

[00:00:30] Study and play. Come together on a Windows 11 PC. And for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds. Get the Unreal College Deal. Everything you need to study and play with select Windows 11 PCs. Eligible students get a year of Microsoft 365 Premium and a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with a custom color Xbox Wireless Controller. Learn more at windows.com slash student offer. While supplies last, ends June 30th. Terms at aka.ms slash college pc.

[00:01:00] This is Optimal Work Daily. Don't Let Addicting Side Hustles Ruin You. By Jeff with Making Sense of Sense I'm somewhat new to having a side hustle and I've quickly discovered just how addicting it can be. I find myself trying to dedicate nearly all of my free time to my blog. Even when I'm engaged in other activities, my mind somehow wanders back to my side hustle. Quite honestly, it's difficult to keep side hustle thoughts away.

[00:01:28] What should I write about next? How can I make layout improvements to my site? What are some more effective ways to network? Dedication like that can be a valuable trait when it comes to the long-term success of your side hustle. However, as I'm finding out, if you get too obsessed and lose sight of other priorities, then a side hustle addiction can be detrimental. Most of you are well aware of how much time and dedication Michelle here at Making Sense of Sense has put into her side hustles over the past couple years.

[00:01:55] She's stated that a typical week consists of 80 to 100 hours. That's two or more full-time jobs. She's obviously very organized and efficient, but I imagine even she has to make certain sacrifices. As for me, I work as a senior financial analyst at a Fortune 50 company. My job can be quite demanding at times and it's not unusual to put in 50 plus hours a week. I'm also married and we have a one-year-old son. So, I've got some very important other commitments that must have priority over my side hustle endeavors.

[00:02:26] While I feel driven to make my side hustles as great as they can be, I'm well aware that I need to find a balance with everything else in my life. If I don't, then the repercussions could render my side hustle efforts not worth it. Here are some areas I sometimes find myself neglecting. I've also listed ways in which I'm trying to combat the side effects in order to find a healthy balance. Physical Health Every single one of us wants to be healthy. Some of us are more diligent in taking care of ourselves than others,

[00:02:54] but I would imagine nearly all of us would acknowledge we have room for improvement. So much focus on your side hustles could be a hindrance to achieving that improvement, or worse yet, might actually cause your health to deteriorate. All the satisfaction derived or money earned from your side hustles won't be worth it if you let yourself go and develop health issues. 1. Sleep Many of us could probably work 24-7, especially when it comes to our side hustles. For those of us who also have a quote-unquote regular job,

[00:03:24] our only opportunities to maintain our side hustle come in the early morning, during lunch, or in the evening. Maximizing your time is one thing, but pushing yourself too long or too late might jeopardize your sleep. Be rigid with your schedule and have a cut-off time each night. Remember, an exhausted you is a less productive you. 2. Diet When we are crunched for time, it's easy and convenient to consume fast food or junk food.

[00:03:52] Food fuels our body though, so if you are putting garbage in your system, it's going to zap your energy in the long run. Try to make healthy choices. Trade that burger for a salad, even if it takes a bit more preparation time. 3. Water Do you drink enough water? Lots of us don't. Being dehydrated can result in low energy reserves. Have a water bottle handy at all times. You're more likely to stay hydrated if your water supply is always next to you. 4. Exercise

[00:04:22] You don't have to be a gym rat. Hours upon hours of workouts are not necessary. Doing short but intense workouts each day add up and can be highly effective. 4. Mental Health Mental health is just as important as physical health. There's so much to accomplish and keep up with each day that it can make your head spin. Letting your mental health suffer is a recipe for burnout. 1. Take breaks Throughout the day, pause and take a few moments to clear your mind.

[00:04:51] Some deep breaths or fresh air can go a long way. 2. Don't be too hard on yourself. We all make mistakes or miss opportunities. Don't be too critical or beat yourself up if you make a misstep or if you don't immediately get the results you desire. Oftentimes, you are your own worst critic. 3. Make time for yourself. We all need a little me time. Side hustles can be enjoyable, but you should also do other stuff for yourself.

[00:05:18] Read an interesting book or treat yourself to your favorite TV show every now and then. 4. Laugh Laughter is the best medicine. 5. Meditate 5. Meditate You can also try meditation. Set some time aside in the early morning or before you go to bed to clear your mind and meditate. 6. Social Interaction Social activities are crucial for mental well-being.

[00:05:48] And no, social networking via Twitter or Facebook doesn't count. Make sure you are spending time cultivating and maintaining your relationships. 6. Relationships Getting caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle makes it easy to disregard relationships with your loved ones. If a side hustle is cutting into your family time, then those around you might start resenting you and or the side hustle. 7. Prioritize

[00:06:15] To put it plain and simple, you must make it a priority to spend time with those who are important to you. Stop what you're doing and give your significant other some affection. Go out of your way to play with your kids. And 2. Quality over Quantity Emphasize quality time with your loved ones rather than quantity. Make it interactive. In other words, have a meaningful conversation or play a fun board game instead of watching hours of TV together each evening.

[00:06:45] You just listened to the post titled, Don't Let Addicting Side Hustles Ruin You by Jeff with MakingSenseofSense.com. When you need to build up your team to handle the growing chaos at work, use Indeed Sponsored Jobs. It gives your job post the boost it needs to be seen and helps reach people with the right skills, certifications and more. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes.

[00:07:11] Listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com slash podcast. That's Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need a hiring hero? This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. Eczema is unpredictable. But you can flare less with Epglyss, a once monthly treatment for moderate to severe eczema. After an initial four month or longer dosing phase, about four in ten people taking Epglyss achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks.

[00:07:39] And most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing. Epglyss, LibriKizumab, LBKZ, a 250 milligram per two milliliter injection is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema. Also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. Epglyss can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to Epglyss. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe.

[00:08:07] Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Epglyss. Before starting Epglyss, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Ask your doctor about Epglyss and visit epglyss.lily.com or call 1-800-LILY-RX or 1-800-545-5979. And thanks so much to Jeff who is a guest writer over at MakingSenseofSense.com. Jeff is also known as Mr. Utopia in the blogosphere. He's a senior financial analyst at a Fortune 50 company.

[00:08:36] A devoted husband and father, Jeff uses his free time, such as it is, to run Personal Finance Utopia, where he chronicles his family's journey to get their personal finances to an ideal place. And thanks to Michelle as well. She is the founder of MakingSenseofSense.com and as she was mentioned here in the post, Michelle created Making Sense of Sense to keep track of her financial progress, help readers improve their finances, and help her own personal finances.

[00:09:01] One example, due to this, she was able to pay off $38,000 in student loans in seven months. And like many of the authors on our shows, she went from being in debt to financially free, and she documented the entire journey on her blog. Okay, that's going to do it for today. Hope you enjoyed the post, and I will be right back here with you tomorrow, where your optimal life awaits.