Five Extraordinary Situations a Side Hustle Solves

You know me as the Side Hustle Social Worker. I have worked side hustles alongside my full-time job for many years. A side hustle is a second job or a part-time gig that people take on for various reasons. The primary reason is to supplement their income. I know that having a side hustle is not for everyone, although, I know quite a few people who have part-time jobs to increase their income.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau About 13M U.S. Workers Have More than One Job. This article was written by Julia Beckhusen. The first paragraph states the following.

“A small but steady number of American workers have more than one job, because either they need extra income, or they want to gain more experience or explore different interests.”

I began working a second job out of necessity. At the time, we needed to supplement our household income. The extra income now helps us to maintain as we support our two college students. In the future, I expect my second job to augment our retirement income.

Side hustles I discuss with my clients are entrepreneurial in nature. I guide them to build their work on a foundation and structure that fits their lifestyle. As entrepreneurs, they control their schedule, their services and the outcomes they provide. They have full charge of their work. This is so different than in a full-time work situation.

Over the years, I recognized many situations that motivate workers to become side hustle entrepreneurs. You may have the same concerns and may want to consider your options for addressing them.

Christmas is year-round in your home

Everyone wants or needs something that costs money. Family members may want the newest phone, flat screen tv or fitness tracker. One or all your children may need braces. Your husband may need a root canal. (We know that dentists won’t do the work before they are paid.) Plumbers, roofers, lawn maintenance crews all expect to be paid and homeowners know that Christmas is never ending. The sentiment does not count when the washer quits working. The extra income from a side hustle may help.

You have too much time on your hands

Once children reach high school, if you have done your job as a parent correctly, they are moving towards independence. They don’t need parents holding their hands when they cross the street anymore. Some parents have difficulty filing their time. They avoided separation and now find themselves lost.

This is a perfect time to rekindle hobbies and turn them into money making ventures. Some college bound children think that every day is Christmas and money grows on trees. Once they are in college, they perfect their ability to ask.

Boredom

You can do your full-time job blindfolded with your hands tied behind your back. Bored employees struggle to perform at a high standard. The following quote was taken from Inc.com’s article Boring Your Employees with Routine Work is Killing Productivity. Do this Instead.

“Michael Lopp, the Vice President of Slack, says, “Bored people quit.” Research bears this out: the 2016 Udemy Workplace Boredom Study found that bored employees are twice as likely to leave, and employee morale and productivity take a hit when boredom sets in.”

Employees may not leave physically. They may leave mentally and emotionally by becoming divested from the work, clientele, or outcome of the organization. A side hustle provides an outlet for creative thinking and problem-solving. It presents a challenge and creates interesting interactions. A side hustle might offer enough stimulating and engaging opportunities to counteract the boring routine of the 9 – 5. This may encourage more focused attention to the full-time work.

401K Surprise

For many in the social work profession, retirement income is not what was hoped for or expected. Oh, what a surprise! Many seniors continue to work utilizing their skills, abilities, interests and experience. They have flexibility and have the ability to create additional income streams. They can establish a stable and steady income stream before they retire.

Not ready yet

Some employees want to work for themselves. They start side hustles as a way to transition into entrepreneurship full-time. It takes time to build a side hustle into a full-time venture. The full-time job provides stability, security and safety for a time. It is the safety net until they are ready to move forward. Some take the plunge knowing that the conditions may never be perfect.

Do you want to boost your social work income? If so, I suggest you Start Here.

Marcyline Bailey, ACSW, LCSW is the author of Five Smart Questions Social Workers Should Ask if They Want to Boost Their Social Work Income e-book Starter Guide and Planner. These free downloads contain five strategic questions to consider before taking on a side hustle. You may also want to view Side Hustle Success as a Full Time Social Worker one of the webinars in the Side Hustle Social Worker Webinar Series.

“I work with social workers and hard working professionals who want to be happy. I would love to hear from you.” You may join the conversation by commenting on this post or on our Facebook fan page REAL Social Workers Online Magazine or connecting with me on LinkedIn.