In the current society, everybody talks about side hustles. The side hustle is a very tempting idea; it refers to earning additional cash and doing something that you are actually passionate about. Besides, it can even give you your own project. It is also a common aspiration when people long to convert their hobby into a small business. However, there is a negative side to this that people often fail to notice. Extra cash can sometimes lead people to find themselves in a trap. The side hustle can transform dreams of liberty into stress and burnout.
Let us explore how side hustles can eventually take over your life and impact your health and happiness.
The Promise of a Side Hustle
To begin with, side hustles are full of promises. There is more potential for money and more opportunities for control. The thought is that this is a temporary step. The additional income is wonderful. There will soon be enough to buy a treat. The first few months are full of fun and pride. There is a sense of productivity and genius. But then comes a point when something shifts. You find that you are saying yes to all sorts of small gigs. The hours creep up, and the freedom is making you feel obligated.
Work Life Balance
Perhaps you will not have as much time for your friends and family or your spouse. The habits you enjoy to make you happy may stop. Activities like reading and walking outdoors may curtail. The end result can leave you feeling empty and lonely. The thought occurs: “Why am I doing all this?” The response is “to bring in more money.” But if you are sacrificing your “peace and health,” is it worth it?
Financial Pressure and the Problem of Hustle Culture
“Hustle culture” is a mentality that urges people to always work and not stop. Resting is considered to be lazy and sleeping is considered to be a waste of time. “Hustle culture” is common on social media platforms where people share their achievements. There are posts like “Work while they sleep!” and “No pain, no gain!” However, some people experience stress and pain behind all that success.
As you think that success can only happen if you work all the time, you will feel a pressure building up inside you. You will fear that you are lagging behind. There will come a moment when you will think that you are not doing enough. The pressure will cause you to overwork and forget that you are human.
The Myth of Passive Income
“Side hustles” have recently gained popularity as people dream of “passive income.” “I’ll work hard for it now,” they think. “Then I can sit back and make money while I sleep.” The truth is that in most side hustles, passive income is actually not passive. Creating a passive income stream will take years to develop.
For instance, one may open a business online or a social media page thinking that it will generate quick cash. The individual will end up disappointed with the slow returns and will even work harder to revive it and find himself more tired in the end. The expectation of quick cash will end up as endless work.
When Mental Health Suffers
One of the side effects that can have serious implications as a consequence of overworking is related to your mental well-being. If you are always juggling between two to more jobs simultaneously, you are giving your brain no time to rest. As a result, you will find that you are feeling tired even prior to a new day dawning. In other words, you will no longer have concentration in your life. On top of that, you will easily get irritated and even
Stress accumulates gradually. To begin with, you might not even notice stress. After a few months of overworking, you might experience burnout. Burnout is extreme tiredness. It won’t go away even if you get plenty of rest. In addition to that, you might want to quit all your endeavors. Moreover, your body might react in different ways. It might have headaches. If we have lost our peace of mind, then no amount of additional earnings can substitute for it.
Time vs. Money Trade-Off
“Each hour that you spend working is an hour that you will not spend living. Time is a resource that can never be gotten back. Giving all your hours to your side hustle will cost you time that you need for rest and recreation as well as spending time with your love ones.”
Consider if you are working every evening after your routine daily job, when are you getting time to relax? If your weekend is also a workday, when do you refresh and recharge your batteries? The truth is that without relaxing, even your full-time job will soon suffer. But actually, in pursuit of more money, you are likely spending your time that you are supposed to enjoy.
The Demand for Boundaries
To not fall prey to this common situation, it is essential that you draw some boundaries. The number of hours you will spend on your side business needs to be determined. Fixed timing for your side business needs to be established. The boundary between work and your rest time needs to remain clear. The art of saying ‘no’ needs to be developed when additional work comes your way.
Finding Balance Again
It is still possible to have a side gig without losing your identity. The trick is finding a balance. Pick a side gig that you are passionate about. Do something that matches your life. An honest side hustle will bring meaning and not stress.
Conclusion
Side hustles can be wonderful. Side hustles can help you grow as a professional and as a human. But side hustles have a dark side when you overdo. The dark side is when you are searching for more and more and that chasing away your health and happiness.
Working is important. But life is important as well. Importance is realized through balance. Therefore, if your side business is giving you a vibe that is a trap to you, don’t forget that you are capable of slowing down and pushing for peace.
As in truth, success is not how much money we make. In this case, it is how well we live.