Entrepreneurship, Mindset, Side Hustle

How to Balance Working Full‑Time AND Your Side Hustle

May 7, 2025
By itssophiebiggerstaff.com

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How Do You Balance A 9‑5 With Your Side Hustle Without Burnout?

In today’s world, having a side hustle while holding down your 9‑5 is becoming more and more common – but it can sometimes be difficult to manage both without suffering from burnout.

The reason why so many side hustle entrepreneurs burn out is down to the fact that they believe success comes from working harder and frankly, that’s not true…

Success in your side hustle comes from working smarter! Working smarter is what is going to allow you to easily juggle both the day-to-day workload of your 9-5 job and the demands of your ever-evolving side hustle.

The key to working smarter and NOT burning out from your side hustle is…

1. Time management

2. Your mindset

3. Make sure you still have a life

Let’s dig into each of these in more detail…

Side Hustle Tip #1: Master Your Time Management

When you only have limited windows to work on your side hustle, every minute must count. Traditional “time management” alone won’t cut it – you need a strategic architecture for your calendar.

Here’s how you’re going to do that:

Identify your peak energy hours (outside of your 9-5) throughout the week and month.
Define these peak times as your non‑negotiable side-hustle work periods where you can “lock in” without distractions (e.g. 5:30–7 a.m. or weekend afternoons).
Make a list of your low-value tasks (social media scrolling, unplanned meetings, random website updates) and if you catch yourself doing these during your “lock-in” times, remind yourself these will not get you closer to your goals.
Make a list of high-value tasks (sales conversations, marketing content creation, sales page copy writing) schedule each of these activities in one of your “lock-in” times.
Plan to batch repetitive tasks once a month (content creation, scheduling, finance management).
Use automation tools (AI workflows and task lists, time blockers, project management systems, CRMs) to streamline repetitive work.

This strategic use of time ensures you’re making consistent progress towards your side-hustle goals rather than feeling overwhelmed, sweating the small stuff or taking time away from your 9-5 job.

Side Hustle Tip #2: Master Your Mindset - It Matters More Than You Think

You can’t treat your side hustle the same as a full‑time business. Your energy, hours, and capacity are limited. You need to shift into a mindset optimized for part‑time entrepreneurial work: laser focus, intention, and resilience.

Accept that progress – not perfection – is what you are aiming for (not overnight success). We only get let down by our own expectations of ourself, so manage yours wisely.
Challenge your limiting beliefs (“I don’t have enough time,” “I can’t compete”) and replace them with “I can do this consistently.”
Use journaling to uncover mental blocks relating to your side hustle and your goals and reframe them.
Surround yourself with a community of side hustlers so you don’t feel isolated and can bounce ideas off of them.
Follow and curate your social media to others who are following the same path as you…. Don’t compare yourself to someone who is working in their business full-time. It is not comparable!

If you want a deeper dive into mindset for side hustlers, check out this related episode of The Remote CEO Life podcast. (You’ll see how Chrissi Sperduto made that shift, which can help you reframe your own path.)

Side Hustle Tip #3: Create A Sustainable Work Life Balance

One of the biggest killers of a side hustle is burnout. To prevent it, you must protect your energy, set boundaries, and honour your non‑work life.

Set clear boundaries: outside of your 9-5 and lock-in sessions, don’t forget to plan in quality time for rest, self-care and relationships. (They’re important!)
Learn the power of “no” – remind yourself that any opportunity that doesn’t align with your core goals is a distraction.
Use your 9‑5 as a strategic advantage – it funds your business, gives security, and helps you develop transferable skills. See what you can leverage whilst you are still in it.
Accept that growth will be gradual – having patience keeps you balanced.

When you manage your energy well, you can sustain momentum in both your job and your side venture.

How Do You Know When to Quit Your 9-5 and Take Your Side Hustle Full‑Time?

Not every side hustler should quit their job immediately – in fact, many shouldn’t. Transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship is a decision you make once your side hustle shows consistent traction.

Look for these signs that you might be ready to quit your 9-5 job:

Reliable and consistent monthly revenue from your side hustle that covers ALL of your expenses.
A repeatable business model with growth and scaling potential.
Confidence in your ability to scale. Your mindset is ready for the ups, downs, and ambiguity.
You have a safety net or backup plan if it doesn’t work out. (6 months of living expenses in the bank)

If you’re ready to explore how to turn your side hustle into your full-time life – without reckless risk – join my FREE Masterclass “Find Your Freedom Model”. I’ll walk you through building your business around the lifestyle you want. Watch it here.

What Lessons Are You Going To Adopt In Your Online Business?

Balancing a side hustle while working full-time is not about doing more – it’s about doing the right things, with intention. Your mindset, time management, boundaries, and clear criteria for transition will determine whether your side hustle becomes your full-time dream.

If you’re ready to design your business to support your life (not the other way around), join my free masterclass “Find Your Freedom Model” and let me help you build that bridge. Sign up here!

meet the writer

I'm Sophie

Online business coach, podcast host, mental health advocate, speaker, founder of TINAH, community builder, full-time digital nomad, and general trailblazing, rule breaker…

I tried to live a “normal” life: I spent 11+ years working my way up in the fashion industry, working for brands like Ralph Lauren and Burberry. I had the apartment in the city, I lived for going out at the weekends, spent money on designer bags and holidays – until I realized this lifestyle DID NOT FULFIL ME – I was waking up with anxiety every day – surviving, but definitely not thriving.

So I quit. I left my 9-to-5 behind to start an online business that supported the lifestyle I actually wanted. Now that looks like slow mornings, daily beach walks, co-working with like-minded entrepreneurs, yoga, meditation, and lots of social connections.

Since 2020, I’ve built multiple online business offers – from online business coaching and consulting to online courses, digital products, and a mental health marketplace – all while travelling the world and living life, and earning money on my own terms.

Now… I’m on a mission to help more people break free from lives that don’t feel good for them and create more freedom through starting and growing an online business.