Freelancing is liberating in so many different ways and when you are starting on the road to freelancing, you may find there are bumps in the roads, especially during those first few months. It may prove essential at this juncture to set up additional streams of income. Many freelancers that have battled through Covid have struggled to keep their income afloat. And this is one of the biggest lessons we can all learn. If you are looking to start your career as a freelancer, you have to perfect your approach to the side hustle. It’s got to be an extra income stream but it shouldn’t distract you from your passions. What are the best ways to go about it?

Side Jobs That You Can Pick Up and Put Down

Getting a job on the side is essential, but it’s about making sure that you can find the appropriate type of work that doesn’t distract you from your main work. Doing odd jobs is the best approach. Finding them is easier than ever before. You may want to go down the freelancer site approach where you can do odd freelance tasks that will help you to build up your skillset, but these are very competitive. While you are learning to perfect the art of netting these jobs there are companies like Shiply, where you can find odd jobs in your local area. Being a delivery driver isn’t glamorous, but it is one of those fantastic side jobs that you can pick up and put down depending on the company that you work with.

Work a Strict Side Hustle Schedule

Working a side hustle is a time-consuming task, but only if you let it. You’ve got to follow a strict schedule. This could very well mean that if you are spending the majority of your day tackling your main income stream, you may start your side hustle work outside of these hours. The best thing for you to do in this respect is to prepare. Decide how many hours you want to dedicate to your side hustle, and then add approximately 25% to 50%. This means that you shouldn’t run yourself ragged. It needs to be done on the side. 

Pick a Side Hustle That Generates an Income

You are working on this to keep your income stream afloat. If you find yourself putting in more hours in the hope of getting a bit more money, it is unlikely to pay off. In this respect, there are companies like Appen that can pay you for microtasks. Because it is a pool full of freelancers, you are all in the same boat. But you also should think about the right side hustle that you can fit in around your life. Many people think that in order to differentiate themselves from the crowd, they need to pick a side hustle that is less competitive. The big problem with this is that if you keep chipping away at something that doesn’t earn you money, you are dedicating as much time to your main endeavour.

Perfect your approach to your side hustle and it will reap dividends in the long run.