Running a side business while working as an employee can be both challenging and rewarding. Although a side hustle offers the potential for additional income and the ability to pursue a passion or interest outside of work, it also requires extra time, effort, and energy. In this article I will show you some of my favourite productivity hacks for busy side-business owners

I spend most of my coaching time with corporate women who want to start or grow a side business next to a demanding job and a young family. 

Their grit and dedication for their passion is admirable. I see the compromises they are willing to make to move forward with their businesses. 

I have observed those who struggle with burnout , and those who just seem to do everything with ease and still take care of their mental and physical health. 

It made me curious : How come some people seem to always find time for things they love and others are stuck in the hamster wheel?

Productivity Hacks for Busy Side-Business Owners

1) Manage Your Energy Instead of Your Time

I have covered this topic in another blog about time management.

Many business professionals see time management as a way of squeezing as many activities possible in a day: The faster you can finish the more you can do in a limited time. Our energy levels are particularly influenced by our lifestyle and how we prioritise self-care, mental and physical health, and wellbeing

And it doesn’t exactly work like that. 

Because we are human beings , not robots. 

Time is a concept created by humans to keep track of their lives. It’s not a tangible thing! 

Our energy levels are particularly influenced by our lifestyle and how selfcare, mental and physical health and wellbeing is prioritised in our life. 

You probably have heard this quote from Toni Robins “Energy goes where your attention flows.” or “energy goes where focus goes”

Obviously if your energy is going to things you have no influence, no control on then you are wasting your energy. 

You have no influence over the weather, natural disasters, wars, political unrest , flight delays, stock market .

2) Audit your time 

Auditing your time is like decluttering your wardrobe.

How do you spend your time at work? 

How do you spend your free time?

Family time

time with friends

rest

exercise

entertainment

Personal development

Hobby, favourite things

Housework/ admin

Look at the past 2 weeks and list everything you remember you did. 

Cooking, washing, paying bills, shopping groceries, sorting the laundry, chatting with your friend on whatsapp, fixing that broken thing in the house…reading your favourite book, scrolling on instagram, working on a report

Everything!

Do you often feel tired without knowing why? This might be due to the mental load of non-work activities that exhaust us.

Try to verbalise and articulate them.

 List these activities and describe them in detail, including the emotions they create. Verbalize and explain them to someone else to think of a strategy. Assign a time to them, otherwise they drain us and stay invisible.

Now look at what energises you!

What activities bring you joy and make you feel good about yourself?

3) Focus on Who You Are, Not Just What You Do

Our identity creates our lifestyle.

Who we think we are.how we want to lead our lives. We will talk about that later.

You probably have heard this : Beyonce has the same 24 hours that you have. 

And you might say yes , but she has support, house maids,nannies,  a team of agents and managers.  

Although we are not all in the position to replicate her lifestyle , we can learn some key things from her: 

• She is not doing everything herself
• She hires help
• There are things she is not doing ( because they waste her time and energy)
• She takes care of herself
• She has decided to be “the Beyonce” she is!

Who do you need to be, or what kind of lifestyle do you need to have to preserve your energy for things that bring you happiness?

4) Batch your work

Batching your work involves grouping similar tasks together and completing them in one go. 

For example, rather than answering emails as they come in throughout the day, you might set aside a specific time in the day and respond to all emails at once. 

This approach can help you become more productive by reducing the time it takes to switch between tasks and allowing you to focus on one type of activity at a time. 

By batching tasks, you can also take advantage of momentum and energy. 

For instance, if you are in a creative mood, you might use that time to write multiple blog posts or design several graphics in one go.

5) Outsource Help and Delegate work

You can’t talk about productivity hacks for busy side-business owners without mentioning outsourcing. Delegating tasks to others can help can help you be more productive by allowing you to focus on your core responsibilities and skills. 

By assigning tasks to others, you free up your time and energy to work on higher-level tasks that can move your business forward. 

However, there are common reasons that stop people from delegating work to someone else. 

Lack of trust is a common one, as you may be hesitant to let someone else handle important tasks that you believe only you can do well.

Get connected to other small businesses owners and entrepreneurs who run similar businesses like you . Ask them to recommend someone they trust. 

You can also hire freelancers from websites like Upwork and Fiverr. 

Check their reviews : Going for the cheapest option may not necessarily be the smartest!

Lack of familiarity with the process can make it difficult to know where to start when looking for help or how to explain your needs to others. These obstacles can be overcome by setting clear expectations, and establishing systems to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. 

Conclusion 

Managing a side business while juggling a fulltime job and demanding family life can be a daunting task. I hope these productivity hacks for busy side-business owners will help you to simplify your work life and bring more ease into your business.

By focusing on managing energy instead of time, auditing your time, identifying what energises you, and delegating tasks to others, you can create more space and time for the things that matter most. Remember, it’s not just about what you do, but who you are and how you want to lead your life.

As a business coach, I am here to help you navigate these challenges and develop a roadmap for success. So, if you’re ready to take your business to the next level, apply for a free 60 min complementary session with me today and let’s get started

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About the Author:

Sara is an ICF certified business & leadership coach based in Switzerland. She helps corporate employees turn into business owners and entrepreneurs without compromising their income and impact or burning out.

She simplifies their entrepreneurial journey and helps them grow a lifestyle business on the side of their full time job.