Because “I don’t have time” isn’t the real problem — it’s how you use it.
Let’s be honest: managing a 9-to-5 while growing a side hustle isn’t easy.
Between work, family, friends, and, you know, sleep — it can feel like there’s no time left to build your dream business. But here’s the truth I learned the hard way:
You don’t need more time — you need better priorities.
In this post, I’m sharing exactly how I managed both worlds (and stayed sane) while building Hustle to Thrive — including tools, time-saving hacks, and mindset shifts that made all the difference.
⏳ Step 1: Audit Where Your Time Actually Goes
You can’t fix what you don’t measure.
Do this first:
- Track every hour of your day for 3 days (use an app like Toggl or just pen + paper)
- Highlight wasted time: mindless scrolling, binge watching, multitasking
- Calculate how many “free” hours you really have
💡 You’ll be surprised how much time is lost to distractions you can actually control.
🗂 Step 2: Design Your Week Around Energy, Not Just Time
Don’t just look at your calendar — look at your energy flow.
Ask yourself:
- When do I feel most creative?
- When do I crash and burn?
- What work can I batch or automate?
Build your week like this:
- Mornings (if possible): content creation, client work, deep focus tasks
- Evenings: admin tasks, scheduling, learning
- Weekends: batch content, work on long-term goals, rest
💡 Match your hustle tasks to your high-energy hours, not your leftover scraps.
📆 Step 3: Time Block Like a CEO
Time blocking changed my life — and my business.
Instead of making an endless to-do list, I schedule every major task into a calendar.
Example:
- Monday, 6–7am: Draft blog post
- Wednesday, 8–9pm: Edit podcast episode
- Sunday, 10–12pm: Batch Instagram content
🧠 When it’s in the calendar, it becomes a commitment — not a maybe.
✅ Step 4: Focus on the $100 Tasks (Not $10 Ones)
As a side hustler, your time is limited — so make it count.
High-impact tasks:
- Creating/selling offers
- Emailing leads or clients
- Recording valuable content
- Sending invoices or pitching
Low-impact tasks:
- Tweaking your logo again
- Organizing folders
- Consuming endless content
💡 Ask: “Will this move the needle or just keep me busy?”
🚫 Step 5: Eliminate Time Traps
If you’re still scrolling TikTok for 45 minutes “just to get ideas” — this one’s for you.
Here’s what helped me:
- Set app limits (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)
- Use Focus Mode or Freedom App to block distractions
- Designate phone-free hustle hours
- Say “no” to things that don’t align with your priorities
🧹 You don’t need more discipline — you need fewer distractions.
🤝 Step 6: Communicate With the People in Your Life
Building a side hustle takes time — and that time has to come from somewhere.
Don’t leave your partner, family, or roommates in the dark. Share your goals, ask for support, and set expectations for your hustle time.
💡 Hustling doesn’t mean isolating. It means aligning.
💤 Step 7: Prioritize Rest Without Guilt
This might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out:
Burnout will kill your hustle faster than a lack of time ever will.
You don’t have to hustle 24/7 to be successful. You need consistency, clarity, and capacity — and that only happens if you rest and recharge.
Try this:
- Choose one hustle-free evening a week
- Take Sundays off completely
- Protect your sleep like it’s a business asset (because it is)
🎯 Final Thoughts: Discipline Isn’t Sexy — But It Works
Managing your time as a side hustler isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional.
Every day you show up — even for 45 focused minutes — you’re building momentum.
And momentum? That’s what turns a side hustle into a full-time business.