“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful”.
It may surprise you that 45% of Americans claim to work a side gig in addition to their full-time employment. Roughly 70 million individuals live there. That figure increases to 50% when millennials are the only group considered. Data indicates that approximately 57 million people have a side company that supplements their primary source of income.
Not only is the hustle culture still strong, but it is expanding swiftly. Many are discovering that it makes sense to have a variety of sources of income, particularly during uncertain economic times.
You’ve likelyYou’ve likelyYou’ve read several career books that extol the virtues of hustle and seen the motivational #hustle hashtags trending on Twitter and Instagram. Even though your job and finances could be doing well, you must also ask yourself if you’re content with what you’re doing. Is your hustle helping you find meaning in life and moving you forward in your career and personal life?
Here are some strategies to ensure that, despite the hustle, you maintain your happiness.
1. Recognise when to refuse.
If you’re a hustler, your natural tendency might be to say “yes” to every request—a project, customer, assignment, anything. The hustler in us always tries to take on every duty we can do because we want to be successful and exceed expectations.
However, your bandwidth will ultimately run out if you accept every offer and request. This invariably puts you at risk of overcommitting to the task at hand and not being able to give it your all. The connections, networks, and relationships you’ve already worked hard to build may become even more problematic.
Identify which tasks are truly worthwhile. This could be due to financial gain, time management, or overall fit. Is the client easy or difficult to work with? Consider your capacity, and if you need to decline work, don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, it’s a sign of your growing success when you can confidently say ‘no’ to something. This empowerment is a key strategy in maintaining your happiness amidst the hustle.
2. Acquire delegation skills
While it is commendable to work hard, you don’t necessarily have to be the one doing it. If you own your consulting firm, do you assign smaller, more time-consuming jobs to subcontractors? It can be a good idea to start employing freelancers to do the more mundane duties if your ultimate goal is prioritizing high-level creativity and project management.
Becoming an effective hustler requires knowing how to assign work to others. There are constantly those searching for contract-based, part-time employment. Can you distinguish between tasks that significantly impact and those that don’t? Are you proficient in setting priorities?
Even though you might feel like you have to be involved at every stage of the project, realizing the value and expertise that others can bring helps relieve some of your tension. Understanding your workflow is also essential for success, happiness, and burnout prevention.
The more work you put in to reach your career objectives, the more you’ll understand that you cannot do it all. In actuality, you must eventually let up and allow others to take care of the low-hanging fruit, even if you believe you are the only person who can manage the company or project. Also, you don’t have to say “no” nearly as much when others are on your side.
3. Be willing to take on new tasks and learn new things.
Entering a field you are unfamiliar with, such as business development, newsletter campaigns, content marketing, or another area, can be scary. However, change might be the key to energizing your routine and maintaining the focus and agility of your skills. Regularly performing the same old activities might become monotonous and uninteresting, which may lower your job satisfaction and general pleasure.
The work or issue at hand calls for you to pick up a new skill or become familiar with a tool you haven’t used before. Consider the potential long-term benefits of this rather than approaching it with the mindset that “This new thing won’t benefit me right now.” Ultimately, the greater your knowledge and experience in business, technology, and entrepreneurship, the more resources you have and the more you can provide to potential customers.
Although they can be frightening at first, challenges are eventually beneficial. Go for it, think positively, and maintain an open mind. While hustlers also know when to say “Hell, yeah,” it’s important to know when to say “no.” Your developing skill set and resume will be appreciated.
4. Seek assistance from your network
Having a trusted network of experts you can consult for guidance is crucial. I frequently seek advice from a wide range of people in my network regarding hiring, business strategies, and vision issues. It’s comforting to know that you’re not alone and that you have a reliable support system of individuals to turn to for advice. This feeling of support is a key strategy in maintaining your happiness amidst the hustle.
Having the support of your peers is essential to maintaining your happiness and self-assurance in your work. Furthermore, it’s always a good idea to draw on the experience and knowledge of others and ask them for their ideas. Without collaboration, you can pass up chances that you wouldn’t have noticed if you depended on your judgment or point of view. Collaboration is a handy tool.
5. Give yourself some time to relax.
Your mental wellness is just as crucial as the hustling. Recognize your boundaries, permit yourself to disconnect, and give your body and mind a vacation. This could include relaxing activities like running, watching a game on TV, or spending time outside. Taking breaks can help you refocus when you shift back into “go” mode and prevent burnout and mental exhaustion.
You will discover that you are much more effective after you permit yourself to unwind. You can assess the importance of the hustle in your life by setting aside some time to reflect on it. After that, you can make the necessary adjustments and focus your time and energy on the things that will continue to advance your career and happiness.
