These days, it seems like everyone has a side hustle. Maybe they’re doing something creative as a blogger or photographer or an event designer. Or maybe they’re teaching a technical class in the evenings or offering consulting services. Regardless of your industry, there’s likely a side hustle out there for you.
And, of course, a side hustle offers an obvious benefit to your day-today – added income – however, that’s not the only way a side hustle can enrich your life. I’ve found that my side hustle, blogging and freelance writing / design, has brought me so much more than just an added payday. Here are 5 ways, beyond the paycheck, that a side hustle can enrich your life.
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ONE: BOOST YOUR RESUME AND BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO
Let’s say you have a job you like, but to get to the next level, you need more experience on your resume, or perhaps a few more projects in your portfolio. Maybe you work in one industry in your day job, but you want to transition to a different industry and you worry that your lack of experience in that area will hurt your application. Start a side hustle in the area that you want to work in so that you can point to those projects when prospective employers ask about your experience.
Or, maybe you want to work in social media or perhaps event planning, but that’s not in your day job description. Start managing social media accounts on the side or dedicating your weekends to working with an event planner, and add those bullets to your resume! Not everything on your resume has to be a M-F, 9-5.
TWO: LEARN NEW SKILLS OUTSIDE OF YOUR DAY JOB
Similarly to boosting your resume, a side hustle is where you can also beef up the skills section of your resume. Want to learn to code or how to utilize a new social media management program? Starting a blog is perfect for that. Then, as your skills grow, you can start taking on clients and turn it into a side hustle, and, eventually, you could even leverage it into shifting into a new full-time career.
THREE: MEET NEW LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE
One of the best things about having a side hustle is that I’ve met so many creative and amazing people who are also side hustling in their spare time. Whether it’s through going to events or just meeting on social media, I’m constantly meeting new people who inspire and motivate me to keep working, creating, and pushing forward. This isn’t something I ever expected when I first started blogging, but it’s been one of the most wonderful perks of the hustle.
FOUR: AMP UP YOUR CONFIDENCE
Maybe your full-time job doesn’t insight passion in your day-to-day and has you feeling a bit lackluster about your prospects or your abilities. Starting a side hustle is a great way to feel inspired again. When you’re working on a project that makes you excited to get started every day and feels like something you’re meant to do, it amps up your confidence and gives you the push you need to approach everything in your life with more enthusiasm.
FIVE: OPEN YOUR WORLD TO NEW EXPERIENCES
Another fabulous thing about a side hustle? It can open your world to experiences you otherwise may never have encountered otherwise. As you get to know new people through your side hustle, you’ll likely find yourself invited to events that would have never been on your radar previously. Always say yes, and see all the new things that are headed your way.
DO YOU HAVE A SIDE HUSTLE?
So, do you have a side hustle? If so, how has it enriched your life? Have you been able to shift your career through newfound skills? Met new people? I want to hear about it!
