The holiday season is upon us and with it comes the hope of a little downtime. At the very least it might mean a few extra days off from your day job. While it’s nice to take a break to unwind and spend time with friends and family, holiday vacations can be a great opportunity to squeeze in a little extra side hustle work.
I’m always looking for new ways to devote additional time to my side hustles. I have found that time off around the holidays is ideal because I’m not weighed down or worn out from my day job. However, that might not be the case for you, if your job requires you to work through the holidays or if you plan on traveling to celebrate the holidays. But, if you are able to find some free time during the holidays it can be a great way to fit in more time to work on your side hustle or side business.
I, for example, have a four day weekend coming up due to Thanksgiving. I plan on spending Thanksgiving Day with family, however I have only a few other commitments for the remainder of the weekend. I will definitely take advantage of this extra time and plan on dedicating some of my free time to my side hustles.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your free time during the holidays.
Make a plan
Rather than winging it when you find yourself with a spare hour, make a specific plan of action. Make a to-do list of the tasks you would like to accomplish and refer to your list when you find yourself with extra downtime. Look at your schedule of events for the holiday weekend and see where you can fit in extra portions of work. Share your plan with your family and let them know you plan on devoting certain periods of time to work.
Set a schedule
The holidays have a tendency to keep us busy with friends, family, and multiple events. Set aside specific time to work on your side hustle. Even if you only have 30 extra minutes a day, you can still be incredibly productive. Setting a schedule may mean you need to get up early to work one day. While it’s tempting to stay up late and sleep in during your time off, you’ll feel incredibly accomplished if you are able to devote some extra time to your side hustle.
Stay motivated
It’s easy to find yourself on the couch watching football. Before you know it, the long weekend will be over and you realize you didn’t get as much work done as you had hoped. Stay motivated during the holidays by setting small achievable goals. Every time you accomplish one of your goals, reward yourself with a relaxing or fun non-work activity. If you’re have a hard time staying focused, try setting a timer and working for short periods of time. This method always helps keep me focused and productive in short bursts.
Switch it up
Since this is extra time, it’s a great opportunity to work on an aspect of your side hustle or side business that you don’t normally have time for. For example, you could catch up on business-related reading, expanding your social media reach, or planning for the future of your business. There is always more to work on and using free time during the holidays is the perfect chance to make it happen.
Remember to recharge
The holidays can be a great time to squeeze in extra side hustle work, however we must recognize the importance of recharging and spending time with friends and family. After all, that is what the holidays are all about.
Do you work on your side hustle during the holidays or do you take time off to spend with family?
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Mike says
Totally agree. Time off my day job is not time to just lay around eating and eating! I will be there with ya working extra hard on side hustles and getting everything lined up for a great 2015 start.
moneystepper says
A bit of both. Whilst it is a good opportunity to catch up on your side hustle, or to earn a few extra dollars through a new one, the importance and value of spending quality time connecting with friends and family should not be overlooked.
Its about finding a good balance!
moneystepper recently posted…Moneystepper’s 2015 Savings Challenge