Starting a new side gig is exciting. You wake up every day eager and focused on getting your product or service into the hands of new customers. But as time moves on, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything you have to do. Then, before you know it, you feel frazzled as you start to lose focus.

But what if I told you there are ways to make your side gig less stressful and more productive? I will share some tips for relaxing while you work in this post. By incorporating these techniques into your routine, you’ll find it easier to stay focused and get things done. So let’s dive in!

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Schedule regular brain dumps

When I try to hold all of my thoughts, ideas, and tasks inside my mind, I start to feel overwhelmed. So to add calm to my day, I like to do brain dumps. Brain dumping is a technique that helps you clear your mind and organize thoughts. It makes it easier to focus on things that need to be done instead of just letting everything bounce around in your head without any organization or structure. I use a brain dump list to get everything out of my head and organize it based on what’s important. Depending on the project, I use different notebooks, flipchart paper, PowerSheets, or Workflowy. For your brain dump sessions, find what works for you.

Identify your priorities weekly

In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey popularized a theory from President Eisenhower called “The Decision Matrix.” This matrix consists of four boxes that describe different types or levels of importance and urgency. The quadrants are —  1) Urgent/Important; 2) Not urgent but important; 3) Urgent/Not Important; and 4) Not Urgent and Not Important. These labels can help solopreneurs, and creative entrepreneurs identify what they should think about, not waste unnecessary thought or energy.

When I am overwhelmed, I start prioritizing my to-do list with the method below:

• Urgent & Important = tasks I need to do this week, like client assignments or get a post ready for next week.
  
• Urgent & Not Important = things I can delegate, such as trips to the office supply store.
  
• Not Urgent but Important = these are important things, but they do not need to be done now. Some examples include buying a gift or having lunch to catch up with a friend.
  
• Not Urgent & Not Important = these are things that can be deleted or scheduled for later.

Once I understand what’s on my to-do list, I then decide what are the three most important tasks I need to work on each day.  Since I get up early every day, I like to knock out my three most important tasks first.  Now, if you work all night, say from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., you may not be able to tackle your three most important tasks until the afternoon or whenever you wake up.  The point is that you divide and conquer.  Prioritize your to-do list by identifying the top three tasks you need to accomplish each day based on urgency and importance.  Here are a few planning worksheets to get you started.

Set boundaries between your day job and your side gig

Stress can creep in if you have a full-time job and a side gig. As much as possible, avoid letting your full-time job collide with your side gig. For example, don’t work on tasks for your side gig when you’re scheduled to work your 9-to-5 job. Doing so will only add stress to your day. Instead, schedule time on your calendar where you can work on your business without feeling guilty about neglecting your day job.

Make time to see the positive in each day

Waking up and going to bed with what seems like tons of work can feel overwhelming. However, studies show that if we make an effort to see the positive each day, we can develop an optimistic outlook. One of the things I like to do to stay positive is write in my gratitude journal. A gratitude journal is a great way to reflect on people you appreciate or ways your day was unique and special. I like to reflect on the things I’m grateful for and any accomplishments made throughout the day.

Take a brain break from your side gig

Managing a side gig takes a lot of time and energy. In addition to running a business, you might be in a season of your life that’s very busy – maybe you have a new baby, or perhaps you’re caring for a family member – be kind to yourself. Pick one day per week to take a break from your day job and your side gig. Give your brain a chance to rest and recharge each week. Go to a movie, read a book, or try a new spin class at the gym. Then, when you return to your side gig, you will feel refreshed.