Educators are no strangers to juggling responsibilities—lesson plans, grading, meetings, and more. So, when it comes to starting or managing a side hustle, it can feel like there’s no room left in the day. But the truth is, with the right strategies and mindset, balancing a side hustle with your teaching career is not only possible but can also be deeply rewarding.
Here’s how to pursue your passion project without running the risk of burnout.
1. Fuel Your Hustle with Passion
A side hustle isn’t just about earning extra income; it’s a way to pour your energy into something that excites and inspires you. Passion acts as your fuel, helping you push through challenges and stay motivated when things get tough. When you truly care about your side hustle, it feels less like work and more like a meaningful extension of who you are.
Educator Tip: Think about what lights you up—whether it’s creating educational resources, mentoring other teachers, or starting a completely unrelated creative project like baking or crafting. Let that passion guide you.
2. Set Boundaries and Prioritize
Between lesson plans and life, it’s easy to let a side hustle consume any spare time you have. To avoid burnout, you need to set boundaries and prioritize what truly matters. Be realistic about your time commitments, and learn to say “no” to tasks that don’t align with your goals.
2 Strategies to Help:
- Set Work Hours: Dedicate specific blocks of time to your side hustle, so it doesn’t bleed into your personal life.
- Use the Eisenhower Matrix: Divide tasks into urgent vs. important to determine what needs your immediate attention and what can wait. [More about that here]
3. Master Time Management
Teachers know the value of a well-organized schedule. Managing a side hustle requires the same level of planning and discipline. Use tools and strategies to stay on top of your tasks and maximize productivity.
Practical Tips:
- Use digital tools like Trello, Asana, Notion, or even just tasks in your Google Calendar to organize your to-dos. (we use Basecamp here at Teach Better)
- Batch similar tasks together (e.g., schedule all your social media posts in one session).
- Make lists at the end of each day to hit the ground running tomorrow.
4. Build a Support System
No one succeeds alone, and the same goes for your side hustle. Surround yourself with people who support your goals and understand your busy lifestyle. This could be your spouse, friends, colleagues, or even an online community of like-minded educators.
A supportive network not only keeps you motivated, but also provides emotional and practical help when needed.
5. Prioritize Self-Care
Your well-being isn’t optional—it’s essential. Side hustles are exciting, but demanding…and so is teaching! So it’s crucial to carve out time for self-care activities that recharge you physically and mentally.
A few ideas for simple self-care:
- Schedule daily walks or short yoga sessions.
- Commit to a bedtime routine for quality sleep.
- Practice mindfulness or journaling to process your thoughts.
6. Start Small and Celebrate Progress
You don’t need to have everything perfectly planned out before launching your side hustle. Just get started. Most things don’t go as planned and rarely look as good as we want them to. Launched is better than perfect, and the best feedback you can get is from the real world. Listen to those you serve and adjust things as you go.
Take small steps each day, and celebrate all those little wins along the way. A bunch of small victories over time add up to bigger things.
7. Periodically Reflect and Adjust
Take time every few months to evaluate how your side hustle is impacting your life.
Ask yourself:
- What’s working well?
- What isn’t?
- How is this affecting my family, my health, and my other commitments?
Use these reflections to make adjustments that keep your side hustle aligned with your values and goals.
Get Started
Managing a side hustle as a teacher can be challenging, but it’s absolutely doable with passion, boundaries, and the right strategies. Whether you’re creating an online course, selling handmade goods, or starting a consulting business, remember to create systems that work for you, prioritize your well-being, and take it all one step at a time.
Oh yea, and just get started!
NOTE: If you need help getting started, consider joining the EDUcreator Club+ Community or grab some time for us to brainstorm ideas.
About Jeff Gargas
Jeff is the COO/Co-founder of the Teach Better Team and co-author of “Teach Better.” He works with educators to increase student engagement and improve student success. He also leads the EDUcreator Club Mastermind and MBA Programs as part of the EDUcreator Club+ Community, and offers 1-on-1 coaching for teachers who have a product or idea they want to share with others to better education.
Prior to co-founding Teach Better, Jeff was the owner of ENI Multimedia, an online marketing firm, where he worked with entrepreneurs and small businesses, assisting them with web design, social media, content marketing, and brand awareness. Prior to all of this, Jeff was an adjunctive professor at Kent State University and spent 10+ years in the music industry. He has spoken at conferences around the country, and has successfully promoted more than 500 events and launched 7 businesses in a variety of industries.
Jeff is passionate about music, and enjoys spending time with his family as often as possible.
