Maximize your side hustle hours without paying for productivity apps
Free up time - and your mind - with this simple time-blocking trick.
Ever feel like your side hustle is stealing hours away, but you’re still not making the progress you want? You’re not alone. Juggling a 9-5 while trying to grow a side hustle can feel chaotic. The secret isn’t squeezing in more hours - it’s getting the most out of the hours you’ve already got. That’s where time-blocking comes in.
"Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." – Parkinson’s Law
The “Squeeze It In” Method Doesn’t Work
Most people just squeeze in their side hustle whenever they have “spare time.” Spoiler: there’s no such thing as spare time. Life gets in the way, and when you do get around to working on your business, you’re already drained.
Or maybe you try multitasking - working on multiple things at once, hoping to get more done in less time. All it does is leave you with a bunch of half-finished tasks and zero real progress.
When Your Side Hustle Becomes a Time-Suck
You constantly feel like you’re playing catch-up.
Important tasks slip through the cracks while you focus on low-impact busywork.
Your work time spills into your personal time, leaving you exhausted and frustrated.
Before you know it, the side hustle you were passionate about turns into something you dread.
Studies show that multitasking can reduce productivity by up to 40%, according to the American Psychological Association.
Focus Beats Hustle Every Time
Time-blocking forces you to focus on one task at a time. It’s about setting aside specific chunks of time for focused work on your side hustle and sticking to it. By dedicating these blocks to your most important tasks, you’ll get more done in less time - and protect the sanity of your evenings and weekends in the process.
Neuroscience shows that deep focus for even just 90 minutes can create meaningful progress. The brain needs dedicated focus time to work at its best.
Choose 1-2 tasks for each time block, and give them your full attention. No distractions. No bouncing between tasks.
What Life Looks Like When You Control Your Time
Once you start time-blocking, here’s what happens:
More focus. You’ll feel less scattered and more in control.
More progress. You’ll finally finish those high-impact tasks that move your business forward.
More freedom. Your work will stop bleeding into your personal time, giving you more energy for both.
The 'Time Block Focus' Method
Step 1: Identify High-Impact Tasks. Pick the top 1-2 tasks that will move your side hustle forward. These should be things that truly matter - things that drive growth, not just busywork.
Step 2: Block Your Time. Schedule specific time blocks - 90 minutes is ideal - for these high-impact tasks. Treat these blocks like meetings with yourself. No distractions allowed.
Step 3: Review Weekly. Every week, take 5-10 minutes to assess. Did you stay focused during your time blocks? What worked well, and what needs adjusting?