The Truth About Building a Side Hustle While Working Full-Time

By Remy Church

I’m a marketing manager at a fast-paced tech start-up, where I lead campaigns, manage a team, and stay on top of constant changes in the industry. Outside of my 9-5, I run a personal blog where I write about career growth, marketing, and creative work.

My blog started as a side project, and over time, it’s become something I take seriously—almost like a second job. Balancing both roles has taught me a lot about time, energy, and where I want to grow professionally.

More people are starting side hustles while working full-time, and I get why. Whether it’s to build something of their own, learn new skills, or just explore a different part of their identity, the interest is growing. But what’s not always talked about is what it actually feels like to manage both—and keep going.

In this post, I want to share the truth about what it’s like to build a side hustle while working full-time. I’ll walk through the positives, the struggles, and the reasons I continue doing both.

Why I Started My Side Hustle

I started my blog because I wanted a space where I could write freely about topics I care about—career growth, marketing strategies, personal development, and creativity. 

In my full-time role, I work on high-level campaigns and collaborate with a lot of people, which I enjoy. But I missed having something that was entirely mine, where I could experiment, share ideas, and connect directly with others.

At first, I didn’t have a long-term plan. I just felt like I had things to say and wanted a place to put them. Over time, it became more than just a creative outlet. My blog started helping people. 

I’d get messages from readers thanking me for a certain post or asking for advice. That made me realize this wasn’t just for me—it could actually make an impact.

It also gave me the chance to sharpen skills I wasn’t always using at work, like SEO, writing for a broader audience, and building a brand voice from scratch. It’s helped me stay sharp in my day job and feel more confident in my career overall.

The Perks of Pursuing a Side Hustle

Creative freedom

My blog gives me the freedom to explore ideas without needing approval or aligning with someone else’s vision. I can write what I want, when I want, which helps keep me creatively engaged.

Skill growth

Running a blog has pushed me to learn more about SEO, content strategy, analytics, and web design. It’s helped me become more well-rounded and confident in my marketing career.

Networking opportunities

Through my blog, I’ve connected with other marketers, content creators, and career professionals (like Britt!) I likely wouldn’t have met otherwise. These relationships have led to guest writing opportunities, collaborations, and new perspectives.

Sense of ownership and personal fulfillment

There’s something satisfying about building something from the ground up. Even small wins feel meaningful when they come from something you created entirely on your own.

Supplemental income

While my blog isn’t my main source of income, it has brought in extra money through affiliate links and sponsored content. That’s not why I started it, but it’s been a nice bonus.

The Challenges No One Talks About

Time management

Fitting in a side hustle on top of a full-time job requires careful planning. Most of my blogging happens early mornings, late nights, or weekends.out.

Mental exhaustion

After a full workday, it’s hard to stay motivated and creative. Some days I just don’t have the energy—and I’ve learned to accept that.

Sacrifices

I’ve skipped social plans or weekends off to meet my own blog deadlines. Having a side hustle often means giving up free time.

Imposter syndrome or pressure

It’s easy to compare myself to others and feel like I’m falling behind. I have to remind myself that progress is personal and that my value doesn’t come from follower counts.

Related article: What is Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome it

How I Make It Work (Most Days)

Time blocking & systems

I schedule specific blocks of time during the week just for blog work. Having a system in place helps me stay consistent and reduces decision fatigue.

Setting boundaries

I’ve learned to protect my time by saying no to things that don’t align with my goals. That includes being honest with myself about how much I can realistically take on.

Leaning into energy

Instead of forcing productivity when I’m drained, I try to work on my blog when I feel naturally focused or inspired. It’s more efficient and less stressful that way.

Support system

Having people in my life who encourage me makes a huge difference. Whether it’s feedback, motivation, or just someone who gets it—it helps me stay grounded.

What Keeps Me Going

Seeing my blog grow, even slowly, reminds me that the effort is adding up. When someone messages me to say a post helped them or shares something I wrote, it makes the work feel meaningful.

Long term, I see this blog as more than a creative outlet. It could lead to freelance opportunities, open doors in my career, or even position me as a thought leader in the marketing space. I don’t have everything figured out yet, but I like knowing I’m building something that has potential.

Advice for Anyone Considering a Side Hustle

Start small. You don’t need a perfect plan to begin, just focus on being consistent and building momentum over time.

Be clear on your “why.” Knowing your purpose will help you stay focused when things get tough.

Don’t compare your pace to others. Everyone’s journey looks different, and slower progress doesn’t mean failure.

Make peace with imbalance sometimes. You won’t always have everything perfectly managed, and that’s okay.

Most importantly, know when to pause and reset. Rest is part of the process, not a setback.

The Collective can help, if starting a business is something you've wanted to do on the side.