Today marks the end of my first full week of being a part-time stylist for Stitch Fix as well as working full-time at the Medical Center. Let’s recap the crazy amount of things I try to do and why I have a limited social life:
1) 40 hrs (+) at my day job
2) 15 hrs (+) with Stitch Fix
3) 2-6 hrs teaching Self Defense
4) Church/teaching Sunday School to two-year-olds

Granted, I do all of this by choice and I love it. But when my mother starts talking about how I’m about to turn 30 and still single, it’s pretty easy to see why. I live my life on the go. Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. If I wasn’t so busy, I would be sitting at home doing little to nothing. And even with my busy life, I still have a ton of lazy downtime. Which is why I knew I could handle the side hustle life.

Reality: It’s not as easy as I thought but not as hard as I feared.

One of the best parts of being a stylist for Stitch Fix is the fact that it is remote. I can style from ANYWHERE.

Example: I style on my deck with a cup of coffee some mornings, a glass of wine some evenings, or on my couch snuggled up with the pups, or even in my mother’s car while we drove down to Houston (shout out to the mobile hotspot option!). I love that I can literally work at any point as long as I have internet.

I’m a Men’s Stylist too, which is AMAZING so far. Guys are HILARIOUS when it comes to their styles and wardrobes and soooo honest! It’s fabulous. I laugh and joke with the guys as I pick out things to help boost their confidences. Now, I teach a Women’s Self Defense course, so building up women is something I have become super passionate about. Yet building up men is just as important. I want to see more MEN, not boys who shave as my pastor says. Working with my clients to find what they feel comfortable and confident in is part of that mission.

But it’s not always easy. I don’t know these guys, don’t see them and can’t hear their voices as I pick something out for them. It’s about building the relationship up as well as hearing what they say when they say it. Just in case you thought my job was always a walk in the park, it’s still challenging. It’s just a creative outlet for me now too. And let’s face it, I needed something like that to help with my stressful world.

I can’t say that adding another 15 hours of work to my life is easy because it’s not. It’s another thing that demands my attention. But the added income helps alleviate some of my stress and having it be a fun thing is perfect.

So, if you are thinking of picking up a side hustle like I did, let me give you a few pointers. I will most likely have more to say as time goes on, so just take the preliminary advice for what it is.

1) Pick something you will enjoy. There is nothing worse than finishing one job and feeling like you have to drag yourself to the second one. I love the creative, caring atmosphere of Stitch Fix. Find something that brings you joy.

2) Be real about what time you have to devote to it. If you have to give something else up, decide what it’s worth. If the only way for me to do this would have been to give up my R.A.D. Self Defense class, I would have turned it down. I won’t give up a passion for a job.

3) Since we’re talking time, make yourself a schedule and STICK TO IT. My agenda is my lifeline. Without it, I would have already needed to give up a few things. I look at what my week looks like and decide when I need to be where. It’s structured which is hard for us Type B’s but necessary.

Let’s start with three and see what other advice I come up with! As of right now, one week in, I still had time for some fun, housework, and reading. If all my weeks go like this, I think I can hang!

Always,
Manic