Truth be told, January can come with a lot of pressure to reset your life, set big goals, and start something new. The whole “start now” mentality sounds motivating… until you actually stop and think about it. Start where? And with what money?
There are countless side hustles out there, and I talk about many of them in my Six Figure Side Hustle Guide. But the thing that most people don’t realize is that not every side hustle is for everybody, and not every side hustle works in every season of life.
The side hustles that worked for me before I had my daughter don’t work the same way now. Life changed, my responsibilities changed, and I had to make some shifts. Some hustles worked out. Some didn’t. And yes, some turned into investments I lost.
At the time, those losses felt heavy. Now, I see them as lessons. I don’t regret any of them because without those failures, I wouldn’t have the clarity I have today. That clarity is what I want to pass on to you.
What to Consider When Choosing a Side Hustle
If you’re trying to figure out which side hustle actually makes sense for you, here are the three biggest things I’ve learned to consider.
1. Time Capacity
Be honest with yourself about how much time you can realistically devote to a side hustle on top of your 9–5 and everything else you’re responsible for.
Yes, there’s a season where you may need to “go hard” in the beginning, but that level of intensity usually isn’t sustainable long-term. Burnout is real. A side hustle that looks good on paper but doesn’t fit into your life will quickly become another source of stress.
2. Emotional Bandwidth
Ideally, your side hustle is something you actually enjoy, or at least something you wouldn’t mind doing full-time if the income allowed it.
Doing something only for the money is hard to sustain. I’m not saying you have to love every part of the business (there’s always non-fun stuff), but there has to be a baseline level of interest or passion. Without it, consistency becomes nearly impossible.
3. Financial Goals
Are you looking for quick money right now, or are you building toward something long-term?
Some side hustles can generate income quickly. Others take time to scale, especially if your goal is six figures. Neither is wrong, but you do need to be realistic about what a specific hustle can do for you while you’re in whatever space you’re in now.
What’s Working for Me Right Now
The side hustles that are working for me currently are crafting (when I can), adjunct teaching, and real estate. It’s a mix of short-term and long-term income, but they all have one thing in common: I enjoy them, and I could see myself doing any of them full-time if the income matched.
That matters, especially in my current season of life.
Side Hustling as a Single Mom
As a single mom, side hustling isn’t optional for me; it’s a necessity.
Relying on one income gives me anxiety. Even with support, the reality is this: no one is coming to save me. That means I need a backup plan… and a backup plan for the backup plan.
Hustling has always been part of my life, but I’ve learned to be more intentional about how I hustle. I’ve always tried to choose things I actually like doing and could eventually turn into something sustainable.
When this year started, I was still in the thick of my divorce, something I had already been navigating for two years. Add in depression, grief from losing my dad, poor financial decisions, and the cost of divorce itself, and I found myself nearly $80,000 in debt.
I’ve spent a lot of money starting side hustles with the hope they’d turn into real businesses. Some did. Some didn’t. And some were simply expensive lessons.
Why Every Side Hustle Isn’t for Every Season
By definition, a side hustle is something you do on the side. It’s meant to supplement your income or help you explore your interests without the pressure of immediately paying all your bills.
Because of that, side hustles are not one-size-fits-all.
The side hustles that worked for me 10 or 15 years ago don’t fit the life I’m living today, and that doesn’t mean they were wrong choices. It just means seasons change.
If you’re unsure which side hustle to start, reflection is often more valuable than rushing.
A Practical Way to Choose (and Actually Start)
If you’re feeling stuck between too many options and not enough clarity, this is exactly why I created my Digital Side Hustle Workbook.
It’s designed to help you slow down and really think through what makes sense for your life, your time, your energy, and your goals, so you’re not jumping into another side hustle that doesn’t stick.
The workbook walks you through reflection, capacity, and planning, and helps you create a simple 30-day action plan to get started without overwhelm. You can use it on its own, or bundle it with my Six Figure Side Hustle Guide if you want both clarity and ideas in one place.
There’s no rush and no pressure, just a practical tool to help you move forward intentionally, at a pace that’s sustainable for this season of your life.
Choosing the right side hustle isn’t about doing what everyone else is doing. It’s about choosing what works for you, right now, and giving yourself permission to build at a pace that’s sustainable.
