Planning
Starting with a light load
The most common way side work fails isn't lack of demand. It's starting with more hours than the week can hold, and dropping everything a few weeks later. A light first load is slower, but it lasts.
Count what you already carry
Write down one ordinary week: job, travel, household work, family time and sleep. Add them up and take the total from 168. What's left is the space for meals, rest, illness and everything that doesn't fit a plan. Side work comes out of that space, so take only a small part of it.
Pick a number for the first month
Three to five hours a week is a sensible first load for most people with a full-time job. It's enough to learn how the work feels, how long tasks really take and how payment works.
Review before adding weight
- Are you sleeping about as much as before?
- Has anything slipped at work?
- Does the household feel the change?
If all three answers are fine after four weeks, add an hour or two. If not, keep the load as it is, or lighten it.
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