Hurry up and hustle

This isn’t news to anyone but millennials are broke. Whether our finances are tepid because of everlasting student loans, impending insurance coverage, or because rent is insanely high and jobs are not as plentiful, flexibility of the workplace today has allowed millennials to adopt after-hours business endeavors.

It seems more often than not, young professionals today have a “side hustle”. In fact, one in two millennials has a side hustle. An ingenious way to make additional money, side hustles run the gambit in terms of industries and opportunities.

Having a side hustle creates an opportunity of freedom. When you’re in control of the time you work, the amount of money you make, and what you’re actually working on, the work-life balance is a little more in tact. It’s something millennials are well aware of: we need flexibility and we need it now. The millennial generation is often looking for happiness and job satisfaction - actually, it’s best not to tack that qualifier on - most people are looking for happiness and job satisfaction in the workplace. It’s just that millennials are making the biggest effort to find it by creating their own jobs and making money on demand.

Freelance has become an adjective to add in front of almost any verb, showcasing the Millennial entrepreneurial mindset is fairly effective. Need a few extra dollars? Become a freelance dog walker, freelance writer, freelance web developer, or purveyor of extraneous sales from resale and recommerce sites like eBay or Poshmark. There’s something to be said about making a sale on your gently-used thoroughly-loved items, regardless of whether they are collectibles from the ‘90s like Polly Pockets or as important as the latest Louis Vuitton crossbody bag on sale for 11% off (thanks, Poshmark). Selling your old things is a surefire way to drum up some cash, and the prices of some items will surely surprise you.

Obviously while selling your things can make you money, selling your skills can also accomplish the same feat. If you are a talented writer, consider applying for blogging positions or even beginning your own blog. Monetizing a website has become a popular side hustle and the efforts needed to create said website is a very marketable skill. As the advertising industry changes, there are also additional avenues to pursue to monetize your hobbies. Podcasts, for example, continue to explode in popularity. Creating a personal podcast can help establish you as an authority in your industry, build your personal brand, and even help you connect with industry influencers.

There is no limitation to the extent of the entrepreneurial spirit, especially if you’re looking to line your wallet with extra cushion. Choosing a side hustle, however, isn’t as simple as knowing that they’re readily available in nearly every industry. Financial freedom isn’t at the end of 15 freelance dog walks, it is, unfortunately, at the end of dedicated strategy, pursuing clientele, and actually doing the work. With that in mind, there are many ways to help you decide what your side hustle of choice should be.

Find a spark in your work, something that ignites your passion post-office hours. Your mental health, your career, and your work-life balance will thank you - as will your wallet.

• 0