Last Updated on November 9, 2024 by Saria
Why Side Hustles Are Bad (The Dark Side You Should Know)
Why side hustles are bad.
Wait, what?
Okay, so you may be saying, “But I need to make extra money. Surely, it’s a good way to boost my income. So how can that be bad?”
Let’s face it, side hustles are widely popular.
And, whether it’s freelancing, selling crafts, or starting a blog, side hustles are often spoken about in a good light as a great way to follow your passion, make money, and help you quit your full-time job.
However, while there are great benefits to having a side hustle, there are downsides that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Let’s read on to find out what these downsides are so you can decide if pursuing a side hustle is right for you.
Why Side Hustles Are Bad – The Downsides to Consider
Here are some of the reasons why side hustles are bad for you.
1. It won’t get off the ground
A side hustle is, well, something you do on the side to make extra money.
Doing something on the side typically means doing something in addition to something else.
In the case of a side hustle, it means you’re doing a side job that isn’t your main focus in addition to your full-time job.
Now that can be problematic, especially if you really want your side hustle to succeed and replace your full-time job.
If you’re not treating your side hustle as a priority, you might not feel the urgency or pressure to be at it, especially if your full-time job can adequately meet your needs.
This could mean that your side hustle will never get the chance to take off and will most likely fail.
2. Increased stress and burnout
Juggling a side hustle and a full-time job can lead to increased stress and burnout.
Imagine working a full-time job and then having to dedicate some additional hours a day to your side hustle.
You probably won’t have much time to yourself, especially if you’re also a mom to young kids.
Side hustle burnout is real and can wreak havoc on your mental health, leading to depression and anxiety.
Also, burnout is almost a guarantee if you start to lose interest in your side hustle or if it’s only for the money.
3. Neglecting personal development
Since a side hustle can take up your time and energy, you may find that you don’t have the time to spend on hobbies or improving your health.
If we neglect our needs over time, we could be overwhelmed, and depressed, suffer from anxiety, and suffer from health problems.
Focusing on your personal development can help you become more focused, increase your productivity, and lead a more fulfilling and purposeful life.
4. Lack of rest and leisure time
If you’re dedicating your evenings and weekends to your side hustle, you may not have enough time to relax and unwind.
Without enough rest, you may feel exhausted and drained, which could lead to decreased productivity, strained relationships, health issues, and a lower quality of life.
Relaxation gives us more energy, allowing us to have a clearer and calmer mind. This helps with concentration, better decision-making, and positive thinking, all of which are critical for success in any profession.
5. Unstable income
The thought of earning extra money can be enticing; however, side hustles come with unstable and unpredictable income streams.
A full-time job provides regular steady income; however, side hustle income fluctuates significantly.
For example, say you’re a freelancer, or you sell digital prints on Etsy. You might not have the same number of clients or sell the same number of products every month. In fact, you may even go some months with no clients or sales.
This instability can make budgeting and long-term financial planning challenging.
If you rely on a side hustle for additional income, it can also give you a false sense of security, which can result in taking on additional financial commitments you may not be able to sustain.
6. Hidden costs
Some people may overlook the hidden costs that come with a side hustle.
These costs can include expenses for supplies, marketing, and taxes that may eat up your profit.
For example, a freelance graphic designer might need to purchase expensive software and hardware, while a ride-share driver would need to cover fuel and maintenance costs.
Also, side hustle income is subject to self-employment tax, which might be a shock to you if you’re not prepared for it.
You may find that after accounting for all the expenses, your side hustle may not be profitable at all.
7. Impacts your full-time job
If you’re balancing a side hustle alongside your full-time job, your primary job may suffer as you may lose focus and become less productive, potentially jeopardizing your full-time job.
Depending on the type of side hustle, you may have to respond to emails and take calls to meet deadlines. Or you may be constantly thinking about your side gig.
This distraction could mean low performance or mistakes in your primary job that your employer will eventually notice. And that could also mean limited promotions and advancement, especially if you don’t mind pursuing your career for the long term.
Dividing your attention between your gig and a full-time job can mean that neither gets the full attention, and that leads to increased stress.
8. Strained relationships
Side hustles can strain personal relationships by reducing the time spent with family and friends.
This could lead to feelings of neglect and resentment among family and friends, ultimately harming the relationship.
When you’re working a side job, you often work evenings and weekends. That’s time that would typically be spent socializing and spending quality time with loved ones.
Spending quality time with family and friends is necessary to maintain healthy and supportive connections, which are necessary for overall happiness and well-being.
So, even if you’re balancing multiple jobs, always set aside time to socialize and do activities with family and friends.
9. Isolation and loneliness
In addition to strained relationships, taking on a side hustle can leave you feeling isolated and lonely.
You may not have enough time for social interaction or community involvement if you’re working long hours on your full-time job and a side hustle, or if you’re spending all your free time on your business.
You may also feel cut off from the world and may lose the passion you had for your side gig.
If your side hustle continues to affect your social life to the point where less time is spent interacting with others, you may also eventually become socially awkward.
Social isolation can increase the risk of depression and anxiety. We are social beings, and regular interactions are necessary for emotional well-being and a sense of belonging.
Common Reasons for Starting a Side Hustle
There are common and unusual reasons for starting a side hustle. People have very different motivations for starting one, and some of them include:
- Personal freedom
- Extra income
- To quit their full-time job
- To learn a new skill
- To pay off debt
Whatever your reason for starting a side hustle, if you’re considering starting one, it’s important to ask yourself some critical questions, as it will prepare you for the challenges and opportunities that come with having a side hustle or side business.
What Are the Lies About Side Hustles?
We know there’s a buzz about side hustles.
Those money-making side gigs promise you freedom, flexibility, and a chance to quit your 9-to-5.
But is everything you’ve seen, heard, or read about side hustles true?
Are side hustles really a quick fix for financial independence?
Here are some misconceptions about side hustles.
You can make a ton of money with ease
I don’t know about you, but the way some YouTubers or “gurus” pitch how you can make money makes you wonder: if that’s the case, why isn’t everyone doing it or making at least $100 a day?
It can take significant effort and dedication to have a successful side hustle.
But in some cases, it’s not that the side hustle is bad or you can’t make money. Sometimes your success can be dependent on some of these factors, such as:
- Your lack of commitment (I can be guilty of this sometimes).
- You don’t have a huge following on social media to promote your product or services.
- You live in the wrong part of the world. Yes, people from countries such as the US and the UK have more online side hustle opportunities than others.
Everyone needs a side hustle
Well, that’s simply not true.
Side hustles are not for everyone, even if making extra money is appealing.
As mentioned earlier in this post, there could be some downsides that you might not be prepared to take on, especially if you don’t have a good enough reason to start a side hustle.
And don’t buy into the notion that a 9-to-5 is all bad and you must simply have a side hustle to escape the office life.
A side hustle is better than a 9-to-5 or full-time employment
Now, this all boils down to what exactly you want for your life and in the long term.
Is working full-time or having a side hustle that could eventually replace your full-time job tied to your why?
A full-time job can actually help you get your side hustle off the ground and can put your mind at ease too.
How is that, you may ask?
Here are some reasons:
- You get to pay your bills while you see if your side hustle can come off the ground or is right for you.
- Because of your full-time employment status, you might be able to secure a loan to fund your side hustle.
- Or, you can fund your side hustle or business from your full-time income.
Also, some people just want to work, get a stable income, leave the office, and come home to do nothing else or just spend time with their family with no distractions.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that if that’s what you want.
So, you see, it all boils down to what exactly you want.
Do you want flexibility, or do you want a stable income without worrying whether you’d make any money or not? Or do you want to learn a new skill through a side hustle?
You need to grind for long hours to be successful
Now, in some cases, that may be true.
But, in some cases, you don’t need to grind away whenever you have free time.
Most times, it just comes down to focus, dedication, proper time management, and prioritizing the most important things that must be done for you to be successful.
Especially with focus, discipline, and time management, you can actually have a side hustle and still have time with family and friends.
Oh, and abandon all thoughts that everything needs to be perfect.
Conclusion for Why Side Hustles Are Bad
So, there you have it: 9 reasons why side hustles are bad, including some reasons for starting a side hustle and some misconceptions.
While side hustles have obvious benefits like an additional income, you may experience some of the downsides mentioned above that can affect your quality of life.
If you want to pursue a side hustle, you should be clear on what you really want in life and determine if a side hustle is right for you.
If it’s the right choice for you, then the first thing you need to do is to prepare.
Let me know in the comments below if you think there are any not-so-obvious reasons why side hustles are bad.
Related side hustle posts:
Your Most Pressing Side Hustle Questions Answered
Life-Changing Benefits of Having a Side Hustle
Reasons to Start a Side Hustle (Beyond the Usual)