In last week’s post, I talked about a very brief side gig I had a few years ago that drained me. I wasn’t drained by the people I worked with or the organization I worked for; I was simply drained by having a part-time job in addition to having a full-time job. After about six months, I quit because I couldn’t handle having a side gig anymore—but I learned a valuable lesson from the experience. Whether you’re hoping to find a side gig or not, I think it’ll be helpful.
Side Gig Struggles
Merriam-Webster defines a side hustle (aka a side gig) as “work performed for income supplementary to one’s primary job.” Side gigs are common in today’s culture. They seem especially common among people in Generation Y and Generation Z.
The title of this post might make you wonder if I’m planning to bash side gigs; I’m not! After all, writing is basically my side gig. Even though I’m not making tons of money from it, it sometimes provides income supplementary to my primary job.
I admire when people get side gigs because their full-time jobs don’t provide enough income. I also admire when people get side gigs because they realize God has given them valuable resources (e.g., skills and talents) and desire to use those resources well. Side gigs can be very gratifying—but they can also be very stressful. That’s why I encourage you to ask yourself this question before you take on a side gig: “Why do I want this?”
Numbered Days
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire life is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is just a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” (Psalm 39:4-7 NLT)
Ultimately, side gigs are temporary—and so are the wealth and the busyness that accompany them. So if you want to get a side gig because you feel like you don’t measure up to your friends who have side gigs—perhaps because they make more money than you do or are busier than you are—remember how limited your time on Earth is and consider if a side gig is the best way to spend it. Insecurity isn’t a good enough reason to get a side gig. But if you believe that getting a side gig is within God’s will for your life, go for it!
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