A common criticism that I get with some of my side hustles is that they’re – to be frank – a waste of my time. In all honesty, I can’t necessarily argue with that. I went to four years of college and three years of law school. My education has a retail value of well over $200,000. With all of this expense to educate myself, my time (at least in theory) should be pretty valuable. Yet, if you follow along with this blog, you know that I spend a lot of my free time doing things that seem pretty stupid – things like delivering food on my bike or walking dogs.
Depending on your point of view, these side hustles could really be viewed as pretty stupid – at least “beneath” what someone with my credentials should be doing. Instead of wasting my time doing these things, I could be hustling more at work to try to improve my income at my job. Or I could instead be doing something on the side that actually uses my legal training, and that presumably, would allow me to earn more on an hourly basis.
Instead, I’ve basically done the opposite of that. Over the last two years, I’ve taken two pay cuts in an attempt to find work that’s a better fit for me (to the tune of $70,000 less than what my salary was when I left biglaw). And rather than doing stuff on the side that utilizes my legal training, I’ve instead opted to do things that can be considered pretty low-level and obviously, are completely unrelated to my legal career – dog walking, bike deliveries, and other silly things like that.
While I understand the criticisms, I still think that there’s a lot more value to these sort of simple side hustles than people give credit for. As much as I talk about how much I make with these side hustles, to be real, side hustles have never really been about the money to me. I’ve always earned enough from my day job to accomplish my financial goals, and even when I was paying back my student loans, side hustles played a pretty minimal role in my ability to pay back my debt.
If not about the money, then what’s the point of these side hustles? For me, they’ve always served as an outlet – an escape from the pressures of my day-to-day life. In a profession like law (or medicine, or dentistry, or any other high-stress job), where stress and mental health issues are becoming more and more prevalent (or at least talked about), it’s important to figure out ways to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy. Picking up these little side hustles here and there, ones that weren’t mentally taxing and that I found fun, is what worked to keep me in physical and mental balance. It’s the main benefit I got from them and why I still do them today.
Stress and Mental Health In The Legal Profession
Professions like law have abnormally high rates of anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. It’s been a dirty little secret of the legal profession for a while – although being brought to light more with articles like this one from the New York Times. I imagine that law is similar to other high-stress professions as well – jobs like dentistry, medicine, and the like.
You can see why this is the case when you think about how these kinds of jobs work and the people that fall into these careers. Lawyers have always been high achievers. We’re perfectionists. Prone to working long hours with tight deadlines. The pressure can be overwhelming, with pressure coming from clients, partners, senior-associates, not to mention the internal pressures that we create for ourselves (what will my friends and family think if I don’t make it as a big-shot lawyer!?).
Unique to a lot of jobs, being a lawyer is based heavily on outward appearances. Even when I was overwhelmed with work, I always had to bury all of that anxiety deep within me and act like I had everything under control – “fake it til you make it,” is what they say. You’ve got a lot of people looking at you. If you’re visibly overwhelmed, no one’s going to trust you with anything.
With that backdrop, it’s easy to understand why lawyers might turn to other outlets to make up for their stress and anxiety. If the stats are any indication, all too often, that outlet becomes drugs, alcohol, and other things that harm us. It’s a sad state of affairs, unfortunately.
The Therapeutic Benefits of a Random Side Hustle
I’ve always been a pretty anxious person in general, and that definitely didn’t improve after I graduated law school and got my first real job. I needed an outlet, and side hustling filled that void. But not just any side hustle. I didn’t want to do more “work” since I already had plenty of that during the day
So instead, I looked around and saw what the sharing economy and gig economy had to offer. Bike deliveries were the first side hustle I did and the one that I still enjoy the most. It appealed to me in a lot of ways – it was totally different from my normal work, I could get outside and explore my city, it was simple and didn’t seem all that mentally taxing, and most importantly, it gave me a lot of control. I could just turn the delivery app on and off whenever I wanted.
I remember how silly I felt during those first few months of being a bike delivery person – I was a lawyer, with a high priced degree, and I was out on my bike doing deliveries to random people. But it was just too much fun for me. Even if a little embarrassing, the benefits to my physical and mental health were too much for me to pass up on. It was a stupid side hustle, sure, but it did something for me internally. When I was out doing deliveries, I could just shut off my mind, get out in the world, and explore.
What works for you, of course, will differ from what works for me. “Low-level” side hustles like these kept me balanced. They gave me the escape I was looking for – a brief moment when I could stop freaking out about the stresses and problems with work.
Side Hustling Can Be About More Than Money
Side hustling, no doubt, is probably about the money. I wouldn’t deliver food or walk dogs for free. But at the same time, money doesn’t have to be the sole focus of your side hustle. It can do more than just be a way to make more money.
It’s important to have outlets for your stress and anxiety. It’s up to you to decide what works for you. If you’ve got a little bit of an entrepreneurial edge, side hustling, even stupid side hustling, might be the outlet that works for you. And even if it’s a silly, low-level side hustle, only you can tell yourself how valuable it really is to you.
What do you think? Is your side hustle about more than just money?
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the sharing economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer. Kevin is also passionate about earning money using the sharing economy and you can see exactly how he makes five figures every year in his side hustle reports. Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
Great post Kevin, parts of it reminded me of Mr. Groovy discussing “egotrage.” Who’s to say that a side hustle is stupid for “beneath” them? I have a side hustle doing stats for a minor league baseball team. It’s a minimum wage gig, but I love it. It’s an outlet for me to do something I enjoy, get out of an office setting, and make a little money on the side. Sounds like you enjoy your hustles, they’re a great outlet for you, and there’s nothing stupid about them!
Thanks Matt! I love Mr. Groovy’s egotrage ideas – really speaks to me because that’s sort of what I’ve been doing by accident.
You find something you like to do, and if it works for you, it means much more to you then what the income actually says. The stats thing for a minor league baseball team sounds like fun.
Love your post Kevin and how side hustles can be more than just about money. I have a list of a few side hustles I want to try and will make a lot less than what I earn at my job but I think they will be fun. At least i want to try. Plus no additional corporate politics or stress about deadlines (I am in finance)
Thanks Caroline! For sure, if you got something you want to try, then try it out is what I say. It might be good for you to get out of the finance world, even if for a short while each day, week, or month.
Likewise, I wash my dishes and clean the house as an outlet (and a chore). Would my time be better spent fixing up someone’s appendix? Sure, for the greater good of society and probably my wallet too. But I would rather not do it on a Saturday night at the expense of my own health (but unfortunately many doctors don’t even have the luxury to choose–you take call as dictated by the system you work under).
Call for doctors is like how it is for us lawyers – always gotta be ready to answer an email. I like washing dishes too – I find it soothing.
I’m so with you! I do Wag! and Rover on the side (I’m an accountant) and, like you, it’s not about the money. It’s about everything that’s different than what I do day in and day out. Dogs needs are so much different than clients. #KeepOnRocking
That’s awesome – you’re like the same as me! A professional doing something on the side that seems “beneath” you. But it works for you and that’s what’s important. Will you get rich off your side hustles? Maybe. But you’re getting way more out of it than just earning some money.
If a side hustle is not something you would enjoy then why do it on the side? Lol. I recently started my own blog as a way to escape the monotony of the grind. It gives me an opportunity to learn what you and many others before me have done so well and excel. And if one day I earn a dime then it would be great joy. Any suggestions or recommendations would be much appreciated. Thanks Kevin!
Good point about why you would side hustle in something you don’t enjoy. I think the main thing I was thinking was that a lot of people ignore low paying side hustle (like my gig economy stuff) because they don’t think it’s worth the time. My thought is that there’s more to them than just earning money – I do them because they’re fun and really, the money is just a nice bonus.
I’m still figuring out the whole monetizing thing too, so I’m no expert in that! If you keep pumping out content and be real with people, eventually, people will notice. I’m a real big fan of the 1000 true fans idea by Kevin Kelly – google that and it’ll really change your perspective on being a content creator.
I’m looking forward to trying some side hustles in the very near future. You have been a great inspiration. Keep it enjoyable.
Thanks Linda!
There is no question about it, many side hustles are not as lucrative as main hustles. For me, it is thrilling to make a buck outside of my training. It feels extra innovative!
Yeah, I feel the same way about the thrill of making a buck outside of your normal stuff. Makes it feel like it came out of thin air.
Very good post! Side hustles are definitely not *only* about money. It’s a very good way to keep your life balanced.
Thanks! Yeah, do what’s enjoyable to you is what I say.
Great post! I hustle to meet new people, get exposed to new experiences, and spend time on my passions. Plus our dogs get to hang out with other dogs while I get paid.
Do people at your workplace know you do these side hustles? Would you be embarrassed if it became known at work that you have a side hustle as a dog walker or bike delivery messenger? If so, then that is enough reason not to do those side hustle. Be a normal person and get yourself a hobby. Ride your bike but don’t try to monetize it. Get a dog and walk your own dog.
If you have no problem with people at work knowing you are a dog walker or bike delivery messenger, why do you feel the need to defend you decisions?
To be frank, based on what you share on this blog you exhibit obsessive compulsive behavior towards your side hustles. That’s what this blog is about. You say it’s not solely about the money but every post in which you write about your side hustles mentions the money and very few (if any) mention the “therapeutic benefits.” If you are going to be a freak then fly your freak flag proudly. Are you a financial panther or a financial skittish kitty? How many lawyers do you know who work on the side as bike deliverers and dog walkers and pick furniture out of the trash and snap photos of help wanted ads? You are unusual – embrace it or change it.
Damn, doing some psycho-analysis of me. Post wasn’t really meant to be a defense, just a way of thinking – but sure, I probably have to be a freak to spend my time writing about this stuff. Don’t think I’ve ever not embraced my inner weirdo.
Thank you, Kevin. “Menial” jobs or task can be very therapeutic. That’s why I love picking up litter a couple of days a week. Gives me time to enjoy the outdoors and think.
I’m in semi-retirement mode right now, so side hustling is more about trying something new and trying to fill up my spare time.
Great post Kevin, just because you don’t talk about something doesn’t mean that is not real. What I mean by that is, yes, you mention and provide updates on income from these gigs but I think that catches people’s attention but does not mean that’s the only value they bring to someone’s life. I’ve been following your blog and have picked up some of your side hustles (job spotter) and honestly we don’t care so much about the money but is a fun little competition between the wife and I. I agree with your thought on having outlets, we may love what we do but I can certainly appreciate the need for completely disconnecting and side hustles are a great opportunity to do that (and yeah if you make a couple of bucks along the way what is the big deal). Anyways keep it up and let the relaxation continue!