Why Batching is Not Always a Good Idea

When you're working a full-time job and trying to build a side hustle, finding time for everything can be a Herculean task. Among the many challenges faced one of the most daunting is the idea of batching, which I often come across when reading time management tips. Whether it's networking on LinkedIn, creating what you're selling or recording podcasts, you may think this is the answer to all of your time management problems. Unfortunately it might not be.

Let's look at why this seemingly efficient approach can be challenging when building a side hustle and how to tackle it.

Batching is often touted as the holy grail of productivity. It involves dedicating a specific block of time to complete similar tasks in one go. Batching promises to save time and mental energy.

The problem is that working a full-time job already consumes a significant chunk of your day, leaving limited hours for your side hustle.

It is the fragmented nature of your available time slots which creates the problem. Short breaks between meetings, the lunch hour, or a spare half-hour in the evening can feel inadequate for batching. Instead of a dedicated chunk of time for focused work, it's a constant battle to squeeze tasks into the margins of a busy life.

Saturday and Sunday may offer long stretches of time, but they're often filled with family responsibilities or just catching up on chores. Committing to three hours of writing blog posts just isn't something most side hustlers have space for in their schedules.

So, how can you find time to build a side hustle which fits around your 9-5 and your family responsibilities?

Firstly, I would say that you need to be realistic when considering how long you have at one time to work on a task. If you want to try batching, start small. Commit to 30 or 60 minutes rather than three hours and see how you go. If you can do more great, but otherwise just accept that batching isn't realistic for you at the moment. Don't beat yourself up when you hear time management gurus promoting its benefits, thinking you're a failure because you just can't manage it.

Getting stuff done is not just about time management it's also about motivation. When you do have time in your schedule to work on your side hustle don't waste it procrastinating because you've decided you're going to spend two hours creating Instagram posts and you can't find any inspiration today. Unless it's urgent, do something else which lights you up. You're much more likely to be productive in a small space of time if you enjoy what you're doing.

Batching can be monotonous. Doing the same task over and over can become tedious. I find I need a mixture of mental and physical tasks. When I've spent an hour writing a blog post I don't particularly want to start another one immediately and if I try I'm just not productive. It's much better if I go and do some vacuuming for 30 minutes and come back to the blog posts afterwards. Therefore sprinkling tasks for your side hustle throughout your day might not be a bad thing and will allow for variety in your day. You'll come fresh to each task rather than dreading recording yet another podcast.

In conclusion, while batching is a powerful productivity technique, it comes with its own set of challenges, especially when you're navigating a full-time job and building a side hustle. Remember, your journey is unique, and finding what works best for you is the ultimate goal.

And if you want some more tips on finding time for your side hustle grab my free guide ‘Easy Ways to Find Time for a Side Hustle’, a cheat sheet of 30 quick ideas to start finding time for your dream today.