Depression vs. Motivation
credit: reynaldo-brigworkz
How do you pick up a side hustle for extra cash when you can’t even pick yourself out of bed? Here are some ideas.
One of the most common ideas financial gurus drill into us, is that a side hustle will help supplement income while trying to save. In short, they’re right! And, it’s a wonderful suggestion. But, is it realistic for you?
What happens if you’re struggling with depression, burnout, or chronic stress and just don’t have the energy or motivation to dive into a side business? Survivors of trauma often struggle with depression, dysthymia, disassociation, or other ailments that weigh on the heart. As we all know, there are good days and bad days.
So, is it completely hopeless? Of course not. You got this! You just need some life hacks. Below are tips to navigate the barriers that naturally get in the way when the blues hit both your heart and your finances.
TIPS:
Choose a hustle that you’re genuinely interested, or even passionate, about. First and foremost, you can’t maintain a successful side hustle if you only feel so-so about it, right? Be intentional in what you’re choosing to do outside of work. Being interested in what you’re doing is especially important for those struggling with sadness, because it’s a natural motivator. Whether you’re an aspiring writer and want to publish free e-books on Amazon, sell things on Mercari to de-clutter your room, or wash cars because you like being outside; keep it interesting!
Pick something low energy. For instance, selling on Mercari is relatively low energy. You can do everything from an app on your phone and never get out of bed! Simply take a photo of the item you want to sell, then post and sell from your screen. Mercari also allows you 3 days to ship an item, giving you space to get motivated enough to get out of the house again. Find purpose in the small things. Don’t force yourself into a side gig that makes you go on a 5 mile dog walk if you know it will only stress you out more. Pace yourself, forgive yourself, then rise.
Recognize a bad day. The reality is that those pesky negative thoughts and feelings are going to find their way to you one way or another. As the old saying goes, “allow your thoughts to visit, but do not invite them for tea.” Meaning, acknowledge that you are having a hard day, but do not perseverate on it. Recognize that it is a low-energy moment, then continue on with with your task in a way that is manageable. Continue to do a tiny bit at a time. For instance, if you are selling on Mercari, take all of your photos of your items one day, then post throughout the week. You can even post an item at night when you’re restless and on your phone at 3am. Although this is not an endorsement to skip out on sleep, realistically depression can disrupt our sleep cycles and it can be helpful to know you did something meaningful before trying to go back to bed.
Let a problem, or thing, motivate you when money can’t. One of the key contributors of depression is its annoying ability to kill the buzz on anything you enjoy. Accept that some days, your thoughts and feelings will get bigger than you and that ancient question will start nagging at the back of your head, “What’s the point?” It’s okay. Money will not always be a motivating factor for you, no matter how badly you might want it to be. When money slips through the cracks on the priority ladder, switch gears and think of what else might be motivating. Perhaps you’ve always had the dream to be well off enough that you can buy your cousin a place ticket to come visit you. Think about what you and your cousin would do, how much you would laugh about that ridiculous time you got into trouble together, then daydream of their reaction to receiving the ticket. Get lost a bit in some happy daydreaming by allowing in the possibilities that money can offer. Remember that you are capable, worthy, and important. You can do this.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. Take your savings goals a little at a time and celebrate the wins as they happen. If you’re frustrated that you aren’t generating enough sales from Mercari or car washes, is there a better way to market yourself? Watch a YouTube video on how to increase key words in the description of your listing so that Mercari picks up your item to show customers quicker. Advertise your car washes on a neighborhood Facebook page. Get creative instead of discouraged!