What matters more, passion or money? Perhaps you want to do something, but it may not be lucrative enough for your finances. In that case, it’s risky to leave your full-time job to pursue your passion and become your own boss.

Fortunately, you can accommodate both by moonlighting. Engaging with your passion beyond full-time work hours is an effective way to do what makes you happy. It also keeps you from feeling exhausted or burnt out, making you more productive during your daily grind.

But what exactly is moonlighting's meaning, and how can you succeed at both pursuing your passion and earning extra income?

What is Moonlighting?

Moonlighting involves working another job on top of your regular nine-to-five. It's an effective strategy to earn money on the side while also developing new skills, building a personal brand, or expanding your professional network during your free time.

Most of all, moonlighting empowers you to pursue your interests.

Let's say you're a full-time accountant with an affinity toward visual arts; you could spend your free time freelancing as an artist. This setup allows you to do what you love, boosting your profits without leaving a lucrative full-time job.

How to Pursue Your Passion and Side Hustle Beyond Work Hours

Why is passion important? Doing what you love adds depth and meaning to your life. As such, you experience more fulfillment, even if it isn't something you do full-time. Consider the following tips to help you moonlight productively.

1. Prioritize and schedule

What's your single, true passion? You might not have enough time outside your regular office job, so gather your side hustle ideas and prioritize the moonlighting job that suits you.

For instance, if you’ve always wanted to start a business more than anything else, consider focusing on your entrepreneurial vision. Simultaneously doing other gigs might be difficult, as that might prevent you from allocating time for errands, socialization, and rest.

Then, fix your schedule with enough time for your passion. Think of it as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself and commit to it. That way, you'll always have time to do what you love, even during busy days at work or in your personal life.

2. Start small and be realistic

Juggling work and personal life can be challenging, especially if your full-time job is a demanding one. You might have zero energy left to engage with your passion and side hustle, which can cause burnout.

To prevent your moonlighting gig from overwhelming you, start small in the first few weeks, expand gradually, and be realistic about what you can achieve within your free time. These steps can help keep you from doing everything at once and feeling exhausted.

Then, set realistic milestones to give yourself something to aim for. And remember, consistent progress adds up over time, so don't underestimate small wins.

3. Create a supportive environment

Motivation is crucial when moonlighting. You need all the support you can get when handling two or more jobs, so surround yourself with people who encourage your passion. Share your interests with loved ones who inspire you to advance in your interests without losing motivation.

You could also try finding like-minded individuals locally or overseas. Whether social or professional, connections provide a sense of community that supports you in doing what you love.

Ultimately, these support systems make it easier to commit to your passion despite potential challenges.

4. Optimize your productivity

Bouncing between corporate work and side gig can leave you with less time for leisure, socialization, and sleeping.

Here, the key is to maximize your time for both. Start by eliminating distractions in your work environment; silence your phone and close irrelevant browser tabs to avoid disruptions.

Also, use productivity strategies for improved efficiency, like the Pomodoro Technique. It involves working for a certain period, like 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break, repeating the cycle until the end of your schedule. This level of consistency with your routine can make work easier during your moonlight hours.

5. Find synergy between your main job and side hustle

At the get-go, make sure to inform your employer that you are pursuing a side hustle or you are working on a side gig.

There are companies that prohibit their full-time employees from dividing their time between their main job and side hustle. There can be a plethora of reasons, such as lack of focus, conflict of interest, and misuse of the company’s resources.

At the end of the day, you signed a contract and are bound to perform your duties and responsibilities tied to your main job.

But if you are given the go signal, look for opportunities to incorporate your passion into your full-time work and vice versa for better rewards and enjoyment. A good example of aligning your passion with your profession is being a marketer moonlighting as a small business owner.

Besides transferring skills, finding synergy between your full-time career and moonlighting gig provides valuable opportunities that complement your plans.

For instance, you could attend industry events or workshops related to your passion during work-related travel. You may also connect with colleagues who have similar interests and explore potential collaboration opportunities.

Make Your Career More Worthwhile

Pursuing your passion beyond work hours can be challenging, given your limited time and the likelihood of exhaustion and burnout.

Fortunately, adopting the strategies above makes your moonlighting gig more fulfilling. In turn, you can turn your passion into more than a pastime but a vital aspect of career and financial growth and professional development.

Secure your career path with insurance that suits your needs.

BPI AIA can help you bring your passion to life with a savings and life insurance plan to grow your money and protect your goals for the long term.

Schedule a virtual appointment with our Bancassurance Sales Executives to learn more.