Almost everyone looks for ways to increase their income. It’s natural: earning more money can help you pay off debt, travel, retire earlier, stop living paycheck to paycheck, afford the things you want, and more.
One common barrier to earning extra income is time. Finding opportunities to make more money often comes down to how determined you are. Some people aren’t as motivated to pursue extra income, and that’s okay. But if you truly want to boost your earnings, you need to be honest with yourself and make time for it.
Imagine what you could accomplish with an extra five to ten hours each week. Whether your goal is to turn a side hustle into a full-time business, hit a financial milestone, or simply have more breathing room in your budget, carving out time to pursue extra income can change your life.
Although I no longer juggle multiple side hustles, I still focus on increasing my income and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. There was a time when I balanced a full-time job, college, volunteering, and side projects. Those experiences taught me how to find and use spare time effectively.
Below are practical, realistic tips to help you find time to make more money.
Be realistic about how much time you have
Everyone gets 24 hours in a day, but responsibilities and schedules vary. Be honest with yourself about how much spare time you truly have. You don’t want to burn out, neglect important relationships, or sacrifice the quality of your main job just to chase extra income.
At the same time, many people have more available time than they realize. Track your activities for a week—note how much time you spend on different tasks and where time slips away. You’ll likely find pockets of time you can redirect toward earning more.
Wake up earlier
When I worked a day job, I often woke up one to two hours earlier to work on side projects. That early time was used for answering emails, brainstorming, managing my blog, and completing small tasks. Mornings were tough at first, but getting important work done before my regular job felt rewarding.
If you’re not a morning person, dedicate time before bed instead. Consistently using two hours each weekday before work adds up to about 10 extra hours each week for side-hustle progress.
Eliminate time wasters
Take a moment to consider how much time you spend watching TV or browsing social media. The average U.S. adult watches many hours of TV and spends significant time daily on social platforms. Teenagers often spend even more time online. Cutting down on these habits can free up substantial hours each week.
Use short gaps in your day wisely
Everyone has gaps in their schedule—between meetings, before classes, or while waiting to pick up kids. Instead of defaulting to passive activities, use those 20–60 minute windows for focused tasks: answering emails, drafting ideas, reading relevant articles, or completing quick side-hustle chores.
Multitask smartly
If done correctly, multitasking can boost productivity. The key is to choose low-effort, complementary activities that don’t reduce the quality of your work. Examples include:
- Working on small tasks while cooking, using natural breaks to reply to messages or brainstorm ideas.
- Using hold time on the phone to update your to-do list, do a short stretch routine, or finish a quick email.
- Combining errands into a single trip rather than spreading them out across multiple days.
Be cautious: switching tasks frequently can cause lost time and reduce focus. Some studies suggest you lose minutes each time you stop and restart a task, so only multitask when it genuinely saves time.
Rethink your commute
If you use public transit, turn commute time into productive time. Work that fits on a phone or laptop—such as drafting content, replying to messages, or planning—can turn travel time into progress for your side hustle.
Stay organized
Organization saves time and reduces stress. Disorganization costs people time each day and over the year. Simple systems for keeping track of documents, tasks, and supplies can reclaim minutes—sometimes hours—daily that add up over weeks and months.
Use your lunch break strategically
When I had a day job, I used my lunch hour to work on side projects. Bringing lunch from home saved money and created an hour each day dedicated to progress. That’s roughly five extra hours each week you can devote to side-hustle tasks.
Finding extra time to make more money requires honesty, planning, and small habit changes. Start by identifying where your time goes, eliminate obvious wastes, and experiment with routines that fit your energy and schedule. What strategies have helped you find time to increase your income? What time-management tips would you share?