The One Thing Stopping Your Side Hustle from Thriving
How to Find Balance, Avoid Burnout, and Still Grow as a UX Pro
Let’s talk about a question many of us ask ourselves:
“Am I doing too much?”
You’ve got a full-time UX job—maybe you're designing apps, running usability tests, or presenting findings to stakeholders. On top of that, you’re thinking about:
Starting a freelance gig.
Building a portfolio-worthy passion project.
Or simply finding time to grow your skills.
The truth? You can’t do everything at once.
But you can balance it with intention. Today, we’ll explore how to manage side hustles without losing sight of your career, health, or personal growth.
Today’s Highlights
Key Insight: The Side Hustle Dilemma
Market Insights: Why Freelance UX Is the Future
Why Side Hustles Are Popular in UX
When Freelancing Adds Value—and When It Doesn’t
Balancing Deadlines with Personal Growth
Practical Tips: Time-Saving Hacks for Busy UXers
Community Spotlight: What’s the Best Advice for Balancing Work and Hustles?
UX Workshop: Crafting Engaging Case Studies That Tell a Story
Resource Corner: Books, Tools, and Insights for Time Management
Feature Spotlight: Join Us at UXCon25
Tool of the Week: Toggl – Your Time Tracking Superpower
Key Insight: The Side Hustle Dilemma
The UX world loves side hustles. Nearly 43% of UX professionals engage in freelance or contract work outside their full-time jobs (Source). But with this rise comes a challenge: balancing ambition with reality.
Let’s talk numbers…
Market Insights: Why Freelance UX Is the Future
—because the UX freelance market isn’t just growing; it’s booming.
1. The UX Freelance Economy Is Exploding
The global User Experience (UX) market is projected to grow from $9.84 billion in 2024 to $22.15 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 17.62% during this period (Source).
Translation? If you’ve been considering freelancing, now is the time to jump in.
2. Clients Are Paying More for Niche Skills
Freelancers with specialized skills are seeing their rates skyrocket:
AR/VR UX Specialists earn 20–30% more than generalists (Source).
Accessibility-focused UX designers are commanding premium rates, with some projects offering $100–$150/hour (Source).
3. Freelancers Are Shaping the Future of Product Teams
More than 43% of UX professionals report freelancing or consulting as part of their careers in 2023 (Source).
Big players like Google, Microsoft, and Shopify are increasingly hiring freelancers for:
User testing and research sprints.
Accessibility audits and compliance.
Rapid prototyping and iterative design.
The future of UX? It’s hybrid teams blending full-time and freelance talent.
Why Side Hustles Are Popular in UX
Skill Expansion: Freelancing lets you experiment with industries or tools you might not touch in your 9-to-5.
Creative Freedom: Side projects are an outlet for ideas your full-time job can’t accommodate.
Financial Security: With inflation and rising living costs, that extra income helps pay bills—or fund your next dream vacation.
When Freelancing Adds Value—and When It Doesn’t
Ask yourself:
What’s my goal?
Freelancing works best when it aligns with long-term career aspirations, like building expertise in accessibility or expanding your network.Can I handle the workload?
Taking on too much can lead to burnout. A rule of thumb? Limit freelance hours to 20% of your weekly workload (i.e., 8 hours per week if you work full-time).
Balancing Deadlines with Personal Growth
Ever feel like personal growth takes a backseat to work? You’re not alone. A LinkedIn Learning Study found that 63% of professionals feel “too busy” to invest in their development.
To prioritize growth:
Block 1 hour a week for “learning time.” Watch a course, read a UX book, or attend a webinar.
Focus on one skill at a time. Trying to master everything leads to overwhelm.
Practical Tips: Time-Saving Hacks for Busy UXers
Struggling to balance work and hustle? Try these:
Batch Work: Group similar tasks together to maintain focus.
Leverage Templates: Use pre-built Figma or Notion templates to speed up workflows.
Automate Admin: Tools like Calendly can save hours on scheduling and client comms.
This week’s question: What’s the Best Advice for Balancing Work and Hustles?
This Week’s Answer:
"Be intentional with your time and energy."
Not every opportunity is worth pursuing. Focus on projects that excite you, align with your career goals, and fit your schedule.
Have a burning UX question? Share it HERE!, and we might answer it in our next issue.
5 DAYS TO GO — Upcoming workshop:
Join us to finally create UX case studies that truly stand out.
Too often, Uxers struggle to showcase their full potential because their case studies focus on the what instead of the why. Deliverables without context, decisions without explanation, and stories without impact—it’s the difference between landing your dream job and getting overlooked.
In just one session, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to create case studies that stand out in any portfolio review or interview.
Resource Corner: Books, Tools, and Insights for Time Management
Book: Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau – A step-by-step guide to launching your side gig.
Article: When To Say No To Freelance Projects by Smashing Magazine – Expert advice on managing commitments.
Video: UI/UX Design, side hustles and life Q&A by Sara Brunettini
Feature Spotlight: Join Us at UXCon25
Join us at UXCon25, where the brightest minds in UX come together to share insights, learn, and connect. Early bird tickets are now available, offering you the chance to be part of this transformative experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to elevate your skills and network with industry leaders.
Tool of the Week: Toggl – Your Time Tracking Superpower
Managing multiple deadlines? Toggl helps you stay on top of your time.
Here’s what Toggl can do:
Track time across projects with one click.
Generate reports to see where your hours go.
Integrate seamlessly with tools like Slack, Asana, and Notion.
Final Note | Side hustles are about balance, not burnout
Remember: It’s okay to say no to projects that don’t align with your goals. Focus on quality over quantity, and you’ll find that balance isn’t just possible—it’s empowering.
Thanks for being part of the UXU community! If you enjoyed today’s insights, share this with a friend or colleague who could benefit.