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Ready to start your next side hustle as a chronic illness warrior? If so, you might be wondering how to get started.

There’s a lot to think about when you’re starting a new project for the first time. You might not initially be sure who your target audience (or customer) is, for instance, and you might not know what to invest your time in first.

Whether you decide you want to be a writer, painter, freelancer, or any other kind of side hustler, it will help to have a plan of attack.

In this article, I’m going to give you 10 simple steps you can take to get your new side hustle off the ground and running as a chronic illness warrior.

Introduction

It’s tough to live with a chronic health condition, and it might take more time and energy to do the things you love as a chronic illness warrior, let alone work on a side hustle.

While it can be hard to find the energy to do the things you love, sometimes a new project is worth it. If you’re feeling up to it, a side hustle can be a great way to make some extra money, have some fun, and feel more productive.

10 Steps to Get Your Side Hustle Started

If you’re committed to starting your side hustle as a chronic illness warrior, here are 10 steps you can follow to position yourself for success.

1. Ensure your side hustle is aligned with your strengths and interests.

This will make it more likely that you’ll stick with your new project, even when you’re feeling down.

A side hustle can be a lot of fun, but it can also turn into a lot of work. You’ll be better positioned for success in the long term if you commit to working on a project that is well aligned with your strengths and interests.

Psst… if you want to take an inventory of your strengths for inspiration, I recommend reading Strengths Finder, which comes with a free personality quiz when you buy the book new.

2. Get organized and start small. 

I recommend using a project management tool like ClickUp to help you keep track of the progress you’re making toward your goals. Tools like ClickUp make it easy for you to create simple, actionable steps you can follow to keep the momentum of your project moving forward.

Also, don’t try to do too much too soon. Start with a few mini-projects and gradually build up from there. For example, if you decide to become a writer, try to tackle 1 blog post in a week rather than 5. 

It’s easy to ramp up your project load, but if you start with too much at once then it can be easy to get discouraged. It’s more important to get started and continually take mini steps, rather than accomplishing a lot at once.

3. Build flexibility and breaks into your plan. 

Your energy levels may vary daily, so be prepared to adjust your schedule and project plan accordingly.

4. Get clear on who you serve.

Will you be selling paintings to millennial moms? Creating blog posts for businesses? Reflect on your target audience (as in who your side hustle is designed to serve), and make sure you are clear on who that is.

5. Delegate when it makes sense. 

If you can, delegate some of the tasks involved in your side hustle to others. This will free up your time so you can focus on the things you most enjoy.

6. Find a support system. 

Having people to support you can make a big difference. Find a group of other chronic illness warriors who are also starting side hustles, or who might already be deep into their own projects.

7. Don’t give up. 

There will be times when you want to give up. But don’t. Keep going, even if it’s just one small step at a time.

8. Celebrate your successes. 

When you reach a milestone, take some time to celebrate your success. This will help you stay motivated.

9. Have fun! 

Starting a side hustle should be enjoyable. If you’re not having fun, it’s probably not worth it.

10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help (from a fellow chronic illness warrior or otherwise). 

If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. There are people who are willing to help you succeed.

A side hustle can be a great way to make extra money, have fun, and feel more productive. If you’re a chronic illness warrior that’s thinking about starting a side hustle, I encourage you to follow the steps above. With a little hard work and dedication, you can achieve your goals.

Additional Tips for a Chronic Illness Warrior

Here are some additional tips that may be helpful for a chronic illness warrior like you to succeed with your new project:

Set realistic expectations. 

It takes time to build a successful side hustle. Don’t expect to make a lot of money right away. 

Be patient and persistent. 

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep working hard and eventually, you’ll reach your goals.

You’ll likely experience some setbacks along the way. Don’t let them discourage you. Just keep going!

Do what you can to take care of your health.  

This is probably easier said than done, but this is especially important if you’re a chronic illness warrior. 

Do your part to ensure your health is on the right track by keeping up with your medications, seeing your doctors, getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, or doing anything else that you need to do for your health.

Choose a side hustle that fits your health needs. 

You may want to choose a side hustle that can be done from home or doesn’t require a lot of physical exertion, depending on what works best for your health needs.

This will give you the flexibility to work when you’re feeling well and take breaks when you need them.

Start small and gradually increase your workload. 

Don’t try to do too much too soon, or you’ll risk overdoing it and making your illness worse.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. 

There are many resources available to help chronic illness warriors start and succeed with their side hustles. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

I hope you find these tips helpful on your journey to get your next side hustle started. Comment below and tell me what side hustle you’ve decided to start- I’d love to cheer you on!

If you found value in this post, share it with a friend or colleague. Together we can inspire other chronic illness warriors to do amazing work doing what they do best!

Recommended Reading:

How to Navigate a Career with a Chronic Illness: 10 Tips for Career Success

Top 10 Best Side Hustles for the Chronic Illness Warrior

10 Tips for the Chronic Illness Warrior: How to Achieve Financial Freedom with FIRE

Additional Resources

• The National Organization on Disability
• The American Chronic Pain Association
• The Invisible Disabilities Association

Think starting a side hustle as a chronic illness warrior will FIRE Your Life? Check out the posts page for more ways you can FIRE Your Career and achieve financial freedom.

FIRE Your Career: Achieve Financial Freedom Through Your Career & Spend MORE Time Doing What You Love.

Tools I recommend in this article:

Strengths Finder (book to help you uncover your innate strengths, includes a free personality quiz)

ClickUp (my recommended goal-tracking tool)