gave Side hustle The culture is exactly what it sounds like—a business that exists to increase its income, often in an effort to achieve financial independence. While this relentless drive has fueled creativity and innovation, it raises a valid concern—burnout, mental health issues, and a lack of work-life balance.

A growing trend

29-year-old Keji Ogunlosi, like many Nigerians, works three jobs: product manager, consultant, and implementation specialist. He doesn’t see his side hustle as a direct ticket to financial freedom, but as a means to pay off debt and fund his master’s degree program. “In today’s economy one stream of income isn’t going to cut it, so I looked at my options and shot for them,” he tells Guardian Life.

Keiji is proud of his time, though. Management skillshe feels the inevitability of burnout creeping in. “I will rest when my mission is accomplished,” he says.
With the rising cost of living, side hustles have become an integral part of the Nigerian lifestyle. Rising by more than 33 percent by October 2024, inflation is outpacing wages, meaning one income stream often isn’t enough. As a result, many people inevitably juggle multiple responsibilities, sometimes including multiple full-time jobs.

Also read: How to Avoid Post-Holiday Burnout

Steven Peters, a 28-year-old photographer and graphics designer, agrees. Importance of assignment: “Having multiple sources of income is lovely, but you have to understand management: how to manage people and get people to work for you. Assigning tasks to the right people with the right skills. “Choose,” he says.
But what if this relief comes too late?

5-9 Drive Behind Culture

Side hustles can take many forms—freelancing, content creation, cab-hailing services, virtual assistants, or even public speaking. When executed diligently, a side hustle can turn into a lucrative full-time venture, leading to economic empowerment. Young people, especially Gen Z, seem to embrace side hustles as a way to gain flexibility, experiment and diversify risk. After seeing the instability of traditional career paths, many are quick to innovate and pivot. Millennials’ once stable “9-5 careers” are no longer seen as the gold standard, prompting young people to find new ways to earn.

At their best, side hustles provide fertile ground for personal and financial growth. They also offer a sense of financial freedom and autonomy: you decide when and where work is done and how—when and where work is done, how work is done, and what work is done. This independent execution of tasks implies less interdependence – a sense of autonomy.

The lifestyle glorifies the grind and makes endless productivity a badge of honor, fueling a mindset that equates constant busyness with success. While pursuing extra income or passion projects can be rewarding, the downsides—stress, burnout, and stressed mental health—shouldn’t be overlooked.

Stir to burn

Kirk Sander at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business says that focusing on more than one professional pursuit at a time can make it difficult to maintain focus. “I think focusing on multiple career pursuits at once makes it easier to give up on pursuits that require more effort or have a longer payoff curve because there are always other things to focus on.” There are options,” he tells The New York Times. .
A survey by health technology company WellNewMe found that 64% of Nigerian employees are at risk of burnout—a condition characterized by excessive and prolonged stress. It is defined as a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, when an individual feels overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.

There is an unspoken belief that constant hustle and bustle naturally leads to success, making busyness a source of pride. This mindset lulls people into the illusion that relentless productivity comes with rewards but low costs. Yet once burnout occurs, the cycle becomes even stronger.

For some people, financial stability is a motivator. After 24-year-old Chenza Johnson dabbled in many facets — from forex to copywriting. Drop shippinghoping for quick profits. Armed with YouTube tutorials, he invested all his savings only to suffer more losses than profits.

“My thinking was wrong; I just wanted to start earning money consistently, without working hard, while maintaining my remote job,” he told Guardian Life. “I wanted freedom. That’s what everybody wants.”

A common myth about side hustles is that they are quick fixes to financial woes—a shortcut to financial freedom. While success stories do exist of individuals who struck gold overnight with their side ventures, they represent the exception rather than the norm.
In reality, building a sustainable and profitable side requires patience, flexibility and strategic planning.

When side hustles become the norm, the first casualty is often health—physical and mental alike. Even those with solid time management skills, like Keiji, run the risk of spreading themselves too thin.

According to emotional wellness coach Tola Oladiji, the most common mental and physical health challenges among multitaskers include “insomnia, difficulty concentrating, stress, fatigue, mental exhaustion, anxiety and sexual dysfunction.” ” are included.

Also read: 7 Signs of Burnout
Meanwhile, counselor and psychologist Eller Gabriel observes that many people experience “fatigue and exhaustion, reduced memory, reduced cognitive performance, headaches, insomnia, and frequent mood swings.” “Most of them suffer from chronic fatigue but feel they have to cope with the ever-increasing cost of living,” she notes.

Prolonged stress can lead to serious health complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia and depression. Expecting to excel at your 9-5, win your 5-9, and still maintain excellent health is not realistic. Humans are not just wired for perpetual motion.

“Sometimes the obsession with being busy is also a function of financial stress,” explains Oladiji. “In times of economic hardship, people may feel they have to burn the candle at both ends. Eventually, what happens is that such people suffer from severe burnout, especially if they ignore the early warning signs.”

Warning signs

“To spot warning signs, it’s important to understand what you look like when you’re healthy,” advises Oladiji. “So if your routine is like 70%, you know when you drop to 50%, it’s time to hit the brakes.”

“Watch out for fatigue—both physical and mental—insomnia, difficulty thinking, and even falling ill more quickly due to a weakened immune system. The moment you feel depressed, rest as soon as possible.

Gabriel reinforces that “Constant fatigue isn’t just about being able to rest. There’s memory loss, procrastination, missing deadlines, and even irritability.” She highlights that many people develop immune system problems, frequent headaches, and changes in appetite — either not eating well or eating too much — due to chronic stress.

Rest should not be just physical; Mentally unplug from stress to truly recharge. “The body is like a machine,” Oladiji adds. “And every machine needs some downtime.”

Impact on career development

Credibility depends on the ability to deliver consistent, high-quality work that will inevitably become a challenge at some point. Productivity and efficiency often decrease when a person’s attention is divided between multiple roles.

Long work hours and less sleep do not make us more productive. The reverse is often the case. Overextending yourself—late nights, early mornings, and insufficient rest—can lead to toxic productivity, where longer hours don’t necessarily translate into better results. The pressure to perform well in many roles can lead to stress. Attending to multiple jobs simultaneously increases cognitive load, which ultimately slows performance.

Finally, juggling too many jobs can stunt growth in both your main career and side pursuits. A divided focus means that neither of your best efforts are achieved, possibly eroding your professionalism over time.

Striking the right balance

A culture of hustle promotes the idea that you must work endlessly, often at the expense of health and relationships. After all, something gives—health and well-being, personal life, relationships, or productivity. “People who fall into this trap often see their intrinsic worth only in terms of their work,” Oladiji explains. “Their self-esteem is a function of the ‘results’ they produce, which is a dangerous cycle.”

Gabriel further notes that “not being able to unplug can lead to strained personal relationships and loss of identity—people don’t know who they’re dealing with outside.”
Meanwhile, Oladeji insisted that “stress cannot be avoided, it can only be managed.” This includes eating healthy to boost immunity, incorporating some form of exercise such as walking or using standing desks, and creating opportunities to do things that refresh you, he says. are such as meeting up with friends or spending time in nature.

But while juggling so many things at once can feel overwhelming, even small breaks can make a difference. “If you multitask in different time zones, power naps can help,” advises Oladiji. “Also, once it’s time to sleep, avoid doom scrolling and invest in a good mattress for quality sleep.”

Preventing burnout while juggling multiple side gigs can be managed through proactive stress management and adjusting work-life balance. Relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or structured leisure time can help maintain work-life balance and systematically manage the stress that comes with side hustles.

Also read: Ways to make mornings less stressful as a working mom

Oladiji notes that financial stress can also lead to anxiety and depression, especially if working multiple jobs does not provide financial stability. This deep sense of hopelessness and helplessness can also fuel burnout.

Remember: rest is not a reward. It is a necessity.

By overworking and following the mantra of “grow and grind,” you risk conflicting with your ultimate goals—ignoring your “why” and sacrificing the truly important things in life. True success lies in striking a healthy balance between ambition and well-being.