I know this subreddit is for side hustles. But hear me out.

When you're juggling multiple side hustles from the same four walls, things can get overwhelming pretty quickly.

I've experienced this more times than I can count.

Currently, I manage THREE different side hustles -

• My ebook Business
• My Google Sheets business
• My Instagram Music store, which I run on weekends

From the outside, it probably looks like I am always making progress.

I am always creating something.

Building something.

Trying a new idea.

But there is one more side of the journey that I rarely talk about.

The days when I don't feel motivated anymore.

When I am sitting in the same room, staring at my laptop, wondering what I am doing!

And sometimes I feel completely lost and LONELY.

That's when my productivity took the biggest hit.

I tried fixing it the way most people probably do.

I bought productivity tools/

Tried different apps.

Changed my daily routines.

Looked for better systems.

But in the end, I realized something uncomfortable.

The problem wasn't my tools. It was me.

I didn't need any productivity tools. I just needed to change the way I approached my work and my life.

That's when I started exploring Japanese philosophies. My cousin introduced me to them, and at first, I honestly didn't think much of it.

But the more I learned, the more I started seeing my work - and my struggles- with a completely different perspective.

The Japanese Teaching That Increased My Productivity

1. Nemawashi - Prepare before you act -> For this, I have started making a list before I start my day's work. I handle multiple businesses, so better to have a list before I open my laptop.
2. Danshari - Let go of unnecessary things -> This has helped me a lot. When the noise in your life is removed, you have more time and energy for your work. Most people call this MONK MODE. Remove tasks, tools, commitments, business ideas you no longer need.
3. Kintsugi - Your failures are part of your story -> It took me 6 months to make my first sale from digital products. If I had given up during those 6 months and gone back to my 9-5, I honestly don't think I would be where I am today. Sometimes, you don't need a better idea. You just need to stay long enough to see your idea work.
4. Oubaitori - Don't compare your journey -> I am mostly called a perfectionist. But honestly, I think a big part of it came from comparing myself to others. I would look at someone else's business, success, or progress and wonder why I wasn't there yet. This taught me that everyone has their own pace.
5. Montainai - You know the shiny object syndrome? I used to start one project and then suddenly find a new idea that looks more exciting. I already have so many unfinished digital products with me right now because of this. This philosophy taught me to stop wasting what I already have. So instead of chasing the next idea, I now always ask - "can I make better use of what i already have?"

This is all from me for now!

How do you stay productive when working on your side hustle? I would love to hear what works for you.