BY Gloria Martinez of Womenled.org
No one can deny that we live in some unpredictable and uncertain times. Thanks to uncontrollable inflation and skyrocketing living costs, teachers on entry-level salaries are having difficulty making ends meet right now. So building a profitable side gig could be a great way to take some pressure off! Not only that but making money on your terms can help you regain some sense of control when the world around you seems so chaotic.
Side Gigs to Improve Your Teaching
If you want to make the most of your side gig, choose a project that will enhance your efficacy as a teacher. Try to think up a business idea or freelance service that will enable you to use and improve your teaching skills. For example, you could offer tutoring services to struggling children in school.
Offering after-school and summer educational programs is another excellent way to earn extra money without diverting from your teaching path. Consider implementing some project-based learning elements into your program to help your students connect the curriculum and the real world.
Becoming an Entrepreneur
Many people with side gigs worry about the legalities of offering products or services for money. But as long as you treat your side gig as an ethical business and do your due diligence, you shouldn't have any problems.
You have many business models to choose from. One of the easiest is creating digital products that you can sell online, like printable education plans for teachers or study guides for students. With this type of business, you can get paid multiple times for work you only have to do once! Side Hustle Nation suggests many other great business models for teachers:
* Create an online course sharing your skills with other teachers.
* Use your communication skills to offer freelance writing services to online businesses.
* If you're great with numbers, consider bookkeeping.
* Start an afterschool home daycare for kids of working parents.
Creating unique infographics can help get your message across if you're creating an online course. You can use an infographic template with customizable options to change the color scheme, background, images, shapes, text, and more.
Freelancing with a Full-Time Job
The hardest part about running a side gig is juggling it alongside your full-time job. Be sure to consider your limitations before taking on too much extra work. Remember, you might have to adjust your business to accommodate your changing circumstances. If your plate is complete and you're having a hard time squeezing new clients into your already packed schedule, it's time to raise your rates. Know your worth! As you get used to balancing your full-time job with your side business, keep an eye out for signs of burnout so you can take a break before things get out of hand.
Teachers everywhere experienced immense pressure over the past few years, especially when it came to navigating the pandemic and finding new ways to educate our children. Getting back on your feet in these tough economic times is another hurdle. Consider launching a side gig to bring in some extra income!