If there is one thing everyone wants more of, it is time. For teachers it is no different. Time is an invaluable commodity. For many teachers, the classroom is the start of their daily grind. From preparing their lessons, teaching students and grading papers, the work of a teacher is endless. To pursue passions and increase earnings, a growing number of educators are turning to side hustles. The key to making it possible? Time management.
Managing a full-time teaching job alongside a side hustle requires a delicate balance. It is not about working harder but working smarter. Educators have found ways to maximize every minute of their day, ensuring that their side ventures do not compromise their teaching responsibilities.
Katie O’Brien, Painting, Sculpture and Drawing and Design teacher, sells watercolor paint kits and her artwork online. Recently, she has written a book on personal wellness, aiming to be published in the near future.
“Having taught for 15 years now, I have my teaching job down,” O’Brien said. “I manage my time really well and I am really fast at doing things. For me, the key is to do a little bit of work every day in order to not overwhelm myself.”
Educators’ side hustles do not detract from their commitment to their students. Instead, these additional ventures often enrich their education.
“I see Ms. O’Brien every day and she is always on top of everything,” Alexa Quinones (10) said. “I understand she has a business degree and she is very entrepreneurial, her work ethic astounds me and I am inspired by her every day.”
Culinary teacher Zohar Cohen owns her own business outside of school, selling do-it-yourself baking boxes and leading baking classes. Her typical day starts with dropping off her three daughters at school, before arriving at work. After the school day, Cohen works on developing her business, working on tasks that range from boxing packages to answering customers’ questions and filing orders on the computer.
“Owning my business has brought me creativity, efficiency, calculations and thinking on my feet which has benefited me throughout my teaching career,” Cohen said. “I am an Israeli, I can balance everything, essentially I am quick and efficient.”
These teachers’ stories highlight a universal truth: success in any endeavor, be it teaching or building up a side hustle, hinges on effective time management. Their ability to allocate time wisely not only allows them to excel in their other ventures, but also enriches their teaching.
“The most important thing is to do everything from the heart,” Cohen said. “Being a business owner is [an] all day long [responsibility] — you do not get a break, and time is something you cannot get more of.”
