From Lucrative to Cautionary Tales: The Best & Worst Side Hustles
Taking on a side hustle can serve as a valuable means to supplement your income or just keep things steady, especially when you’re on the job hunt. According to Bankrate, nearly 39 percent of U.S. adults are involved in side hustles. But what side hustles are considered to be the most lucrative? In a detailed assessment, Best Life, a lifestyle magazine, has ranked various side hustles.
What’s the number one side hustle?
Affiliate marketing emerges as the top-rated side hustle, according to the magazine. This involves promoting a brand’s products and earning a commission per click. The flexibility of affiliate marketing is emphasized, given the various ways it can be executed and the numerous companies available for affiliation.
Securing a notable spot in the ranking is dog walking, which Best Life deems an ideal side hustle for those who enjoy the outdoors and have a fondness for animals. Interestingly, The New York Times has reported that some full-time dog walkers earn over $100,000 annually.
What’s one of the worst side hustles?
Unfortunately, user-generated content finds itself at the bottom of the list. This aspect of online marketing involves independent creators generating promotional content for brands. The magazine highlights the challenges associated with finding clients and creating authentic content.
For those seeking a more hands-on endeavor, Best Life suggests exploring furniture flipping. This entails purchasing pieces at a low cost, refurbishing them, and reselling them at a higher price. However, it’s important to note that this side hustle demands significant time, energy, and upfront investments.
The magazine’s list of side hustles also includes surveys, Doordash and UberEats, and email marketing, among others.
Side hustles help people make extra money apart from their regular income, and for many Americans, this additional income isn’t just for fun. According to Bankrate, 33 percent of U.S. adults with a side hustle use the money to cover essential living expenses, which is more than the 27 percent who use it for non-essential spending.
Find out how other side hustles ranked here.
9 Office Behaviors You Should Definitely Skip
Oversharing Too Much Personal Information
At the office, it’s usually best to leave your personal problems at the door. Sharing too much about your personal life can make your coworkers uncomfortable, and it might affect your professional image. We all have our ups and downs, but oversharing personal issues, like that big breakup or crazy weekend, can make your coworkers feel a bit awkward. Imagine you’re in the middle of a team meeting discussing a project, and someone suddenly launches into the intricacies of their dating life. But, when it’s an emergency, like someone in the family falling sick or a personal health issue, don’t hesitate to let the right people know.
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Unspoken Office Food Rules
In the realm of office etiquette, there are some unspoken rules regarding food. First, it’s just common sense not to talk with your mouth full. Secondly, it’s a clear no-no to help yourself to someone else’s food from the office fridge. Lastly, be mindful of what you heat in the microwave. Strong-smelling dishes like onion and anchovy pizza can be a bit overwhelming for everyone else. Don’t forget about popcorn in the microwave. Burnt popcorn smell isn’t pleasant for anyone. So, keep an eye on it while it’s popping.
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Personal Grooming
While it’s great to stay fresh and clean at work, you’d typically want to steer clear of doing your personal grooming stuff in the office. That means no nail clipping, nail polishing, nose-picking, or any other grooming rituals that might make your coworkers cringe. Save that stuff for your personal time.
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Unnecessary Noise
In a cramped office with thin walls and no private doors to shut, you should be considerate of the shared space. It’s a good idea to keep personal calls and loud chit-chat to a minimum, especially in open workspaces. Nobody wants their concentration derailed, right? And speaking of noise, save the rock concert-level music and the crazy loud social media videos for after hours.
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Messy Workspace
Maintaining a tidy workspace is a must. You wouldn’t want to become known as the person with the messy cubicle that has an odd odor, right? Whether you have a desk all to yourself or not, keeping it clean and organized can do wonders for your daily productivity and overall work experience.
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Poor Hygiene
Showing up to work with poor hygiene is a no-go. For starters, it’s all about keeping things professional and respecting your colleagues. Nobody wants to sit next to a coworker with funky smells, right? Feeling fresh and clean can boost your mood and your work game. If you ever need a quick hygiene fix, no shame in stepping away to use some deodorant or give your teeth a brush in the bathroom.
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Personal Space & Boundaries
Whether you’re in an open office or a cubicle doesn’t matter. Respecting personal space is a must. Being considerate of your colleagues’ belongings and giving them room to breathe is key. It ensures a productive and respectful office atmosphere where everyone can focus without feeling crowded or uncomfortable.
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Overdoing It With Foul Language
While a slip of a swear word might happen to the best of us in the office, you can’t predict what language might rub a coworker or boss the wrong way. To keep the peace, it’s a good plan to steer clear of strong language in your office chats and messages. And when it comes to those work emails, stick to pro-speak. It’s just safer and smoother that way.
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Leaving It How You Found It
Leave things as you found them. For instance, if you happen to use up the last sheet of copy paper, it’s a common courtesy to make sure it gets replaced. This small act of consideration contributes to a cooperative atmosphere and ensures that the office operates seamlessly. It’s a simple yet effective way to demonstrate respect for your colleagues and the workplace as a whole.
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