This week I am back home after 2 weeks in Doha on business. Plan is to back in November, at least the weather will be bearable! Unfortunately while I was away my Father was taken to hospital. Due to dementia and its effects on swallowing he chokes on food and water even when puréed. This causes aspirational pneumonia and many difficulties. It was hard watch this from afar but I was with him this weekend. Long term we have to make a plan with the palliative care team on what is best. Tough times.
The Strain of a 9 to 5 and Side Business
In today’s fast-paced world, juggling the responsibilities of a full-time job, maintaining an online business, and fulfilling family obligations can often feel like an acrobatic feat. For many, the journey of running an affiliate marketing business while managing a traditional 9-to-5 role and caring for loved ones, such as elderly parents, is a delicate balancing act that tests both time management skills and mental resilience. Each of these roles is important, and they all demand attention, time, and mental energy.
The ultimate goal? To break free from the constraints of the typical workday, allowing you to prioritise what truly matters, like spending quality time with your family and offering the care your parents need. However, with the right mindset and a few effective strategies, it’s possible to make everything work without burning out.
A full-time job consumes the bulk of your day, leaving little time for your affiliate marketing business. You have to deal with office tasks, deadlines, meetings, and the inevitable exhaustion that follows a long day of work. Even when you come home, the thought of opening your laptop to work on your side hustle can be daunting.
Yet, the affiliate marketing business is not just another side project—it’s the key to financial freedom. The goal of this business is to eventually replace your 9 to 5 so you can spend your time doing the things that truly matter, like caring for your family. But until that day comes, it can feel like you’re sacrificing your personal time to build something that hasn’t yet borne fruit.
Family Responsibilities and Mental Health
Balancing these facets of life can undoubtedly put pressure on your mental health. The demands of your job, the aspirations for your online business, and the responsibilities towards your family each vie for attention, often leading to stress and burnout. Yet, it’s essential to remember that the pursuit of an affiliate marketing business is designed to alleviate the burdens of a traditional work schedule. The vision is to replace the 9-to-5 with a flexible routine that accommodates family commitments without compromising on your financial goals.
Family is central to everything. As someone who is also caring for an elderly father, I know the emotional and physical toll this can take. Caring for a loved one requires patience, empathy, and consistency. Add to this the needs of other family members—whether it’s kids, a spouse, or extended family—and it can feel overwhelming. You want to be present, but you’re constantly balancing caregiving with your job and your business.
This can impact your mental health. You may feel guilt over not being able to dedicate enough time to your family or your business. You may experience stress from having to switch between work, caregiving, and entrepreneurship every day. There’s also the constant pressure of financial security and time scarcity, both of which can amplify feelings of burnout.
Why Build an Affiliate Marketing Business?
The reason we embark on this entrepreneurial journey is simple: freedom. The dream is to eliminate the 9 to 5 so that your days are truly yours. Instead of working under someone else’s schedule, you have the flexibility to care for your parents, raise your children, and take care of the people who mean the most to you.
Envision a life where you work on your affiliate marketing business for just a few focused hours in the morning. The rest of your day is free to spend quality time with your family, look after your parents, pursue hobbies, meet friends, or travel. It’s not about doing less, it’s about doing what matters most. But to get there, balance is essential.
Strategies for Managing the Balancing Act
Here are a few strategies to manage your business, work, and family commitments without feeling overwhelmed:
Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for each role. For example, use early mornings or late evenings to work on your affiliate business. Reserve weekends for family time. Time blocking helps create clear boundaries between your work and personal life so you can focus on one thing at a time.
Prioritise Ruthlessly: Not every task needs to be done immediately. Identify the most important tasks for your business (such as content creation, lead generation, or building relationships with affiliate partners) and focus on those. Similarly, learn to delegate or outsource non-essential tasks at home or work if possible.
Outsource and Automate: Automate as much of your affiliate business as possible. Use email marketing software, scheduling tools, and social media automation to keep things running in the background. This can save you hours of manual work each week.
Set Realistic Expectations: You may not be able to devote the same amount of time to your business as someone who does it full-time, and that’s okay. Understand that growth may be slower, but it’s still progress. Be patient with yourself.
Self-Care: You can’t pour from an empty cup. Make sure you’re looking after your own physical and mental well-being. Whether it’s taking a few minutes to meditate, exercising regularly, or even just getting enough sleep, prioritising self-care will help you stay grounded.
Leverage Lean Principles: Apply the principles of Lean thinking to your business and life. Focus on value-adding activities, reduce wasteful tasks, and continuously improve your processes. Lean principles can help you streamline not only your business operations but also your daily routines. This is what I do as a day job as I’m a lean six sigma Consultant. More about that another time.
Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to lean on family members or hire help for caregiving duties when needed. Sharing responsibilities can significantly ease your load.
Mental Health Check
Be mindful of your mental health as you juggle these roles. Regularly check in with yourself and consider whether the pressure is becoming too much. It’s important to recognise when you need a break. Talking to family members about your challenges and asking for support is crucial, as you don’t have to shoulder the burden alone. Seeking help from a therapist or counselor is also a proactive step toward maintaining your mental well-being.
The Ultimate Goal: Freedom and Fulfillment, A Vision of Freedom
Ultimately, the vision is to transition to a life where you no longer need a 9 to 5 job. You can run your affiliate marketing business in just a few focused hours a day, and the rest of your time is free for your family, your parents, and yourself.
Imagine waking up on a weekday, working for a couple of hours in the morning to manage your business, and then spending the afternoon with your father or other loved ones. If you don’t have caregiving responsibilities, you’re free to take up hobbies, engage in charity work, meet with friends, or simply relax. That’s the beauty of having your own business—it’s designed to serve your life, not the other way around.
The Path to Your Dream Life’ take that step right now!
Embarking on the path of affiliate marketing is not just about financial gain; it’s a journey towards reclaiming your time and directing it where it matters most. For those ready to take the plunge, I highly recommend diving into “The Iceberg Effect” book. This resource provides valuable insights and actionable steps to help you start your affiliate marketing journey, paving the way to financial and time freedom.
Together, let’s embrace the blessings of having family and the opportunity to pursue a life where they come first. Your dream life is not just about financial freedom—it’s about creating meaningful connections and experiences. Start your journey today, and step into a future filled with possibilities.
Let me know in the comments any thoughts on what you’ve read here and what you think you’ve learnt and what you think you’ll start to do different. What will you stop doing now and what will you start doing? I’d love to hear from you, so please do leave comments below.
Thank you for reading, I hope it helped you in some way. You are only a few steps behind me!
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Until next time, take care.
Atif
#Atif’s Academy
Hi, Atif!
My thoughts are with you and your family. My heart goes out to you all.
I’m interested in the concept of lean thinking, but I’m not familiar with the phrase. Does it mean focusing on what will bring about results first?
The goal of my business is certainly to have the free time to prioritize family first.
My mother-in-law was very sick at the end of her life. We were all able to stop and be with her, thankfully, but we didn’t get paid. It was a difficult time. I don’t want to be in that situation again.
We all need to be free to be with those who need us and be with each other to comfort each other at such times.
Again, my heart is with you.
Nakina
Lots of honesty here Atif. A true documentation of your affiliate journey. Hope your Dad is better
HI Atif – You did a beautiful job of summing up the reason many of us got into this online business. That is not only to replace our 9 to 5 opportunities and obligations, but also to focus on what is most important to us. I know it is difficult, I can only imagine you were doing a masterful job in balancing all of your obligations whether it’s work, family, fun and yes, even your online business. Your tenacity is invigorating and motivating. And I love the term that you used “Prioritize
Ruthlessly.” That truly is key and in excellent way to describe this Necessary action! Have a great week and I wish you the best as you care for your father and attend to the rest of your obligations.
I’m really sorry to hear about your dad; that must be incredibly tough. It sounds like you’re doing your best to juggle everything during such a challenging time.
I can totally relate to the balancing act between work, family, and building a side business—it can feel like a circus sometimes! Your strategies for managing all that stress are super helpful. I especially love the idea of time blocking and setting realistic expectations. It’s so important to remember that it’s okay to take things slow while you’re building your dream life.
Here’s to finding that freedom and fulfillment we’re all chasing- We’ll do it!
Atif, you describe how we all feel from time to time. Overwhelm reminds me of a disease that can swallow you up. But seeing it for what it is and moving past it- is the answer. “This, too, shall pass.” One day at a time.” These sayings are part of Alcoholics Anonymous, a spiritual program NOT just for recovering alcoholics, but can be applied to any and all!!