Book Coaching: The Perfect Side Hustle for Students
If you are currently a student or thinking about returning to school, you might be asking yourself a few big questions. Like. . .
How will I pay for the cost of my education?
How will I support myself while studying full-time?
How do I balance school and work and still have time for a bit of fun?
Juggling your workload and course load might leave you feeling stretched thin and unable to focus on either very well. Especially, if you are commuting to work and school, or getting paid a low hourly wage like so many other students.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
It’s time to dispel the “poor student” trope and instead share resources with students to help them earn a reasonable wage while embarking on their educational journey. In fact, you can support yourself, expand your network, and do something that fits your lifestyle and work capacity– all from the comfort of your dorm room.
It’s called book coaching. And here is why it’s a perfect side hustle for a student.
Book coaching will sharpen your academic skills as a student
One of the positive side effects of being in school– either for your first degree or second or third– is that you are surrounded by professors and peers who are all pushing you to expand your knowledge base. It’s an intense (but rewarding) time to soak in as much information as you can.
It is also the perfect time to start transferring your knowledge to others, through coaching. There is nothing quite like teaching that will empower you to quickly become proficient in your area.
Coaching others can deepen your understanding of the writing process, enhance your own skills, and provide valuable insight into your personal academic journey.
By book coaching, you will supplement the skills you are learning in school. This is more than just a resume booster. As a coach, you can develop mastery over what you are learning by teaching it to your clients.
Flexibility and freedom are a must for a student
Have you ever tried convincing your professor to change the class schedule? Or worse, trying to compel your manager to let you take Friday off so you have time to study for midterms? It’s a headache. It’s a hassle. And as a student with a brimming to-do list. You don’t need the extra stress. As a book coach, you would set your own hours. Your time belongs to you, no one else. Because only you know how fast you can work, what times of day and week are your peak creative hours, and when laying facedown on the floor of the library for ten minutes is exactly what you need to reset and keep studying.
During high-intensity weeks like finals and midterms, you will have the flexibility to reduce your work hours without needing to communicate with a grumpy manager that you need time off. Your clients will know you are a student and appreciate the time you can dedicate to them. Your schedule will be as packed or as chill as you prefer.
Coaching as a student will expand your professional network
To many of us networking sounds like the last thing we want to do while bogged down with essay deadlines and looming finals. But, networking is really as simple as connecting with people in your field and leaving a good impression on those who you meet. Book coaching is a low-pressure way to meet similarly-minded people and grow your network with the right kind of people– those who have the same values and passion as you.
Engaging with writers and joining a hub of other coaches will offer you support and can open up new avenues for you professionally that you wouldn't receive while working a part-time job in an unrelated field.
Book coaching might be exactly the “break” that you need from school
There is nothing quite as soul-sucking as going to classes and studying all day, and then punching the clock to work an evening shift at a job that means nothing to you. It’s draining– on your energy and time. Here is the difference with book coaching, it’s a refiller.
Instead of pulling from your very limited mental and emotional resources, book coaching will add to your energy levels.
Time and time again we hear from our book coaches that they find their work invigorating. They love the time spent connecting with clients and the time spent alone working on revising or editing. It revitalizes their view of work because they are doing something they love.
After studying and cramming and note taking for all of your courses, imagine getting to connect with one of your favorite clients over their exciting new novel. It’s a welcome reprieve from your flashcards and outlining. And the best part? Your client will receive even more from it than you do.
If you are currently in school, or thinking about going back to school, I highly recommend looking into our book coaching certification program. You can learn more about it here. So many of our certified coaches enjoy book coaching as a successful side hustle that fits in perfectly with their lives.
As a student, you shouldn’t feel backed into a corner financially. Coaching can offer flexibility and an exciting break from your studies. And more importantly, financial peace of mind.
Do you need other student side gig ideas?
If you decide that book coaching isn’t the right fit for you — or if you want a break from reading and writing when you’re not in the classroom — here are a few other fun student side gigs you can consider:
Dog walking / Pet sitting
Child care
Grocery delivery or food delivery
Art or other visual product
Book seller
Barista
Ride share driver
Finding a side hustle that works for you and works well with your education schedule is key.