For many students in healthcare and pharmacy, side hustles are no longer just about extra money—they’re about learning, independence, and building real-world skills. Yet, guilt often creeps in: Am I neglecting my studies? Am I doing too much?
Here’s the truth—having a side hustle doesn’t mean you’re less serious about academics.
Why the Guilt Exists
Academic culture often equates long study hours with dedication. Anything outside textbooks can feel like a distraction. But this mindset ignores the fact that time management and applied skills are also part of professional growth.
When a Side Hustle Becomes Healthy
A side hustle is productive—not harmful—when it:
Doesn’t compromise exam performance
Enhances skills like communication, research, or discipline
Fits around your academic schedule, not against it
If you’re still meeting deadlines and understanding concepts, guilt isn’t evidence—it’s conditioning.
Reframing the Narrative
Instead of thinking “I should only be studying”, shift to: “I’m learning in more than one way.”
Experience, responsibility, and consistency often matter just as much as grades in the long run.
The Key Is Boundaries
Protect core study hours
Avoid burnout by scheduling breaks
Choose side hustles aligned with your field or interests
Balance isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing what matters, intentionally.
You’re not falling behind—you’re building alongside. Growth doesn’t follow a single track, and guilt shouldn’t be the price of ambition.
Have you ever felt guilty for working on a side hustle while studying—and did it actually affect your academics?
Share your experience below.
Though I don’t have a side hustle, it’s reassuring to see that growth isn’t one dimensional, whether through academics alone or by combining studies with other experiences. Intention and balance matter more than ticking a specific box.
Multi tasking is a real world skill, much needed after completion of education, because things are not always sorted and you need to get tasks done, and some one who has knowledge of sorting priorities right and completing multiple tasks, survives better in long run in any profession
Well said. Side hustles aren’t a sign of distraction-they’re often a sign of initiative and adaptability. As long as academics aren’t compromised, learning beyond textbooks builds real-world skills that classrooms can’t always offer. Balance with boundaries matters more than guilt.
I’ve certainly experienced this guilt occasionally, but I’ve concluded that if academics are still on track, a side gig isn’t a distraction. In fact, it helped me develop my practical abilities, discipline, and time management. Learning outside of textbooks enhances rather than competes with academics as long as boundaries are set and core study time is safeguarded.
Instead of being guilty, I feel proud that we get to learn different things and able to connect dots. Other skills also parallelly helps in developing our overall personality. Balancing is the key.
Whenever I choose any side hustle during my medical school time I always faced criticisms from people close to me telling that I am in fact wasting my time and should invest that time also to study effectively. But surprisingly the year which I did most of the side hustles was the year I received my best score too. So yes as you said if one can manage it effectively side hustles helps you in multiple ways.
Side hustles can be an excellent way to pick up some real world skills outside of academics, there should not be any guilt or shame associated with it.
I tried writing a piece but it didn’t affect my studies as it was my hobby and it kept me worry free.
Sometimes your side hustle can be your hobbies and passion that you wanted to pursue, hence it is absolutely fine to go for some side hustle as far as you know your boundaries.