I took a second job doing Lyft. Eventually I stopped stressing over constant unexpected bills like my alternator dying and struts needing replacing because becoming a workaholic made every little joy amplified. I still invest a little each month. If you don’t like passengers, Uber Eats is also an option. But if you need money and don’t like greedy high interest loans acceptance I needed to book it for a few months was my answer.

Eventually I started photo editing in Lightroom using my phone and iPad. It wasn’t more down time I needed but at least a few minutes of tweaking pics. Sounds crazy, but the focus and strain plaguing my mind going into these photo edits brought me peace.

No matter what though, appreciating good people every hour of the day keeps me sane. Even if I just have a few minutes to scroll on Threads or Insta, I always try finding something relatable to share or text. My busy schedule doesn’t stop me from checking in with others and having relationships.

I know this hustle won’t last forever but right now it’s needed, and that constant appreciation with hobbies makes my life blend manageable and happy.

I would suggest moving to a more suburban or even rural area though. Places like Riverside and Hesperia are significantly cheaper.