~snip~
In situations like that, of course the Money-over-Effort variation won't apply. In my prior post I said that there are factors (emphasize on the plural) that could help you gauge whether your hustle is a good one or not. Money-over-Effort still is the main pointer, but in certain situations like the scarcity of open jobs, as well as the creative drought as you have mentioned, well then it's up to the person itself whether they'd much rather spend time resting and making sure that their mental health is fine and dandy, or if they are going to take up another job that doesn't pay as much as they wished it would.
Personally, I'd much rather rest and do stuff on my end, stall opportunity, while at the same time bettering my self in other ways like lifting weights, taking care of myself, or reading self-help and good books that would nourish my brain.
The Money-over-Effort Variation is a great gauge for how
PROFITABLE a side hustle is, in the event that you are in the position where you can find other ventures that would better suit you. If it comes to a point where it's between choosing a low-paying job over resting, it's something that the person itself could only answer. I'm no psychologist, just some dude on the internet trying to impart something that I think is good and might help people who are unknowingly lowballing themselves by staying in a dead-end side hustle when they have the opportunity to make the switch.
You have hit the modern dilemma dead on. We're all here wanting to make some money, and occasionally the world gets in the way of our plans. It's like trying to pick anything to watch on Netflix after you've binged everything good.
Sincerity requires that we take a broad view of our potential side hustles. The time-to-reward ratio is undeniably important, but let's not discount our enthusiasm and cognitive capacity. We're not machines; no amount of money will compensate for doing something that saps our mental energy.
However, if the job market is weak, I wouldn't sit back and relax.Take that time to upskill, maybe learn a new coding language or get certified in digital marketing. As you've rightfully pointed out, this could be a great time to pump some iron or devour some enlightening books. Because who knows, the skills or knowledge you gain during this time might just land you an even better side gig in the future!