How to work 2 jobs: 9 ways to survive if you work multiple jobs

Now the presence of two or more jobs or part-time jobs is almost no surprise. In modern realities, more and more people understand that they cannot live on one salary. As a result, they are looking for an additional income source, making their hobby paid, or are implemented in several professions at once.

You understand that it is tough to find time for a good rest even with one job, and when another area appears in your life that requires attention, you have to forget about harmony in life. But there are no difficulties that a person cannot cope with. The main thing is to approach everything wisely and act according to a clear plan. We’ve put together a few ways to help you balance work and personal life.

Remember the reasons

Remember to remind yourself why you have doubled your workload. Someone does this because they dream of turning their hobby into their main income and do not want to give up the job that brings him money now, someone is saving up for a major purchase or a dream come true, and someone does not know which one. The sphere is more interesting for him to be realized.

Remember that such harsh conditions will allow you to spend earned money on what you or your family members have long dreamed of or get rid of debts and loans. The very reason why you doom yourself to constant fatigue and overwork will not allow you to hate what you do, burn out, and at some point quit both jobs at once.

Think over the schedule

Think in advance how much time you can devote to each of your works, and make at least a rough schedule. Ideally, if one of your jobs involves a free or flexible schedule, you can decide on the schedule yourself and adjust it as needed.

Feel free to talk to your boss about an individual schedule – this way; you minimize the risk of not having enough time for extra work or household chores. It is more difficult when your main income comes from work that requires you to be present in the office from 9 to 8. In this case, you have to adjust to a rigid framework and learn to prioritize, using the maximum amount of time remaining correctly.

Don’t try to multitask

Multitasking is the enemy of productivity. To do more, on the contrary, you need to learn to focus on one thing and not be distracted. This will help you finish what you started faster and move on to the next task.

Of course, you can combine two things at once, but only if they do not require the same inclusion from you. For example, when you are walking your dog, you can make a couple of important calls, or while you are returning from work on public transport, you can solve a few questions or get acquainted with the information you need. Otherwise, it would help if you didn’t combine several things at once – it will certainly be reflected in one of your works.

Get some rest and distraction regularly

As you try to keep up with two jobs, it’s vital not to forget that you need rest. It is high-quality rest that allows you to regain your strength, free your head, reduce stress levels, avoid emotional burnout and other problems that will affect your productivity. Therefore, you are obliged to allocate time for communication with loved ones, to travel, walking, your hobbies, or even lying aimlessly on the couch.

Also, do not forget that your body needs healthy sleep. If you do not get enough sleep, your body is under severe stress, decreasing your performance. Set up a routine, go to bed and get up simultaneously, and try to sleep at least 8 hours.

Be kind to yourself

You are not a soulless machine that can run 24/7. Keep this in mind whenever you feel like scolding yourself for a temporary lack of motivation, being too slow, or having difficulty concentrating. It is common for a person to lose productivity at times and be in a certain apathetic state.

Instead of giving up on yourself and indulging in endless self-criticism, try to give yourself time to recover. Be kind to yourself: get distracted, watch an interesting movie, call a close friend. By your reproaches, you will still not achieve anything from yourself but only make it even worse.

Create a financial cushion

Nobody is immune from professional burnout. When you have two, or even more, jobs, and you work almost seven days a week, the risk that at some point you will burn out is too high. At the same time, you can not always afford to take a couple of days off and rest to start working with renewed vigor.

Therefore, it is so important to have a financial safety cushion in case of unforeseen problems. You will be much calmer if you understand that you have the amount you need for a comfortable life without work for at least a couple of months. If you feel bad or decide to give up a second job for a while, you will be sure that you will not slide into debt and lower your standard of living to which you are accustomed.

Delegate your tasks

The idea of pulling on everything and everyone is initially doomed to failure. You have a limited amount of time and energy, and you just physically will not do everything. Learn to delegate at least some part of your affairs. For example, ask someone from your family to take on your responsibilities from time to time, shift work that does not require your knowledge and skills to subordinates, or ask colleagues for help.

Of course, doing this ongoing will not work, but when you feel that you are running out of strength, it is better to give up the desire to do everything yourself.

Invest in saving time

When you invest in the purchase of goods and services that save you time, you are not spending anything in the long run. Time is the most valuable resource for any person, especially for you with several jobs at once.

And sometimes it is much more profitable to spend money to save yourself an extra half hour or an hour a day. Call the masters home, order cleaning, buy ready-made meals, buy equipment that will save you from everyday problems and make your life easier. All these investments will certainly pay off.

Choose freelance for your second job

If your salary is not enough, and it is extremely difficult to find a second job with your schedule, choose freelance as a part-time job. Firstly, it will allow you to comfortably allocate your time since freelancers are rarely limited to any clear time frame; the main thing is that the project is completed on time.

Secondly, you will work from home, which saves time and money that goes on the road. And thirdly, there is no ceiling on freelancing: you get as much as you manage to do.