Are you thinking about working more than one job? Having a second job may be a great way to earn extra income to afford bills or help save up for larger expenses. But before you commit to working an extra job, consider how you can set yourself up for success and avoid burnout.
Check out this helpful article to learn how to juggle multiple jobs and reach your personal finance goals!
Eight Pro Tips for Working Multiple Jobs and Not Burning Out
Working two jobs or more is certainly no easy task. But, while having a second job may be hard work, it’s not impossible. Once you have the ability to afford your expenses and with some extra money left over after everything is paid for, you’ll thank yourself for all your efforts in the long run.
To set yourself up for success, try these eight helpful tips for working more than one job without burning out!
1. Find Quick Fixes for Essential Life Tasks
When you have two jobs or more, efficiency is vital. Keep your life running smoothly by planning out some quick solutions for life tasks you need to take care of regularly.
For example, instead of letting an extra job throw you off, make things easier for yourself by signing up for automatic bill payments wherever you can. That way, you don’t have to worry about remembering to pay bills on time; it will be done for you.
Or, to make mealtimes effortless, try to plan or prep your meals. Keep things basic, and it may take just an hour or so to prepare a week’s worth of meals. Then when you’re hungry, all you have to do is grab one of your prepped meals; no effort necessary!
2. Plan and Make Your Work Schedule
If you have one, two, or even three jobs, you may find it helpful to organize your busy schedule. Get a day planner and put together to-do lists for each day. You can include items like:
- Start or stop times for shifts you are working.
- Assignments or tasks you need to complete by a certain day/time.
- Other personal responsibilities you need to take care of along with your multiple jobs.
Having a to-do list can help you visualize all your responsibilities on a daily, weekly, or monthly scale. Furthermore, you may find that seeing everything you need to do a week ahead or more gives you time to prepare mentally and, therefore, better able to complete all your tasks successfully!
3. Prioritize Down Time
If you have a job where you are sitting down at a computer for long periods of time, make it a priority to get up and walk around every hour or so. Sitting hunched over and working on a computer for hours on end isn’t good for the mind or body. You may find yourself unable to focus on work tasks or other things. Keep your head clear while you’re working by taking periodic breaks. Not only will you get a great mental break, but you will also get a bit of exercise.
Alternatively, if you have a job where you are on your feet and moving most of the day, try to sit down and rest in any spare time you may have. Otherwise, employees are typically allotted a 30-minute break for every 8 hours worked or a ten-minute break for someone working a shift of at least four hours.
4. Give Yourself Time Off
If you work two or more jobs seven days a week, you don’t get the time to de-stress on the weekend. While the lure of earning overtime may seem like a legitimate reason to give up a weekend, it’s a bad idea to work without any long-term breaks constantly. Maintain balance in your life and schedule time off for yourself.
Then, do something fun with your time off! Relax and recharge so you can eventually get back to work feeling refreshed!
5. Watch Your Body and Stress Levels
Overall, your health should be the first priority. Depending on when you work, getting a second job could leave you feeling sleep-deprived. If you don’t get enough rest at night, you may find yourself unable to perform your other job duties. Or, you may start to feel overly stressed after a while. When planning your work schedule, keep the time in mind to ensure you can get enough sleep during the night or day.
6. Set Earnings Goals
For some, working for an extended period of time is easier when they have something to look forward to. Reward yourself for your hard work and try setting some earnings goals. For example, say you are working two jobs. You could set aside $25 every paycheck from both jobs to use in the future. If you receive paychecks from each job bi-weekly, you should have about $600 saved up in approximately three months. Take that $600 and buy yourself something nice!
7. Keep Up With Relationships
When working multiple jobs, it’s essential not to neglect your relationships with your friends and family. You don’t always have to have company over to your home in order to keep in touch. When you have time, simple phone calls or text messages show your loved ones that you still care. Also, if you find yourself stressed or worried about your situation, it can be a comfort to rely on friends and family for extra support during tough times.
8. Know When To Stop
For some, working more than one job is just too stressful. If you are not getting enough sleep, find yourself slipping up at your main job, or feel like your personal relationships are suffering due to your second job, it may be time to quit. Keeping a healthy body and mind is important, and if working a second job stops you from achieving that, you may want to look for other options.
Pros and Cons of Working Two Jobs
Before committing to working two jobs, consider the pros and cons. On the positive side, working two jobs means extra money and possibly learning new skills. If you have trouble keeping up with bills and expenses on your current salary, working a bit extra could be your solution. Or, if you are trying to save up for a wedding, vacation, or other high-priced expense, working two jobs for a short amount of time could help bring in the funds you need.
Besides extra cash, working multiple jobs allows you to learn new skills. Many people keep a day job to cover their bills so they can work a second passion job in their spare time. With this, the goal is to gain experience and perfect your skills until you are able to support yourself fully with the career you’re most passionate about.
On the other hand, working two jobs also means less free time. Be prepared to have less time to yourself during the evenings or weekends with a second job. Another potentially negative aspect of working more is the taxes you may have to pay. Working a second job may mean an adjustment in your tax bracket. The higher the tax bracket, the more funding the government takes out of someone’s yearly earnings. To avoid a bracket jump, check your current tax bracket and make sure your extra earnings allow your annual income to stay within your bracket’s range.
Types of Side Gigs That Make Great Second Jobs
While it may be possible to work two full-time jobs, those looking for extra work may find it much more manageable to work a part-time job. There are many part-time jobs that pay well and could help you earn the money you need. Below are some popular part-time jobs you may consider.
Childcare
One great suggestion for earning additional income is to babysit. There are plenty of parents looking for someone trustworthy to watch their children during the day or at night. Not all parents are looking for childcare during typical nine-to-five working hours. You may find that babysitting offers flexibility that allows you to earn money outside of your main job.
Freelance
Working freelance is another fantastic way to earn money in your free time. You can write, do design work, be a virtual assistant, or perform other tasks that require skills you possess. Freelance allows you to pick and choose what work you take, so you’ll never get stuck with a project you don’t want to do!
Rideshare
If you own a car, you could work for a rideshare company for food delivery service. Some food delivery services like Uber Eats pay per delivery, so you bring home money at the end of each working day if you wish.
Alternatives to Getting a Second Job
If working a second job sounds like something you don’t want to do, rest assured there are other options available. Check out these alternatives to getting a second job.
Work Overtime at Your Full-Time Job
Before applying for a second job, see if you can work overtime at your current full-time job. With overtime, your rate would increase to time and a half. That means if you earn $15 an hour, after working 40 hours, your rate will increase to $22.50 an hour. At that rate, you may just have to work some extra shifts for a few hours to earn the money you need.
Try Organizing Your Finances
Instead of getting a second job, you may find all you need to do is organize your finances. If you impulsively make purchases often, planning out your finances could help you spend your money more mindfully, so you waste less.
Sell Unwanted Items
One way to make money without a job at all is to sell any unwanted items you may have. Go through your closet, basement, or other storage space and review what you have there. You may find there are clothes, appliances, decorative items, or other possessions you are willing to part with. By selling things you no longer use, you can clear up space in your home and put some extra cash in your pocket.
Get a Personal Installment Loan
Those who need just a bit of extra money to cover a few expenses may consider getting a loan. You don’t have to worry about taking time out of your schedule to work with a personal loan. You may find easy payday loans online or convenient personal installment loans that provide the financial relief you need. However, before you agree and sign for a loan, make sure you can afford to pay back what you borrow!
