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Having more than one job is not always an ideal situation, but it is sometimes necessary. However, it requires some organization, so let's be careful not to be overwhelmed...

- Optimizing our time -

After verifying that our jobs are not in competition and that nothing in our contracts prevents us from working for different employers, we will need to discuss our situation with them. It is imperative that they are aware (not just informed) of our context in order to avoid any escalation of the amount of time we can devote to them. We will also need to make sure they keep in mind that placing a meeting before we leave may result in a late arrival for another job, or that a meeting that goes on for too long also means that we may not have enough time to complete some tasks. Therefore, let’s not allow them to get in our way.

Another key element, in order to keep an eye on our schedule, we must obtain, or even better, create an agenda (ideally with 15-minute slots) to plan our day point by point. Let's make a to-do list organizing them by job and importance/emergency. When we complete tasks from our list, we will check them off so that we know what we have accomplished and what we have not yet finished or consolidated (this also includes the state of play).

Juggling between several jobs can make our non-professional daily life chaotic, so let’s ask for the help of our loved ones, to take care of household chores, to maintain our home or even prepare meals. And while that seems elementary, let's not forget to thank them for the precious help they give us (a thank you, a little note and/or a big hug/gift), it is not trivial. In the same way we have talk to our employers, we will have to be clear with those around us, about the possibilities of communication during our working hours and our stress level (We will even have to set limits for some people, because not all of them understand that we will not have time to spend hours on the phone when we are working).

It is fundamental to set limits on the starting and ending of our workday (and the extras we are willing to do or not). Also, if we are intending to do something with loved ones or friends, let’s not allow work to postpone or crush our plans, and vice versa when we are at work. We will treat our social meetings as seriously as our professionals.

- Coping with stress -

Working on multiple locations means that we will be very busy and face different stressors and emergencies factors. Let's try to maintain a positive attitude and dedicate a whole day (each week) to ourselves, during which we can spend a quality day with family or friends, visit a museum, or just lounge alone in our pyjamas. Let’s also remember that the phone calls, S.M.S. and social networks are not a tangible substitute for face-to-face interactions, nor a way of looking after ourselves or resting.

Let's plan a break between our different jobs. Going straight from one job to another can not only be gruelling over time, it can also lead to depression (burnout). Let's try to find a way to take a break in between (min. 20-30 minutes). So we could stop for a coffee and sit at the square/park.

Let's rest as much as possible. Working on multiple locations can lead to exhaustion and sleep deprivation. We should go to bed early if we have a long day ahead of us and give ourselves naps whenever possible (20 minutes will help us feel more alert and energized). Let's be careful to not turn into Gomer Goof!

Many of us work in several places for financial reasons, but if we save every penny we earn, we might wonder about the benefit of working so much (Even if we want to use some of the money for our future well-being). So let's indulge ourselves with a new outfit, new shoes or going out to dinner or have a drink (to be on the safe side, let's set a limited budget for these expenses).

Let's keep our jobs close as much as possible. Long journeys can make our work periods longer and lead to burnout. Therefore it is better that we occupy jobs that do not require too much travel (to reach and between one another).

- Drifting is not an option -

Juggling with several jobs can make us lose our mind and our essence, even when we are not at work. It is common for the flow of our thoughts to take over and prevent us from relaxing, which can sabotage us completely. There is no magic formula against this, and if we don't closely monitor our work schedule and social calendar, unexpected events can easily happen and ruin our productivity and downtime.

As said earlier, to help us deal with our priorities, we need to take a few moments to think about our schedule of the week. But there will come a day when an emergency arises at « job A » when we are supposed to be dealing with something for « job B » (that's life). Even we do not have very understanding supervisors or clients, we have to stick to our task schedules and not let them rub off on one another. In the heat of the moment, it can be difficult to make that decision.

When work takes over, the necessary elements of or healthy and balanced life easily go into disuse. But more than ever, we need to focus on our health, staying active, and watching what we eat, because all of this is essential in keeping us energized and alert.

Having more than one job doesn't mean we can't have a life either. In fact, it means that we have to put more effort into making the most of our free time. While obligations like housework are important, we don't have to let them take precedence over relaxation. It's not ridiculous to rethink how we handle our non-professional priorities if we have several jobs.

Not to mention that in order to be successful in keeping several jobs, we will need to get enough rest. While it can be tempting to spend time at night relaxing with a book or on streaming platforms, we need to get at least seven hours of sleep a night (it's a matter of surviving).

Conclusions

Whatever our reasons, having several jobs also means having different expectations, using a specific working vocabulary and special attentions. And if we're not careful, the word « crash » can quickly become more than figurative.

In order to be able to hold on in the long term, let's choose jobs that we appreciate and which are beneficial to us economically, socially and morally… and which will allow us to acquire new skills.

Let's stay focused on one task and one job at a time (no mixing, no matter how tempting or necessary it may seem). And let's do our best!

What do you think?