Can you Manage Working Multiple Full-time Jobs?
The short answer is YES and the long answer is that it depends on many factors such as your capabilities, nature of the jobs, and location among others.
You can have two or three jobs as a mom, and manage to juggle them with not fatigue or burnout. Your ability to work two jobs is determined by whether the two jobs are full-time or part-time, working from home or the office, nature of the jobs, and the employers among others.
Nonetheless you can easily manage multiple jobs through self-care, choosing the right jobs, convenient childcare, personal and work boundaries and a string support system.
Should you Tell Boss you have a Second Job?
It is not illegal anywhere to hold two or more jobs. Therefore you are not obligated to tell your employer that you are holding another job. You employer does not need to know what you do outside your work hours.
As such you can work on multiple jobs without communicating to the bosses about them. It is not relevant for any of them to know that you have other jobs elsewhere.
Simple Secrets on Choosing the Second Job
1. Choose Part Time Jobs
Working on part-time jobs makes having two or multiple jobs easier. When you are holding a full time job, you are unlikely to have adequate time for another job or two. As long as the work shifts are different, you can as many part time jobs as possible.
2. Opt for Independent Consulting Jobs
If you are an expert in your area, you can easily hold multiple jobs on the side using your skills. You can simply start consulting jobs on the side on the skills that you already hold but for your own independent clients.
They are very convenient for you to hold when working on a full time with your main employers. You can easily work in the evening, on weekends or even remotely. Some good mom-friendly jobs such as consulting you can hold as a second are in tech, finance, HR, and security consulting among others.
3. Choose Remote or Work from Home Jobs
Remote or work from home jobs makes it easier for moms to work multiple jobs. There is a lot of flexibility here as you can handle as many jobs as available because you are not reporting to a physical office. You can even be working on multiple jobs at the same time easily and conveniently without fatigue.
How Much can you Earn when Working on Multiple Jobs
There is no limit on how much you can earn when you are working on two or more jobs. The total amount will depend on the industry, your position, work hours and employers among others.
- You will earn more when you are working on three or more jobs than two income streams
- Some industries such tech, health and engineering pay better than childcare, teaching, sales etc..
- Some job types such as independent consulting will earn you more than working under a second employer
- Working for more hours per week will earn you more
- You willl earn more working for a high paying employer than a low paying employer in the same industry
If you want to earn the most from the jobs you are working on, you need to work on multiple jobs, for longer hours, for high paying employers and in certain high paying industries.
Read: Best Mom-friendly Careers
How Multiple Jobs can Lead to Fatigue/Burnout
- Working two jobs is physically exhausting. If a balance between work and self/family is not achieved, you can easily overwork yourself and suffer from the strain which can lead to burnout.
- Working two or more jobs can take a toll on your mental health, more so when you are unable to have enough rest ,sleep and self-care.
- Performance and productivity is affected. You tend to give lesser focus and effort in each of the jobs than you would give to one and the back log creates anxiety and fatigue.
- Adding family and parenting role to the multiple cause an high level of stress and drain of energy or enthusiasm. The result may be burnout.
Secrets for Working Two/Multiple Jobs without Burnout
1. Choose the Right Jobs from the Start
Finding a perfect job and employer is critical in working two/multiple jobs without burnout. An ill fit may result in high stress level or fatigue.
Some jobs are easier and friendlier for moms to work in than others, which helps them avoid becoming too exhausted. Some employers are more reliant and accommodating of moms than others.
- Start from your first job and choose the best possible second job to it.
- Consider the nature of work, the place of work (location/working from home), skills/interests, and importantly shift/work hours.
- Choose a second job that compliments and fits into the space created by your first job.
- For instance, as a part-time teacher in a school, you can take a second job as a private tutor during the hours you are not working.
- If you work from home, you can look for a second freelancing job that you can do from home as well.
- Also, look at the extra skills/abilities you have and how you can earn from them. By doing so you will realize you can efficiently manage working in two jobs.
Read: Best Mom-Friendly Careers
2. Set A Realistic and Manageable Shift Schedule
A realistic work plan is very crucial in avoiding reaching burnout when working multiple jobs. Your work plan will be directed by the two jobs, their place of work, and expected work hours.
- Ensure that the jobs do not overlap or interfere with each other. Set up a realistic shift plan and schedule.
- Set realistic goals for both jobs. It ensures you can meet the needs of all jobs without overwhelming yourself, both mentally and physically.
- Create a realistic schedule incorporating your family and self care needs as well.
- Start on the second job moderately to allow yourself enough time to adjust. See how it goes and scale up depending on how you find it manageable.
By doing all these so you can easily work on two jobs without reaching burnout and hence enjoy the benefits of having multiple full-time jobs.
Read: How to Set and Enforce Work Boundaries
3. Have a Convenient Childcare Care Plan
As a mom you will exhausted from the demands of these jobs. You therefore need the support of convenient childcare and housekeeping.
- You need a live in nanny or baby sitter. It makes it easy to extend or work odd hours on your multiple jobs
- If doing daycare, you need help in dropping off and picking your child when you are working. This could be your partner, friend or family
- If working from home, you still need a childcare plan so that you can avoid the distractions and focus on work
- Also you need some one to do housekeeping. You will be too exhausted from work and adding to the house chores will cause burn out. Hire a house keeper, or outsource these services to some one else.
- On the side, have someone you can send on personal errands such as shopping to avoid being too fatigued from the work
4. Set Personal and Work Boundaries
It is possible to keep working without becoming exhausted especially when it directly translates to money. However, without work boundaries, you will eventually outdo your limit and be burnt out.
- Set a boundary of just how much work you can take in a day. Make it realistic and achievable without overdoing yourself and you will find it becomes easier and manageable to work in two jobs.
- Once you have reached your target, learn to say no and take a break. If you intend to work 40 hours a week, stick to that.
- Breaks are crucial in avoiding burn out from work.
- Also, work only within your job description to ensure you do not eat time for your other job or personal/family time.
Read: How to Set and Enforce Work Boundaries
5. Set and Prioritize Goals
Setting and prioritizing goals for the multiple jobs means only taking up the necessary. For you to succeed in your two jobs without exhaustion or fatigue, prioritizing the tasks you are taking is very necessary.
- It is easy to stay focused ,motivated and energized when you have your eyes on the prize.
- Set realistic goals to guide you and map out key milestones to help you stay focused and motivated on the jobs.
- Cut off anything and everything that isn’t essential on any given day.
- Avoid multitasking unless it is possible and doable without affecting each other results.
- You must get rid of time wasters and focus on being productive rather than busy.
Read: How to Create an Effective Career Plan
6. Practice Daily Self-care to Re-energize
When working multiple jobs your body needs to re energize and refresh at the end of the day,for the following day or else you will reach burn out.
- Create a self-care plan with a daily routine to help you decompress and reset. Set aside time at least one hour per day for this.
- You need to rest well and get enough sleep to re energize your mind and body for the following work day.
- You also need to spend time with your family and take care of your mental health as well despite the double work that you are doing.
- Without decompressing to release fatigue, it is unlikely that you will manage to work on the two jobs without burnout and fatigue.
- In addition, eat well and ensure your body has adequate source of the nutrients it needs for energy for working on these multiple jobs.
- Incorporate exercise into your routine which is necessary for both your physical and mental health.
Read: How to Create a Self-care Plan
7. Surround Yourself with a Strong Support System
To work two jobs while staying mentally and physically okay without burnout, you need to have people around you that support you in different ways.
Your support system is very important to help you stay focused, and motivated . They ensure that they handle most of the things you need handled but you can’t get time away from work.
- Your support system may include your partner, friends, and your family among others available to help you manage your balance.
- Schedule some time for your kids, family, friends & self on your time away from work to keep your life balanced and your mind refreshed
- Share your working and personal experiences with them to avoid a mental breakdown.
- Rely on their support to mentally handle the stress and demands of handling two jobs and parenting.
- With their support, you can effectively navigate any situation.
- Don’t be too prideful to seek or accept help either.
- You can manage or keep up the workload and stress of multiple full time jobs without getting burnt out with their help.
Read: Why you Should Ask your Family and Friends for Help with Childcare
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