Buzz
There are several reasons why people opt for two part-time roles rather than committing to a full-time job. You may prefer the variety that comes with different tasks or be seeking to enhance your skill set across diverse areas. Perhaps you’ve found a part-time job that you truly enjoy, but you need additional hours to make ends meet. Alternatively, this arrangement might give you the freedom to pursue your passions. No matter your motivation, by managing your time wisely, keeping stress levels manageable, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, you can successfully handle two part-time jobs.
Steps
Organizing Your Time
Find two jobs that complement each other. To make working two part-time jobs feasible, it's crucial that their schedules don’t overlap. Look for opportunities that happen at different times, whether on different days or at varying hours throughout the day. You could also consider finding a remote part-time job that offers flexible hours. Popular job search platforms like Monster, Glassdoor, and Career Builder, along with Craigslist or your local newspaper, can be helpful for your search. Be sure to carefully follow the application guidelines, submit any required materials, and hopefully secure some interviews.
- Select jobs with intention and thought.
- Opting for two distinct roles can add variety and excitement to your routine.
- If you’re focused on a particular career, similar jobs might be more beneficial in the long run.
- Ensure that you’re searching specifically for part-time work.
Maintain a consistent schedule. The easiest way to successfully balance two part-time jobs is by establishing and sticking to a consistent schedule. When your routine remains steady week after week, juggling both jobs becomes much more manageable and turns into a natural part of your week.
Be upfront with those around you. While it might be tempting to keep your jobs hidden from each other, being transparent with your employers or clients can actually work in your favor. When they know you're balancing multiple roles, they may offer you the flexibility you need to stay on top of things. They might even respect your time management skills more.
- Ensure each employer knows from the outset that you're working part-time.
- Let your employers know about your other job as soon as possible. This could even be something you mention during the interview process.
- For example, you could say, "I work Mondays and Wednesday evenings for [name of other employer], so I'll be unavailable then. However, I can fully dedicate myself to your job on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays."
Plan your week in advance. Even if your schedule isn’t the same each week, it’s still a good idea to organize your week ahead of time. Whether you prefer a paper planner or an online calendar, outline your work hours, commuting time, breaks, and any personal commitments or household tasks. Color-coding different activities can help keep everything in order.
Keep your roles distinct. Avoid blending the tasks of your two part-time jobs, such as trying to handle a telecommuting job while working at your office job. Though it may seem efficient, multitasking like this leads to mistakes and ultimately diminishes your performance at both jobs.
Managing Your Stress
Opt for a short commute. A major factor in successfully managing two part-time jobs is keeping your stress levels in check. A great way to do this is by choosing jobs with short commutes. If your jobs are located near each other (and ideally close to home), it will be much easier to travel between them, reducing any time spent stressing about punctuality. When selecting jobs, always keep commute time in mind.
- If working two jobs near each other isn’t possible, consider scheduling them on different days to avoid travel conflicts.
- This strategy eliminates the need to commute between them altogether.
Create a daily to-do list. In addition to keeping a consistent schedule and planning your week ahead, it’s essential to establish a new checklist each day. Juggling multiple jobs can easily lead to confusion and missed tasks. Each morning, sit down and list everything you need to complete that day at both of your jobs. Then, as you work, simply check off items as you complete them one by one.
Set personal boundaries. One key to managing multiple jobs effectively is knowing when to say “no.” You won’t always be able to accept overtime, take on extra projects, or attend every training session. With multiple jobs, it’s important to protect your time and avoid spreading yourself too thin.
- Establish limits for yourself, like ensuring you have at least one full day off per week, not working past 7:00 pm, or capping your weekly hours at 50.
Incorporate breaks into your schedule. Just like setting boundaries, it’s crucial to build breaks into your routine. If you don’t prioritize downtime, you risk burning out. When planning your workday, aim to schedule a minimum of a two-hour break between jobs and ensure you have at least one full day off each week.
EXPERT TIP
Amber Rosenberg, PCC
Founder of Pacific Life Coach
Founder of Pacific Life Coach
Our Expert Suggests: On your day off, try engaging in activities like yoga, meditation, physical exercise, or pursuing a hobby—anything that helps you step away from work and focus on your physical and mental well-being.
Fully disconnect during your breaks. To truly benefit from your breaks, you must use them as a complete escape. Don’t think about work during your downtime. Avoid checking emails or tackling work-related tasks. Instead, spend quality time with loved ones, enjoy a meal, or engage in a fun activity that allows you to unwind and disconnect from work.
Managing Your Home Life
Create a budget. When you have multiple income sources, it’s essential to closely monitor both your earnings and your expenses. Take time to determine how much you expect to make and how much you'll need for your bills and necessities. Don’t forget to allocate some funds for emergencies.
- Factor in extra costs, such as health insurance, which you may need to cover on your own when working two part-time jobs.
- Unlike full-time positions, part-time jobs might not offer health insurance benefits.
Plan your meals in advance. Balancing two part-time jobs leaves you with less time to prepare nutritious meals, so it’s crucial to plan ahead. Without a meal strategy, you might end up wasting money on unhealthy takeout or snacks, compromising your health.
- Consider using a slow cooker—throw in the ingredients before you leave for work, and enjoy a hot meal when you get home.
- Another option is to cook large portions on your day off and have leftovers throughout the week.
Make time for exercise. With all the hours spent working and commuting, it’s easy to neglect physical activity. However, maintaining good health is essential to successfully managing two jobs. Regular exercise can help reduce stress and boost focus.
- Dedicate just 20-30 minutes a day to being active.
- You could take a walk during your lunch break, try a short yoga routine before work, or follow a step-aerobics video in the evening.
Communicate with your family. Whenever you make a major change in your life, it’s important to discuss it with your family. Taking on two part-time jobs will affect your spouse and children, so ensure everyone is on the same page. Work together to create a plan so that you can share household responsibilities as a team.
- It’s essential to address all aspects of how this change might impact your family, such as more time spent away from home, a possible reduction in income, increased busyness, and shifts in routine.
Warnings
- Juggling two part-time jobs can easily feel like managing more than one full-time role.
- Your attention and energy might be divided between competing responsibilities, leading to confusion and difficulty in staying focused.
