In this day and age, it's easier than ever to have a side gig. Whether you sell cards online or work as a rideshare driver, you can make money while you still work your full-time job. But working two jobs can be challenging to say the least. If you're not careful, you could begin to suffer from poor performance or feel the effects of burnout. Either way, there are a few things you can do to manage the workload.
Understanding the Challenges
If you want to know how to juggle both jobs, you first need to understand the challenges of having two jobs. Although side gigs are usually around your schedule, you still need to deal with fitting everything into one day. There are only so many hours you can work.
One of the biggest issues with having two jobs is time management. If you don't manage your time well, you may find yourself working from early in the morning late at night. It's not uncommon for people with side gigs to spend all of their free time working. With no time to unwind, you could start to feel fatigued, overwhelmed, and anxious.
If you don't find a way to balance your work, your day job could be at risk. As you try to dedicate enough time to your side gig, you might neglect your job. It's hard to ignore messages or emails from customers while you're at the office. All too often, people stop doing their main job well as they expend all of their time on the side gig.
Lack of Clear Goals
Working a side gig might also cause you to lose sight of your goals. If you find a profitable gig, you may want to consider quitting your day job. But it's hard to decide the right path for your future.
When you don't have clear goals, you may struggle to succeed. As you go through the motions, you could pass up good opportunities or lose sight of what you really want. Unfortunately, this hurts your career.
How to Succeed at Both
Whether you're new to the side gig industry or you've been struggling with it for a while, there are a few tips that might help you handle both jobs. All of the following are ways you can manage to excel at your main job as well as your side gig.
Set a Firm Schedule
When most people take on a side gig, they choose to work on it whenever they can. However, you need to be realistic about your time. You might plan on working on your side gig until midnight, but doing so could leave you exhausted. Before you get to work, sit down and make a concrete schedule.
When you create your schedule, be mindful of your abilities. Sure, you can carve in some time after work or on your weekends. But you still need time to spend with your family or friends. Always give yourself a little time during the week and on the weekend to unwind.
If possible, stick to the same routine every week. Once you get into the routine, you might find it much easier to juggle everything. The days may be less overwhelming and you can increase your productivity. Think of ways that allow you to be more efficient with your time and incorporate those into your schedule. For instance, you might be able to write emails as you sit on a bus to work.
Focus on Time Management
This falls in line with the tip above. If you want to be able to get both jobs accomplished, you need to manage your time well. Do you usually answer texts from friends while you work, or take multiple snack breaks in a short time? You may be wasting more time than you think.
If you manage your time well, you can open up your schedule. Cut out distractions in any way you can. For example, you might usually watch TV while you work on something for a client. It could take you an hour with the TV on, but only 20 minutes with the TV off. Every week, you can save hours by getting rid of this major distraction.
How can you better manage your time? It depends on the nature of the distraction. If your phone seems to take your focus, put it on airplane mode. You might also want to download a time management app or outsource some of your work. In any case, you can enjoy having more time to work and more time to relax.
Prioritize
If you have 100 things to do, you may be too overwhelmed to get started. All too often, people have a hard time focusing when there's too much to do. By prioritizing your work, you know exactly what to do. You can sit down and work right away, rather than look at an incredibly long to-do list.
You should always prioritize your main job over your side gig. Consider firm deadlines and put off things that can wait. However, make sure you don't put something off so long that it slips under your radar. In some situations, it's helpful to keep an excel spreadsheet of things you need to do.
Know When to Quit
There may come a time when your side gig becomes too profitable for you to want to continue on with your main job. Or, you may enjoy your side gig so much that you want to quit. Before you put in your notice, you should think about your options and your goals.
First, there's the financial aspect. If you quit your job, do you have enough money to pay all of your bills? You lose security unless your side gig is guaranteed income. Secondly, think about what you want for your future. Are you giving up on your dream career? Once you quit, it may be difficult to find employment in your main career. Do not take this decision lightly, but put your happiness first.