KATHMANDU, March 29: A lot of people juggle more than one job these days. This could be because of the financial security the extra job offers or because it can help in our career growth.
Whatever the reason may be, coping with an extra job or more can take a lot of dedication and balance. Here are some fundamental things we need to remember and deal with if we are working more than one job.
Focus on your long term goalWhen it becomes difficult to manage different jobs as well as your private and social life, it helps if you keep your end goal in sight. Are you hoping to move to a marketing career after you complete this stint in social media marketing? Or perhaps you are looking to save enough money to buy a vehicle of your own? Remember what you are hoping to achieve when you feel at your wit's end. Sometimes it can help you stay focused on your goal.
Prepare for complications
No matter how well you try to balance your work schedule, they can overlap and make things difficult for you. What you can do is prioritize your tasks and work accordingly. In case you know what work you have ahead of you in the coming week and something clashes, then try to see if you can move one of them around to better suit you. If you have two deadlines or presentations on the same day, work extra hard to complete them on time and see if you can shift one of the timings around. As long as you don't procrastinate, you should be fine.
Should you tell your boss about the other job?
This is one of the first things employees wonder about after starting a new job. Most people would prefer not to inform their boss about the other job. However, you should understand what your company's policy is on getting an extra job before coming to any decision. Your boss might have faith in your ability to manage two jobs.
Maintaining a schedule helps
Once you know that you are supposed to be working on two or more jobs, you should really get on to a proper schedule to make life easier. Working around a timetable will keep you focused and you will also know the tasks you have completed and what is ahead of you.
Pay attention to the task at hand
Dealing with one job and its responsibilities is hard. No doubt it's twice as difficult when it comes to managing another job. So in order to be a good employee (at each job you hold) make sure that you are giving your 100% to the task you are presently doing. If you have some free time in your morning job then it's okay if you invest that time on completing an assignment for your day job. But that's only good if you have completed all the important work of the company that's currently paying you. Focusing on one task at the moment helps in getting things done and letting you move ahead.
Remember to relax
Finally, give yourself a break from time to time. There's no point in stretching yourself thin with no break in sight. Make plans for a weekday movie with friends just to break the monotony. Drop by your friend's workplace for a 15-minute coffee chat. Accept the invitation to a big family picnic on the outskirts of town. Work hard, but don't forget to enjoy your life.