I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter:
The Dangers of Spreading Yourself too Thin
9/21/2020 by Chris Cobb
I have always in the past, did the typical 9 to 5, 8 hour shift, 40 hour work week. Sometimes, 12 hour type jobs with 3 days on, 2 off, and so on. Overall, these jobs were typical. Same thing for the most part, day in, day out. I’ve worked in steel mills, motorsports lots and show floors, customer service centers, sales, I.T. and so on. But I’m sure at least a time or two like me, you’ve had 2 jobs at once, or even 3. And odd jobs at that. One work from home, the other at an office of some type. If you’re anything like me, you know the word ‘scatterbrain’ all too well. Let’s talk about a few different things that spreading yourself too thin can affect in your life, and what some possible fixes can be.
1 – How are you sleeping?
This is the first sign I noticed very early into working multiple jobs. I have to put time into both, in order for either to get me anywhere. Sometimes I can be at the office and work with a customer, then jump right on the other job that I’m able to do online, from anywhere. But how productive is this, really? I’m mentally exhausted by the end of the day because of all the back and forth, the almost seemingly structureless confusing and frustrating day. I’m sure even if you’ve had a regular job where you are required to multitask quite often, you’ve felt this. By the time you get home, you know that you need to keep going, to get caught up with the work you lagged behind on because of the constant interruptions from other work, leading to more loss of focus from lack of sleep, stress, and overall unhealthy mental state from these things stated. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s definitely time to start making some adjustments so that you don’t wind up with no job at all. For one, set a time for you to go to bed and get some sleep. Set a time to get up every day. Stop allowing your sleep schedule to be completely sporadic, this will help more than you know. Another important matter is why are you working multiple jobs in the first place? Is it for more money? Or is one job something that started more as a hobby, or something you doing in the hopes it will become much bigger? Well, the next thing we talk about below is something to take in consideration when deciding on what changes, or even sacrifices you should be making for your mental, and financial well-being.
2 – Which job brings home the bacon?
So you have a job with a fixed amount / salary. You also have a job that is more like freelancing, paid per product or service. Then even a THIRD job that doesn’t even make you much money. Everyone has their reasons. But even if it comes to you feeling the obligation to stay at one job that isn’t getting you anywhere because you think it will become something great, is it going to get you behind on what is paying your bills right at this moment? What happens when you lose the important job and wind up making far less, if any money at all? Well, you end up losing the business you are running because you don’t have a way to pay for it now. So if sacrifices must be made, you have to know what your options are. What will turn out best for you, to keep you going right now, and for a long period of time. Quitting something you may have dreamed to do isn’t the end either. It’s a minor setback, but at the same time, a step forward. Maybe it wasn’t good timing to start your business? If you are struggling far worse mentally, and even physically than you were before this new business of yours came along, maybe you need to keep moving on with what got you where you were in the first place, then try again later, when you are able to support yourself financially and mentally far better. Keep reading!
3 – Are you living outside of your means?
What do you have that you don’t need? Hmmm. Well I don’t know because there is so much floating around there now that I have forgotten to cancel. Internet bills at multiple addresses, netflix and amazon accounts you don’t even use? A gym membership that is just intended to impress on social media and not actually be put to use? Or even those $900 rims for your $600 car. I personally have spending issues with technology. I think I need everything that I don’t need, everything I already have a lesser version of that works just fine for what I need to do with it. Do you get a fair amount of groceries that could easily get you by, or do you spend $30-$200 dollars a day on dine-in, carryout, or delivery? You probably could do just fine with one single job, if you prioritize the things in your life, and find a healthy balance between needs and wants. So take this into consideration when wanting to make as much money as possible. Because if you are like me, the more you make, the less you wind up with at the end of the week, somehow.
So between lack of sleep, overspending and eating shit for every meal, it’s time to really step back and reevaluate your current situation. Think about what is important and what is not, and what would make your life easier overall, if you can drop some dead weight.
