Juggling Two Jobs
By YoghurtGal
@flapiz (23152)
United Kingdom
January 23, 2013 9:39am CST
I am currently employed in two jobs. One as a nurse and the other as a research assistant. I never wanted this setup. I feel like I am doing too much and I lack time to relax but I have no choice as my research job pays me well so I can't let go of it. My nurse job is sort of like voluntary and although it doesn't pay I need it for experience as I am a nurse graduate and I need experience if I want to go abroad. Juggling this two jobs had taken it's toll on me. I lost 2 kilos so far and I look rather unhealthy.
Can you guys tell me how to appear healthier despite these two jobs? Have you tried doing two jobs at the same time? How did you cope with it?
1 person likes this
12 responses
@xiaolonggao (17)
• China
24 Jan 13
I admire your fighting spirit greatly! As far as I am concerned,I am too busy to relax myself just for only one job. But I also don't want to give up easily because a job is hard to obtain nowadays.The job is only for living for me.I think we should put health in the first place,then consider the income and interest.If you feel too tired to do two jobs,I suggest you to give up one of the job,then use spare time to get the experience you need.
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
Hi Xiaolonggao! Yes indeed it is hard to find a job these days. I am continuing both jobs for three more months. I need to finish what a started. My volunteering minimum is 6 months. I've already served 3 months so I will just endure.
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
Woah five jobs in a day seems too tiresome for me. You must be a superhuman. I think adjustment is the key. I will try my best to adapt and adjust fast. Hopefully I can do it.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
24 Jan 13
I can understand that. I dont have 2 jobs here, but I work 12-14 hours per day. i feel the same way as you, never time to relax and have fun. We both need to slow down some. But can we?
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
A very good question. Can we? I have 2 days off starting tomorrow. I am nocturnal shift today so my first day off will be spent on sleeping. Having fun on the next day I hope. Sometimes I just want to sleep forever. But then that is like dying and so I fight to live and I work.
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
24 Jan 13
You know for sure what you are going to do with when it comes to health and how to be healthy because you are a nurse. The next step is how you get away with the burn out. There is no doubt that when it comes to being healthy you know what you will do. Just make sure you won't get burn out, because having two jobs are tiring and it will come at one point that you will feel that your body is resisting already and you need to have break. Have a break once in a lifetime.
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
Hi Mavic! Exactly! I am scared that I'd reach the point where I am burned out. I desperately want to take a break and indulge myself. The next day off I get I will get a massage. I think I lack self pampering. You made me realize this. 
@teotimoponcerosacena (1551)
• Philippines
24 Jan 13
The two jobs you've got is not alright for it affect your health remember wealth is health, if it burdensome for you, then better give up being a voluntary nurse. You accumulate a bit of experience already so maybe it is enough while your health is still tolerable. You can't feel the effect for your still young but comes your aging days it will there you will feel it. It is not bad having two job to maintain as long as you have enough time to relax your mind and muscles and most important you enjoy to limit stressed
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
If I give up my volunteering before 6 months I won't get a certificate. I need th certificate because If I don't have it it's good as I haven't volunteered. So what I am gonna do is finish the remaining three months then try to get a better job.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
23 Jan 13
I did it for 18 years...there were times when I didn't know which end was up! It's a struggle and I am sure you are just plain tired out! I don't know how you can appear healthier when you are lacking sleep....When I did it I really took alot of naps inbetween shifts!
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
My gosh 18 years sounds so draining to me. I am trying to continue this set up for at least 3 months. Hopefully I can find a better job and a better wage. I will take all the naps that I can take for now.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
24 Jan 13
How much time do you work on both jobs? coz the number of hours of sleep should compensate the activity that you do in a day. Try taking vitamins to give you more energy.
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
Eight hours for twenty days a month for both jobs. But the research job is part time and so I can work anytime available and I get paid for every eight hours I work. I have started taking vitamins though before this two jobs I didn't really need vitamins. Now I need it so much.
@dream_ozn (1754)
• Singapore
23 Jan 13
Hi flapiz,
i would first like to understand why did you have these 2 jobs in the first place? You mentioned that you never wanted this set up, so why did you have to juggle 2 jobs in the end?
How are the working hours? are they both full time jobs?
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
I need money since I am already a college graduate and I do not have allowance anymore and I do not want to ask my parents for money anymore so I got the research job.
I need experience so that I can work as a nurse abroad and I want to really go abroad for better wage. So I need the volunteering job. It doesn't pay. And I need money for expenses so I keep the first job too.
Eight hours a day for the hospital job. It is full time.. Though the research job is part time it pays me per 8 hours and so I try my best to get number of hours equivalent to 20 days to get maximum pay. So it's still like a full time job.
@aminul842700 (861)
• Dhaka, Bangladesh
23 Jan 13
Hi, Yes you are passing very crucial period. It is not easier to continue two jobs together. Losing of weight is not a factor. You can gain your weight within very short times by taking high protein foods. if you feel comfortable, you can continue. Have a very nice day.
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 13
Well I don't plan to continue this two jobs for long. I just need to wait for 3 months to finish my volunteering. I need to bear with it a little more. I will take more protein as you suggest. I hope it works.
@Raine38 (12391)
• United States
23 Jan 13
Make the most out of your breaks and day offs. When my sister works full shifts in a hospital, she always brings her eye cover (or whatever it is called that you used to cover your eyes from too much light), she got a small pillow in her locker and she does have a desk alarm clock. During her breaks, she sleeps and feels refreshed even if its just 15 minutes. She stays hydrated and makes sure her water bottle is always with her. She also stays away on food with too much msg as it can make you drowsy and unattentive. Lastly, she rewards herself with a salon pampering every now and then.
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 13
I like this idea. I can get sleep during my nocturnal duties if of course my patient is not on high monitoring. I will take all opportunities I get for sleep.
I guess I need to buy a little pillow then.
@smiling_ja (261)
• Philippines
23 Jan 13
I've the same plight. Two demanding jobs I have right now and both have deadlines to meet but I can't give up any of the two. I get by on a daily basis but I've no time to relax much but as much as possible, I try to get a good night's sleep so by the next day I can think clearly.
@flapiz (23152)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 13
Well I want a good night sleep but sometimes I don't get the luxury because my schedule in the hospital is sometimes night shift. And I do overtime for my research work. As I work 20 days a week in the hospital and my research work was supposed to be 20 days a week too. So I do a lot of overtimes. It's killing me.
But there are times that I get to enjoy a good night sleep. These days sleep has indeed become very precious to me.
