Juggling Two Jobs: How to Manage Stress and Avoid Burnout as a Full-Time Employee and Small Business Owner
Balancing a full-time job and a small business can be quite a challenge. Here are the 6 ways to balance a typical office job with your love for Illustration, arts and crafts that can save you from burning out.
Create a Structured Schedule
The base of coping with two jobs is a well thought-out agenda. Your first step is to plan your week, specifying hours for each). This way a lot of us feel we are not able to keep track of things - luckily, you can use Google Calendar or Trello! In my case, I use the app Structured. Set priorities for your commitments - address urgent, as well as important tasks and allow some time to be flexible. Consistant, but I wouldnt worry too much if you have to skip something that day! The goal is balance a way that works for you.
Set Clear Boundaries
You have to create drastically different boundaries between full-time and art business. During your 9-to-5, give that job nothing but your fullest. During this time make sure not to check any emails or messages about your small business. Likewise, when it approach the time to endeavor into your nature of artistry fully commit yourself. This separation is what, in my experience so far, helps you not to burnout and allows for both commitments of your best effort without feeling overwhelmed.
Learn More Time Management Techniques
Yes indeed, the best friend is time management. By employing helpful techniques, such as the Pomodoro Technique of working for 25 minutes and taking a break in between to increase focuss productivity levels; which can further prevent fatigue. You can save time (and mental space) by batching similar tasks together. For example, schedule times for business admin tasks, time to work on creative projects and allocate a chunk of time towards marketing your small business. Focused strategy can help in this regard, thereby making you efficient.
Prioritize Self-Care
As we grind hard, self-care ends up suffering and it's important to envision working at peak performance without a break. We all need to take breaks and refuel on a regular schedule throughout the day. Include relaxing activities like reading, walking, meditating or engaging in a hobby that is not related to work. So, kindly remind yourself caring about your health is no longer a fashionable choice.
Practice Mindfulness
One of the most important methods to stress prevention is mindfulness. To help you stay grounded and present, integrate mindfulness practices into your daily routine. When you practice deep breathing, meditation or yoga for a few minutes regularly it works wonders in lowering anxiety and providing better focus. It can be as little time each day that makes a large impact on your total self-care!
Delegate and Outsource
You do not have to handle it all. Find ways to outsource work in your full-time job if you can. When in your small business look at to outsource PLC Panels that are time-eating or no longer of their knowledge. Using platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, you can meet freelancers who assist in areas such as administrative tasks, social media management etc. - even parts of your creative work you dont want to do! Delegating allows you to focu on the more important tasks that only YOU can do.
Build a Support System
Find friends, family, and colleagues who know what you are both trying to do and support you. Use other people to have your back: sometimes talking about your challenges and success, make such (futile) things easier. I also recommend joining artist business communities.
Whether through online forums, Facebook groups where you can ask your questions to a community of others walking the same path or local meetups-it helps provide a sense of camaraderie and more minds on what just one brain is trying to muster!
Recognize and Prevent Burnout
Balancing two high-demanding roles, the risk of burnout is there. Look for signs of constant tiredness, mood swings or even a lack of will to carry out anything. If you realize this kind of things then its time take it seriously. Reassess your workload, tweak your schedule and make time for self-care. There may be times where both or just one of these jobs requires a temporary leave in order to refill the gas. So start listening to your body and mind… they speak volumes if you just listen.
Celebrate Small Wins
Pat yourself on the back, even if it feels like a really small win. Celebrate the steps you are taking both in your 9-5 and as an artist. Recognizing little wins increases morale, offering incentive to persevere. Celebrate finishing that work project, closing on a client for your small business or just completing all tasks as planned for the week.
As a special thank you for reading, I'm excited to offer you a freebie: the Time Management Techniques Guide in PDF format. This comprehensive guide details practical methods like the Pomodoro Technique, Time Blocking, Task Batching, the Eisenhower Matrix, and the Two-Minute Rule. Each technique is designed to help you optimize your schedule, increase productivity, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Download your free guide now and start implementing these strategies to manage your time more effectively and reduce stress. Happy time managing!
Click to download: the Time Management Techniques Guide PDF
It may be hard to accomplish just starting out, but taking care of you and having a solid support network can become one of the best decisions when it comes down on balancing full time job vs artistic small business. Just in case... it's progress, not perfection! Gem: Be easy on you, be sisters with change and love the ride. How you turned your passion into commitment will worth it one day.