I worked three jobs and here is what I learned

Don’t do it. It’s awful. It is not sustainable at all.

Grind culture or hustle culture would probably convince you working three jobs is a great idea. After all, the more work you do, the better the outcome. Striving to get that job done, no matter the cost, no matter what family or social event you may miss out on. Get that work done, keep grinding, no days off.

Eat. Sleep. Grind. Repeat.

By default, grind culture would welcome me into their throws while I was working three jobs. But I don’t want membership in this club. I need my rest. I need my time away from my work. I couldn’t switch off, I was constantly thinking about some job or the other. Even in the short hours before bed I felt restless, surely there was something I was forgetting? Did I complete all of my tasks for the day? I don’t know but let me rest.

I was not fully present in catching up with my friends. What did they just say? They needed me there for them, but I was barely even there for myself. How did I feel during this period? I don’t know, I was too busy to check. There were more important tasks at hand!!

I felt like I was constantly looking over my shoulder for the next task, not even concentrating on what was in front of me. It’s highly likely I didn’t give my full effort to each task at the time, too busy focusing on what I just completed or what was ahead of me, or both.

Engaging with anything other than work was the biggest burden ever. I felt like a primary school teacher at the end of term trying to finish their curriculum “there are not enough hours in the day!!” There wasn’t, and that should probably give you a good indication that what you’re doing, or not doing, isn’t sustainable.

Was I burned out? I think it would be an insult to frontline workers to say I was, I only did this for a short period of time and I am finished with it now. But I was definitely wrecked.

I have learned some things and reinforced many things I already knew. Grind culture is not for me, it is a totally unattainable long-term work practice. Your self-worth is too linked to your productivity for my liking. I am so passionate about my job, but I am much more than that.

I understand that to get to where I want to go, commitments are going to have to be made, and I’m ready and willing to make those sacrifices. But if success means working like that again, then I don’t want it. My version of success will incorporate rest and time for me. That way I will be refreshed and excited to work.

Learn from my mistakes, working three jobs is not sustainable, it's downright barbaric. Even if the hour's slot nicely together, your mind won't be able to rest, it will never switch off. So in the end, it doesn't really slot that well together. Rest and time away from work are so so important, I can't understate that fact.t