Polyworking: Sustainable Tips For Working Two Jobs

There’s no denying that the job market has changed a lot in the last decade, in no small part thanks to the rise of the gig economy. Just a few short years ago, the term polyworking sounded like little more than a new fad – one that would no doubt come and go as the employment landscape continued to change. Here in 2025, the situation is very different.

These days, working two part time jobs – or sometimes even two full time jobs – has become increasingly normalised. While they’re far from the majority of the workforce, polyworkers now make up a much greater percentage of working adults than ever before and across a far more diverse age range than you might expect.

In this article we’d like to discuss the forces driving this shift in working patterns and provide our tips for navigating multiple jobs in a sustainable fashion.

Diversified Employment

At a glance, the benefits of diversified employment might not seem obvious but for those working multiple part time roles there can be something very freeing about not having your income tied to one source. This is particularly true in volatile and competitive industries such as the creative arts, where employment can come and go seemingly overnight.

Put simply, these types of polyworkers are all about not putting all their eggs in one basket. They’ll often juggle more than two part time jobs in the knowledge that if one goes down, the rest can tide them over. On the more extreme end of this style of work, you’ll also find freelancers and gig economy work. 

While this style of employment is often seen as less stable than a traditional job, this doesn’t have to be the case. Established freelancers are, functionally, building their own business with all the potential rewards that brings. Furthermore, if you have a unique or in-demand skill, you can also negotiate for far better per-hour rates.

All that said, the key to this style of employment is a ‘work smarter not harder’ approach. You don’t have to work more hours, you just have to learn to maximise your income on the hours you do work. In fact, one of the major temptations of freelance work can be to take on as many hours as possible, but we recommend against this as it can be a major cause of exhaustion and burnout. Speaking of which…

How to Avoid Polyworker Burnout

Learning how to work two jobs is a skill. It’s always tempting to believe that if you just pushed yourself a little harder, were just a little more willing to grind, you’d be able to get more hours in and make more money, but those expectations can do far more harm than good.

In fact, it’s worth saying that polyworking just isn’t right for some people. If you’re the type of person who really struggles to juggle multiple plates then this style of work can be seriously stressful. If you do plan to get into it, then the best thing you can do is ease yourself in, not taking on too many clients until you’re confident you’ve got a handle on things.

The other major thing to remember about handling burnout is that just because you’re in charge of your hours, that doesn’t mean you should throw all semblance of a work day out the window. Having office hours – and in particular maintaining regular days off each week – isn’t just about giving yourself time for recreation. Without downtime you won’t be as productive, impacting both your mental health and the quality of your work.

If you’re looking to live a polywork lifestyle, then it’s better to start small and focus on creating the best work you can.

Staying Open With Employers

If you’re currently in work – particularly if you work a fulltime job – then it’s worth thinking seriously about how much to tell your employer.

Working two full time jobs is certainly possible and, if that’s the kind of workload you’re willing to take on, there’s no legal barrier in your way. That said, a hostile employer could pose a serious issue.

When approaching your employer, first and foremost, you have to make it clear that this won’t impact the quality of work you do for them. If that’s the case, then a good employer may even be supportive of you, helping to arrange your work hours to better fit both timetables.

On the other hand, if you feel your employer is likely to see your second job as a threat, then it’s best to be prepared for the fact that you may lose them. When all’s said and done, choosing to take on a second job can be as much of a risk to your career as it is a benefit which is why you should always move forwards with both eyes open.