Set the terms, rules, and expectations at both jobs before you start. It will be impossible and counterproductive to expect to work full-time at 2 jobs. It works for some people as a short-term strategy during transition or life emergencies. But if you plan to make this into a lifestyle, you need to agree with the employers and yourself on how many hours you dedicate to each job, when they can expect you to be online/in the office, and that you are off the limits during the other time.

With the growing popularity of hybrid and remote work, some developers or other talents manage to get two full-time jobs simultaneously while both employers don’t know they are not the only ones. The reality is that people can’t stay at the top of their game for 16 hours a day. So, set the terms straight to ensure you are not “cheating” on your employers and freelance clients.

Planning is the key to success. Put tasks from both jobs into one calendar, or at least reserve an event saying ‘busy’ if you can’t specify the exact task because of confidentiality. This way you won’t accidentally plan something at two jobs for the same time. Also, if your colleagues see your shared calendar, they will see you are actually busy and not just ignoring their requests. It will not be just good for your planning but also become a good communication tool.

Consider combining office and freelance not just as a way to earn extra money. This approach to work allows developing two work strategies simultaneously. If you get bored, tired, or fired, you already have a backup plan. The best part is that you don’t need to start from scratch. Larysa finds that working both in-office and as a freelancer is more interesting and provides greater stability than one single project.