Combining a "Regular" Job with Freelancing and Consulting

In times like these when the economy is tight, many of us find ourselves taking all the work we can get. With recent media reports stating that more and more people who WANT to work time, working part-time jobs, many of us try to supplement our "regular" work with freelancing, consulting or work-from-home work on the side. It can be tricky to combine a more traditional job with freelance work and make sure that everything and everyone is getting the attention and focus they deserve.

For many of us, combining various "income streams" has become the norm. With fewer well-paying "traditional" jobs available, as well as a desire to have more freedom, flexibility and control over our work lives, many of us find ourselves piecing together freelancing, consulting, and/or starting a small business with keeping a regular "day job" as well. This is not always easy when it comes to scheduling and distributing our resources!

It is important to come up with a workable schedule that allows for all the tasks-this may mean getting up early in order to do some freelance work before going to the more traditional job or arranging your work hours to accommodate consulting work. For example, you may find that if you go to working four ten-hour days at your "traditional" job, it allows for a full business day to work at your freelancing or consulting work. Or, you may find that by working a part-time "regular" job, you can then spend a few hours each day working at your freelancing or consulting work.

Be sure to evaluate your time management and figure out your income potential. How much income do you get from your "regular" job? Do you have benefits and other perks that make it even more lucrative and valuable? What are the benefits of your freelance and consulting work, in addition to the income? Are you able to streamline your consulting/freelance work to make the time spent on it worth the income that it generates?

Of course, it is also important to keep in mind your long-term plans. Are you planning to stay in your "regular" job or work towards a continued career or is the goal to get out of a traditional job and work more for yourself? Balancing the short-term needs with your long-range plans is a key element in deciding how to allocate your efforts, focus and resources.