Patchwork Economics During a Recession

I have five part time jobs. I enjoy them all, and between them I am weathering the recession storm relatively unscathed. During this recession, creative solutions will ensure that some will not only survive, they'll thrive. Placing my prosperity in my own creative hands is ultimately far more secure than having a full time job, as many people are finding out these last months. Here are some things to keep in mind when thinking outside the box to create your own economic security.

Do things that you enjoy. Someone will pay you for it!

What do you love? Can it turn into a part-time job? I love the theater, and I love teaching kids. I have done both as a volunteer. I was in the right place at the right time when the opportunity arose, and now I am teaching the drama club at a local elementary school. I work four days a week for one hour at lunch time, and I get paid! The best part is when the kids swarm me as I arrive, and shout "Yayyy!"

I used to be a full-time massage therapist. When I developed a problem with my left arm, I could no longer work at it full-time. I scaled back my private practice and applied to work with inpatients at a children's hospital. I spend about 20 hours a month making little kids feel a lot better. It's my favorite of my part-time jobs.

Is there something that everybody needs? Someone will pay you for that too.

Several years ago, I had a neighbor who was continually getting stuck with the dogs that belonged to his grown children. They made me feel very safe, always barking if anyone strange came to my door. They also made a lot of poop. A neighbor wanted to call the health department. I had a better idea. I had read about a local woman who had made her business picking up dog poop. I gave my neighbor her information, and soon after that I saw her there every Wednesday cleaning it up. Everybody was happy. I think her part-time job may have gone full-time, because dogs will always poop and people will always be too busy to scoop, even in a recession.

What can you do for someone that needs to be done?

Treat each part time job as if it is the only one. Do not multitask.

This is where time management is critical. When you are doing a part-time job, do it as if you are only doing that job and it is your full-time occupation. You want each of your employers or clients to feel that you are giving your best. Designate time for each job and give it your full attention while you are working. Each of these relationships is important and may lead to other opportunities. My drama club job has led to teaching opportunities for theater arts in my local community. My inpatient massage therapy job led to an outpatient pain clinic opportunity. Focus on one thing at a time and enjoy the variety throughout your week.

Organize your part time job schedule for maximum efficiency.

A lot of time is wasted traveling, which is why part time jobs can be less efficient than one full-time job. This doesn't have to be the case if you can batch your occupations and do things in the same neighborhood on the same day whenever possible. Also look at how your part-time job may offer another opportunity in your life. My drama club job is very close by car, a little far to walk, but perfect for rollerblading! Voila, exercise and work all at the same time for ultimate efficiency and enjoyment!

Scale down your lifestyle for maximum flexibility.

This is old news by now, but it pays to downsize. The less you spend, the less you need to earn, so the more choices you have for part-time jobs that you will enjoy. Having to pay for a lot of stuff that you don't have time to enjoy is a form of slavery, as more and more people are finding to be true. Downsizing has become necessary for many people due to the current recession, but more and more of them are saying that there are hidden blessings in the abandonment of The Seeking Of Stuff. Less stuff equals more freedom and more choices.

Practice patchwork economics while you still have a job.

Knowing that you have other skills to explore is the best kind of employment insurance. If your job changes or you lose it, you can rely on some new or reclaimed skill to create your own part-time job. Having a plan means less stress, and exploring your options now is a great way to flex your earning muscles so you know they're strong under any circumstances. Many incredibly prosperous people have found their niche during a recession.

Be flexible.

If you're a person who doesn't get bored because everything is so interesting, then this type of work life is for you. If the drama club is not meeting due to a school minimum day, I can get to work on one of my freelance writing projects or focus on something else. It's never lost time if I use it wisely, and if I've been living within my means (see above) then the loss of an hour's work is no cause for dismay. I may even think of something else to do for money. I once went noodling on Craigslist during one of these unexpected breaks, and ended up with a part-time job visiting an elderly lady from a foreign country. It's one of the most pleasant parts of my week.

Schedule yourself for balance.

Schedule your work, and schedule your breaks. One of the benefits of my several part-time jobs is that I have arranged them to allow for frequent long weekends. While it is very tempting to just work all the time, you will drop the whole heap of juggling if you burn out! I know this from experience. Plan your work, work your plan and don't spend more hours on your part time jobs than you would on one absorbing full-time job.

More and more people are discovering that they can create their own prosperity. It takes creativity, discipline, flexibility and passion. The results are well worth it. I plan to continue this way of earning even after the current recession is over. I call it living a designed life. I hope these ideas will encourage you to design your own.

Source:

personal experience

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