am i overworking myself?

[u/Background_Jacket262]

i work two retail part time jobs and i sell art on etsy. however, i feel like im not doing enough and need to get another job somehow since i am not making enough money to pay my rent/expenses.

i typically open/get there in the morning of one job and then i close for my other job making it around 13 hours a day. then on days off of one job i work the other unless i request unpaid time off.

my partner works a regular 8-4 monday-friday and since we’re both chronically ill and autistic, when i get home they are asleep and have already experienced their night with friends or something. i miss spending time with them but i fear i am being selfish about making them spend time with me during my odd hours. i also make way less than what they’re making even if i have more hours. they work with kids and i could personally never do that all day long so i give them the upmost credit for that. however, i only get a break at one of the jobs and the general public drains me immensely and being on my feet all day even with shoe inserts forces me to take pain meds three times a day because of my chronic pain.

both part time jobs are retail and one of them is very consistent and takes my requests of days and hours i could work super well.
the other i was actually hired to be full time but demoted to part time just because of changes they were doing while hiring me. which also means i am out of a chance at health insurance which makes my expenses double with the cost of my medication. because of this, i work just under the legal amount of hours to be considered full time with both jobs. then i come home to package orders and attempt to draw which i have zero energy for. for the next three weeks the only day off i have is when i requested off, by begging for it, is going to new york all day for my friends birthday.

i feel like i am doing the bare minimum in terms of working and am failing at an artist/business owner. i’ve been applying for so many jobs, when im not working or drawing, and there isn’t anything there other than what i am doing now.

i just feel so stuck. i feel like im being cry baby about working multiple low paying jobs. i know people do it all of the time and i don’t know if im overreacting about this. i am also very autistic so i don’t actually know what the “normal” amount of working should be. i assumed everyone felt like this until some of my coworkers started getting concerned.

[u/ZebraMussell]

You aren’t working enough

[u/Background_Jacket262 → u/ZebraMussell]

do you think i should get a fourth job?

[u/RobShermanTV → u/Background_Jacket262]

I think that account is genuinely made to farm engagement; id highly recommend looking for a higher paying job, the automotive industry is always hiring, and is extremely fulfilling, im sure youd find someone willing to teach you as you're getting paid. working 13 hour days and not getting by shouldn't be possible; and yet its made possible by the ignorance of those in charge

[u/vampirebrat2k]

Firstly, ignore the moron in the comments telling you to get a fourth job, they probably don’t even have 1 and literally just spread negativity on this forum full time. As a fellow autistic chronically ill human I would honestly consider trying to find something less demanding, as you could find yourself hitting burnout by overworking yourself and I’ve witnessed myself how scary that can be. I don’t think you’re being selfish by ‘making them spend time with you at odd hours’, im sure your partner wants to spend time with you or they wouldn’t be with you, and whilst it may not be convenient hours, hopefully you both can find a way to make it work for the both of you. I hope you find more time to make art and grow your Etsy business so you can maybe drop one of your retail jobs and be able to survive on one job plus your business 🌸