Schedule me unemployed or What to do when you have a work ethic and no work to do

I can’t speak for everyone, but the first thing I did after learning my position was being eliminated was…

Okay, the first thing I did after going away with friends for a weekend of heavy brainstorming and drinking – though not necessarily in that order – was christen the Microsoft Calendar on my home computer.

During times of upheaval and unknowing, I turn to organization the way others turn to drink (the previous paragraph aside). Order settles me. Lists lift me. And crossing things off my lists? Well, let’s just say I’d rather do that than many of the men I’ve met on Match.com. But that’s another post.

At this point, it’s quite possible I’ve put more planning into my unemployment than my retirement. That’s because I don’t know how long this “tour of non-duty” is going to last, and I want to wring it of everything I can. To create a balanced way of being, with the discipline to accomplish my goals and the freedom to explore the people, works, ideas and opportunities that will lead to the next great thing in my life.

It means a schedule (complete with notes to self) that addresses and fills my needs, my passions and my deficits.

6:30 am    Morning routine: breakfast, walk the dog, shower (Don’t sleep in, makes the transition to employment more difficult. Shower and get dressed: depression loves greasy hair and sweatpants.)

9 am         Work: network, job alerts, research (Investigate unique opportunities: writing retreats, contests, etc.)

Noon        Lunch

1 pm         Write: personal essays, LinkedIn posts, blog? (Go to coffee shops – get out of the house and among people.)

3 pm         Personal enrichment: books, museums, movies, art, park (Explore new ideas, thoughts, information, environments.)

5:30          Dinner

To fight my hermitical tendencies, I also plan at least one social activity per week. As for my physical being, my little dog makes it easy to hit my daily goal of 5+ miles, but I’ve added a weekly exercise class as well.

That’s my foundation, and I use Microsoft Calendar to fill in the particulars: companies contacted, pieces completed, books read, people met, events attended, etc. So I can look back on the day/week with a feeling of accomplishment, rather than an uneasy, “Well I think I did stuff.”

I posted my schedule to Facebook recently and a number of un/self-employed friends shared that they love the idea and are considering creating one of their own. Other friends have told me they’re jealous and wish they didn’t have a job.

I admit, it’s a wonderful life. One I’m not ready to give up yet. I’ve got an interview next week, and all I can say is, I hope I forget to put it on my schedule...

MY TAG: Might not have a job but still have a sense of humor

Originally published on LinkedIn, February 11, 2016.