Got a new job, what to do during these last days before I start?
January 28, 2010 6:25 PM Subscribe
Got a new job, what to do during these last days before I start? I want to use my time wisely before I have to go back to the daily grind.
Got a similar position in the town where I used to work after being pretty much unemployed since October. My first day is the 8th, what things can I do that would be either enjoyable or practical this next week? All I have to do is go down there to sign paperwork and get a cavity filled (yay).
Some ideas were to clean up around home a bit and go out to places during the day when few people are there such as a local ski area. However, I have limited access to a car, so these must be planned excursions.
Working folks, what would you do if you had time at home during the work day with no distractions?
Got a similar position in the town where I used to work after being pretty much unemployed since October. My first day is the 8th, what things can I do that would be either enjoyable or practical this next week? All I have to do is go down there to sign paperwork and get a cavity filled (yay).
Some ideas were to clean up around home a bit and go out to places during the day when few people are there such as a local ski area. However, I have limited access to a car, so these must be planned excursions.
Working folks, what would you do if you had time at home during the work day with no distractions?
Well, sleeping in is nice. I like to go to the beach, the grocery store, the library, or the gym when all those poor bastards with jobs are at work. It hurts when I forget what day it is and wonder why some places are are so crowded.
posted by birdherder at 6:37 PM on January 28, 2010
posted by birdherder at 6:37 PM on January 28, 2010
If you like to cook, you could try some complicated and time-consuming recipes--stuff that has to cook several hours (boeuf bourguignon?), or has to chill between steps (pastries? ice cream?).
posted by Meg_Murry at 6:43 PM on January 28, 2010
posted by Meg_Murry at 6:43 PM on January 28, 2010
Get a massage. Shop at bookstores, Home Depot, pretty much anywhere.
posted by knile at 6:43 PM on January 28, 2010
posted by knile at 6:43 PM on January 28, 2010
Get your receipts organized. Do your taxes.
Then go out and have some good fun with friends that you have not seen in a while.
posted by seawallrunner at 7:06 PM on January 28, 2010
Then go out and have some good fun with friends that you have not seen in a while.
posted by seawallrunner at 7:06 PM on January 28, 2010
Best answer: Do some reflecting and make a list of things you'd like to prioritize after your new job starts and your free time is suddenly much more limited than it is now. It's often true that it's hard to get anything done when you don't have any structure at all, but it's also hard to find enough time to get everything done in the crunch of full-time working life. There's meals to shop for and cook and eat, a house to clean, laundry to do, bills to pay, friends you want to see, plus you've got to get up early and go to work, etc. etc. Take some time now--while you've got lots of time--and think about what things you want to make sure you keep doing/start doing even when work and the mundane demands of life are competing for your soon-to-be-limited free time. Want to make sure to exercise? Make sure to keep a weekly date with a friend? Commit to balancing your checkbook every week? Whatever it is, it might be useful to write it down now, so that you have something to guide you when you suddenly find yourself busy.
posted by aka burlap at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by aka burlap at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2010 [5 favorites]
The last thing you'll want to do when you get home from work, is chores around the house, so a lot of them will get put off or not done, and your living space might drop.
I'd suggest not just cleaning up the house, but figuring out some systems that will realistically allow you to stay on top of chores when you have less time and inclination to do them.
(For example, I wanted a tidier room but knew I wasn't going to magically start putting my clothes away, so I bought a coat rack and laundry basket, because throwing my clothes either onto the coat-rack or into the basket is no more effort than throwing them onto the floor, so it was a more plausible system to keep the floors tidy than expecting that I would regularly tidy the room.)
posted by -harlequin- at 7:15 PM on January 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd suggest not just cleaning up the house, but figuring out some systems that will realistically allow you to stay on top of chores when you have less time and inclination to do them.
(For example, I wanted a tidier room but knew I wasn't going to magically start putting my clothes away, so I bought a coat rack and laundry basket, because throwing my clothes either onto the coat-rack or into the basket is no more effort than throwing them onto the floor, so it was a more plausible system to keep the floors tidy than expecting that I would regularly tidy the room.)
posted by -harlequin- at 7:15 PM on January 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
As far as cleaning, use the time to do the bigger, occasional tasks (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, yearly) like cleaning under and behind the fridge. Do that sort of thing, do some organizing and purging, and then the weekly and daily tasks will be easier and much faster.
In addition to your taxes, go through your files. Go through your wardrobe, and make any repairs needed, purge stuff if necessary, and straighten your closet and drawers to make getting out the door easier.
Take advantage of off-hours for shopping and things like the gym. Schedule all of your appointments for the year if you can, or for six months: dental, medical would have to work around your job, but whatever else you might have -- car, salon, and so on.
Congratulations!
posted by jgirl at 7:30 PM on January 28, 2010
In addition to your taxes, go through your files. Go through your wardrobe, and make any repairs needed, purge stuff if necessary, and straighten your closet and drawers to make getting out the door easier.
Take advantage of off-hours for shopping and things like the gym. Schedule all of your appointments for the year if you can, or for six months: dental, medical would have to work around your job, but whatever else you might have -- car, salon, and so on.
Congratulations!
posted by jgirl at 7:30 PM on January 28, 2010
Best answer: If I hadn't already, I would watch all five seasons of The Wire. But I'm a couch potato.
posted by sallybrown at 8:10 PM on January 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by sallybrown at 8:10 PM on January 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Saw The Wire already, but good suggestion! I like the reflecting on my priorities with my new job, exercise and friends are important ones. Am planning on moving out to my own place in the spring closer to work, so getting rid of things I don't need is another. One thing about losing weight is that I want to get rid of all my too-loose clothes--hope I don't gain the weight back!
posted by greatalleycat at 8:24 PM on January 28, 2010
posted by greatalleycat at 8:24 PM on January 28, 2010
cook a bunch of big meals that you can freeze individual portions of, so you'll have healthy homemade lunches to bring to work
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:27 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:27 AM on January 29, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Think_Long at 6:36 PM on January 28, 2010