Black Sabbatical
October 18, 2016 4:24 PM Subscribe
I've recently been laid off. Help me make the most of my time between jobs.
I can take my time to find a new gig, thanks to a healthy severance package, and I plan to do just that. I've had a very stressful few years, and this feels like a chance to breathe and recover.
I've got a few ideas of things I'd like to do while I'm between jobs: KonMari my apartment, try some more involved recipes, hit the gym frequently, reinstate a daily meditation habit.
What else should I do with my time? I'd like to do a mix of activities that are fun that aren't easy to do when working full time, and things that will set me up for an easier life when I do start working again.
I can take my time to find a new gig, thanks to a healthy severance package, and I plan to do just that. I've had a very stressful few years, and this feels like a chance to breathe and recover.
I've got a few ideas of things I'd like to do while I'm between jobs: KonMari my apartment, try some more involved recipes, hit the gym frequently, reinstate a daily meditation habit.
What else should I do with my time? I'd like to do a mix of activities that are fun that aren't easy to do when working full time, and things that will set me up for an easier life when I do start working again.
Campaign volunteering until the Election!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:42 PM on October 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:42 PM on October 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
Best answer: – Learn to play a new musical instrument.
– Go to classes that you're interested in but are only held during the day.
– Eat at places that are normally crowded on the weekend and at night.
– Establish a difficult habit (e.g. writing every day, coding every day) by using your extra time to make up for your unfamiliarity and initial resistance.
posted by ignignokt at 5:33 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
– Go to classes that you're interested in but are only held during the day.
– Eat at places that are normally crowded on the weekend and at night.
– Establish a difficult habit (e.g. writing every day, coding every day) by using your extra time to make up for your unfamiliarity and initial resistance.
posted by ignignokt at 5:33 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm currently doing something similar to this. In addition to your items, I've been reading in the middle of the day, going on day hikes at nearby state parks during the week (just me and the retirees), going to museums.
I'm taking a difficult online class through Coursera. I'm learning a statistical programming language, but they have a lot of topics. I also like to go to lunch with former colleagues, either from my most recent job or ones prior. I'm also working as a poll worker on Election Day. It may not be too late to apply.
posted by jeoc at 6:10 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm taking a difficult online class through Coursera. I'm learning a statistical programming language, but they have a lot of topics. I also like to go to lunch with former colleagues, either from my most recent job or ones prior. I'm also working as a poll worker on Election Day. It may not be too late to apply.
posted by jeoc at 6:10 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Find the class or training that makes your next foray more successful. Poll yourself as to what you really want. I had a family member recently change everything, based on perceived success / happiness.
Volunteer in some area close to what you do. If that is not a reality, then volunteer in a situation that utilizes your talent. It is a lot better to job hunt while doing something, then you can say, you just wanted to serve in some positive capacity. It sure does look better on resumes than I have been beating the streets for months. Brush up on your foreign language skills.
posted by Oyéah at 6:46 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Volunteer in some area close to what you do. If that is not a reality, then volunteer in a situation that utilizes your talent. It is a lot better to job hunt while doing something, then you can say, you just wanted to serve in some positive capacity. It sure does look better on resumes than I have been beating the streets for months. Brush up on your foreign language skills.
posted by Oyéah at 6:46 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Work out and get fit. Do the hard yards now and it will be easier to maintain when you go back to work.
Nthing the musical instrument. It's hard to find the time to practice and noodle aimlessly for hours when you have a job.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:07 PM on October 18, 2016
Nthing the musical instrument. It's hard to find the time to practice and noodle aimlessly for hours when you have a job.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:07 PM on October 18, 2016
Don't only hit the gym - try several types of exercise. Various types of yoga, day-long meditative hikes with a camera, classes at the gym like zumba you'd never had time for, or rent a bike and go on a trail (instead of spin class), rock climbing, swim in a lake.
Seconding go to museums: take your time, take notes, make drawings. Get a membership.
Read at any moment you can - read out loud if everyone else is out (trust me)- get like 30 books from the library at a time, they (probably) don't think it's weird and just return them before the due date. It aids curiosity to have new books around you, even if you don't finish them. If you don't like reading...listen to audiobooks or podcasts at 1.5-2x speed OR get Spotify and learn to sing songs with lyrics you like. Watch weird/new/classic movies! Get Fandor (better than Netflix; also has short films) or get them from the library.
Write letters to old friends. Learn more about your family history. Send people cards or presents - I regret that I never made time for this with a full-time job.
Grow herbs, kale, tomatoes, or kombucha. At least, get some succulents. All relatively easy.
Don't: watch stupid TV shows, spend too much time shopping, hang out with people you don't like. Speaking from experience.
posted by aralymn at 8:48 PM on October 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Seconding go to museums: take your time, take notes, make drawings. Get a membership.
Read at any moment you can - read out loud if everyone else is out (trust me)- get like 30 books from the library at a time, they (probably) don't think it's weird and just return them before the due date. It aids curiosity to have new books around you, even if you don't finish them. If you don't like reading...listen to audiobooks or podcasts at 1.5-2x speed OR get Spotify and learn to sing songs with lyrics you like. Watch weird/new/classic movies! Get Fandor (better than Netflix; also has short films) or get them from the library.
Write letters to old friends. Learn more about your family history. Send people cards or presents - I regret that I never made time for this with a full-time job.
Grow herbs, kale, tomatoes, or kombucha. At least, get some succulents. All relatively easy.
Don't: watch stupid TV shows, spend too much time shopping, hang out with people you don't like. Speaking from experience.
posted by aralymn at 8:48 PM on October 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Along with meditation, add stretching to your day. There are stretching videos with varying levels of intensity. Flexibility is wonderful for for your health and helps with sleep.
posted by toastedbeagle at 11:07 PM on October 18, 2016
posted by toastedbeagle at 11:07 PM on October 18, 2016
Best answer: I asked the very same question a while back.
The few things I would add are:
1) Take classes! Learn something new. For me, I would have done a course in painting. I'm doing them now in the evenings, but there is a much wider choice for daytime classes. Sculpture, lino printing, Or online courses in Coursera, EdX .
2) If you want to take up a serious hobby or project, it might be worth renting office space for this, so you are not stuck at home all the time.
3) Retreats or travel.
posted by moiraine at 1:27 AM on October 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
The few things I would add are:
1) Take classes! Learn something new. For me, I would have done a course in painting. I'm doing them now in the evenings, but there is a much wider choice for daytime classes. Sculpture, lino printing, Or online courses in Coursera, EdX .
2) If you want to take up a serious hobby or project, it might be worth renting office space for this, so you are not stuck at home all the time.
3) Retreats or travel.
posted by moiraine at 1:27 AM on October 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mochapickle at 4:26 PM on October 18, 2016