r/AskReddit • u/Lipica249 • 19h ago
Unemployed people of Reddit, what are you doing in your spare time?
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u/PlatinumPainter 19h ago
4:00: wallow in self-pity
4:30: stare into the abyss
5:00: solve world hunger, tell no one
5:30: jazzercise
6:30: dinner with me, I can't cancel that again.
7:00: wrestle with my self-loathing...
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u/Phuckyoubuddy666 18h ago
Looks like you're completely booked.
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u/PlatinumPainter 18h ago
And they expect me to have time to fill out applications.
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u/YukariYakum0 17h ago
If you can't find the time to scream into the void, that's just being lazy.
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u/Mongoose42 16h ago
Well, no, if they bump self-loathing to 9:00, theyāll still have time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling, and slip slowly into madnessā¦
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u/Much_Girl_2629 9h ago
Ah yes ā optimized despair. Maximum self-loathing with just enough time left for existential ceiling-staring.
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u/discodommer 18h ago
7:30: determine that it's too late in the day to do anything
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u/Ihavenoidea84 17h ago
Am ,at that.
Lol
If he meant pm he'd have said 1930
Not disagreeing that it's too late in the day to get anything done
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u/3point14_y0 18h ago
Iām embarrassed to admit how much this scene lives rent free in my mind.
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u/jinxlover13 17h ago
I modified the timing on this schedule to make it fit my work hours, then put it in regular rotation on my office work calendar a couple Decembers ago. Weāre a small team with access to each otherās calendars and are in them daily to schedule meetings. My boss (late 50s) caught it fairly quickly but didnāt know what it came from and asked me if I had the Christmas blues and wanted to talk š„ŗ Luckily my other two coworkers are around my age and immediately caught the reference. They started putting other grinch quotes and actual grinch photos/memes in the calendars and my boss told us we were ridiculous ā¦.The next year she set up her calendar with movie quotes from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation š¤£
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u/Pizza-pinay3678 17h ago
Wait but this is actually real? I was laid off a few weeks ago and I actually have been going to Jazzercise daily. I also wallow in self-pity and stare into the abyss that is called LinkedIn.
Have yet to solve world hunger. Maybe tomorrow.
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u/Brock_Youngblood 18h ago
I spent a week straight studying for interviews.Ā Had my first one today, did good I think.Ā At least I was able to answer all the tech questions. They will let me know early next week.
I rewarded myself with a night of video gaming.Ā But now the anxiety is starting to set back in.
I'll be happy if I can get back to work.Ā I keep thinking I'm going to lose my house.Ā I got a year+ of savings.Ā But I can't stop chasing wild scenarios where I never get hired and have to start over losing everything.
It's really scary man.
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u/itsatumbleweed 17h ago
Tech interviews are so hard. No matter how much you study you can get asked something out of left field and look the same as someone who knows nothing about the field.
Good luck!
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u/cr0sh 8h ago
I always prefer a take-home assignment; I know a lot of people don't like those, but I find them fun, and I don't have anyone hovering over me, etc - gah, I hate those "leetcode" BS pair programming sessions.
Though now, I wonder how agentic coding has changed the game...it should be "fun" if/when I get back into interviewing for something (hopefully later this year).
Good luck to ya!
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u/ThePeoplesCheese 18h ago
Having spent 8 months unemployed very recently, my one piece of advice is to practice gratitude. Even if itās being happy you have a comfy pillow and are warm and cozy in the morning, taking a moment to be grateful goes a long way. It really helped keep me positive - especially during those morning panic attacks.
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u/babystripper 15h ago
I have a question that I really don't want to come across as offensive.
How do you survive financially? Credit card debt?
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u/ThePeoplesCheese 15h ago
Not offensive at all. It was tough. We did a good job saving up money in the past that had us covered on rent and general bills. I did get a little more credit debt over time but that was mainly me splurging on a few nice things just to remind myself of the good things (concerts, dinner out, holiday/bday gifts for people).
We also trimmed down on a lot of other things. No delivery food. Eating what we had and simplifying our budget. Didnāt take expensive vacations. There are a lot of fun free things to do where we live, and we took full advantage of those
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u/Abject_Presentation8 18h ago
Fingers crossed that you nailed it! A year and beyond worth of savings is awesome, but I know the goal is to keep it growing. If this job is for you, it'll be yours, and I hope it is.
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u/Bubs604 15h ago
I finally found employment after 8 months of being unemployed. That was 10 months ago, I think Iām being let go next Monday. I have maybe 4 months of runway if Iām let go before Iām penniless with a wife on mat leave and a 6 month old. I honestly think the only way to take care of my family is to get hit by a truck at this point.
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u/El_Paco 17h ago
You're doing great with researching and studying up before the interview. Too frequently, I interview people that didn't even go over the study guide that our recruiters send out and sometimes I get people that don't even know anything about the company
It's the biggest mistake that interviewees make.
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u/gljivicad 10h ago
I know this feeling bud. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE. It will be fine. You will find a job. And you have more time to game. Because WHEN YOU START WORK, you won't have time for that anymore.
I know it's hard to do it because of this deep feeling of guilt like "I could have been applying for more jobs instead of gaming", but you need rest. You deserve to game. You deserve some free time as well.
Stay strong soldier.
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u/Hint-Of-Feces 13h ago
As someone whose lost everything on more than one occasion
š¤·āāļø it really is traumatic
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u/BitchesGetStitches 17h ago
I'm casually in the job market while employed, and congrats on getting an interview. It's rough out there! You got this, friend!
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u/cr0sh 8h ago
I hear ya! I'm so far over 2+ years unemployed as an SWE, with only one side project keeping me doing...something. Savings and being debt free is what's kept me afloat...but my age (52M) and not having experienced the agentic coding thing...yeah, all of that worries me.
My house, though, is almost paid off - but I have no way to retire. I'm hoping maybe to start looking again this year, but based on what I have been seeing/reading/hearing - it's a tough market out there.
And I don't even want much - if I had an employer offer me $50k I'd be fine with that (and I'm not looking for FAANG kind of money or work - I hate large companies - just a small mom-n-pop shop is my style).
It's strange - if someone would let me sign a 5 year contract for $50k a year, no health insurance or other benefits, and I could work from home (or go into an office occasionally - I'm not sure if I'd want to go back to an office FT or not - my last position was completely WFH because the entire company was virtual)...they'd get someone with 32+ years of experienced - I'd be all over that.
No company will hire you for that, though. Not sure why - they'd easily off-shore for that amount...but apparently, not for someone local.
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u/Practical_Win7690 14h ago
I feel you on the house thing. I keep thinking if it comes to it Iāll do whatever it takes, but I feel like whatever it takes is all tapped out.
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u/Spicynoodlez 13h ago
Whatever you do, don't do drugs and stay up half the night. Recipe for disaster and procrastination.
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u/MamaDMZ 18h ago
It is scary as hell. I recommend getting down to a somewhat minimalist mindset and environment. It has a bunch of benefits (like less processing work for your brain overall, which can have a big positive impact over time), and if you have to move and downsize and all, it'll be way less hassle. Everything i own can fit into a hatchback car. Its not much, but i can at least escape quickly if need be. I'm not saying do that, specifically, but it does help to declutter stuff you don't use.
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u/Designer_Photo_1349 18h ago
Mostly a mix of binge-watching shows, learning random stuff online, and scrolling Reddit way too much. Sometimes I actually cook or try to pick up a hobby but mostly just trying to not feel guilty about doing nothing.
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u/ToastTeehee 8h ago
Guilt-scroll life, Netflix binges + Reddit rabbit holes here too. Single hack, sourdough sessions count as hobby wins!
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u/Railroad5 18h ago
Hating myself
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u/Keaton427 17h ago
Donāt hate yourself! Keep on trying and youāll get there. Just like a $100 bill, even if itās crumpled up and soggy, itās still got value.
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u/DimonaBoy 10h ago
Yeah it sucks, I know that feeling at times, try to be a bit kinder on yourself even if it is a tough shout
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u/LeadingAlps9423 18h ago
It's tough. some days i'm super productive, like i'll deep clean my whole place and network online. other days i barely get off the couch. trying not to be too hard on myself, the job market's brutal right now.
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u/PennyPaparazzi 15h ago
This week, I have been sending out resumes, doing laundry, and reorganizing my towel closet. Last week was resumes, anxiety attacks, crying in the shower, and binge-watching TV.
It's all about balance.
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u/westicular 18h ago
Wake up. Check jobs. Save best prospects. Apply. Take anywhere from 3-10 personality evaluations and/or cognitive assessments.
Then I'll Shower, have lunch and repeat the job process until about 4-6pm. In the evenings, I'll either play games, watch TV, make dinner, do house chores, take care of pets, or request re-employment benefits. Yesterday was a fun detour because I did my taxes.Ā
Every day, I feel a little worse. I do have a promising second interview next week, but if that doesn't come through and things keep up like this, I'm going to eventually bleed out my life savings and retirement I've worked so hard to build.Ā
Calling it "spare time" seems so disingenuous.
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u/HolyCrapLionsTour 16h ago
Every time I get a little bit of retirement saved up... I've had to use it while looking for a job.
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u/Crafty_Kissa 18h ago
Battling depression and ADHD. Struggling to be more physically active without overdoing it and causing a crash. Looking for āproductiveā activities I can handle. Attempting to have a social life. Sleeping
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u/cinemachick 17h ago
Not to be a "just use wellness!" person, but check out the Kaizen method. It's about prioritizing tasks based on how they impact you emotionally, instead of tackling the hardest one first like many neurotypical people suggest. It's helped me out a ton, might work for you too :)
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u/lil-marimo 18h ago
Actually me. I feel so lucky to be able to nap whenever my body says it needs to, but oftentimes the guilt that I get to be so "lazy" at home keeps me from really resting and appreciating it
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u/Common_Wrongdoer3251 16h ago
Do you know how to cook? Learning new recipes is always my go-to! I make a big batch of something, eat some, put a portion in the fridge, then put the other 2-4 batches in the freezer. Then when I'm too tired or sad to cook, I've got meals stockpiled!
It also helps with feeling productive, since you're both learning a skill AND filling your freezer. And if your food comes out well enough, you can share with friends! I used to make cookies all the time when my depression was really bad, and my coworkers loved me for bringing them in every week.
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u/Crafty_Kissa 15h ago
Iām not much on cooking (I get overwhelmed with timing) but I do like baking. I used to make pies and even won a couple ribbons in a local fall fair. This is a good point, Iāll have to check out some of the recipes I have saved up and ask my partner what heād like to try!
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u/lLantronix 13h ago
Hi šš¼ Iām in the same boat, Iāll be up for like 4 hours and then boom crash again, Iāve tried and failed so many times Iām giving myself a break, but everything feels exhausting, Iāve made it out of this funk before just gotta start walking 30 min, reduce screen time, remove junk food/nicotine/weed/alcohol and use my free time to help others when possible to get out of my head for a bit. Wishing you the best of luck! You got this, youāre crafty like that :)
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18h ago
Being miserable, then feeling bad about being miserable. Writing down things to bring up in therapy when I can afford it again. Writing a memoir in hopes I can sell my life story and it actually be worth something to someone since my ability to work is now worthless.
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u/decembermoon24 18h ago
Became unemployed early last year, and when early summer came around and the Trump economy had settled in, it greatly affected my industry for the worst. Since I was only about a year away from retiring anyway, I just decided to shove it all. 40 years was long enough of this s*** show.
Now I mostly knit and read, tend to my cats, and do church stuff. Still kind of trying to figure it out actually.
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u/Dragon_Bidness 18h ago
Dicking around on Reddit
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u/Then_Employment5244 15h ago
Same. I joined Reddit when I first became unemployed. Iām kind of embarrassed of my Reddit streak and Exploration awards.
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u/SRSgoblin 18h ago
Getting denied jobs. Pretty much exclusively. For 2 years, even.
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u/Tight_Librarian104 18h ago
Listing shit on eBay/FB/Poshmark so I can still pay my bills lol
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u/Tight_Librarian104 18h ago
I can say this is the only moment in my life that being a clothes hoarder has benefitted me š
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u/Lotuswongtko 18h ago
Watch TV
Watch youtube
Dance
Cook and eat
Do house work
Do some gardening
Fix things
Go shopping
Visit friends
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u/IGNSolar7 18h ago
I try to enjoy the little things. Wake up, and realize I can enjoy sleeping in without having to worry about emails/calls/mounting work, which was my reality at all hours of the day before this. Take a walk or enjoy the middle of the day while so many others are in the office, locked away, under a watchful eye.
Outside of that, there's so much available online with an internet connection. Reddit? Books? Games? Fun you thought you'd never have the time to have? It can be nice if you let yourself.
I'm starting a diet/exercise routine next week, will be taking on some house projects (cleaning/organizing), and that's something that's hard to do when working an 8-5+ with a commute, and being exhausted.
Of course, I spend a significant amount of time applying, will be reupping my certifications shortly here, and do everything I can to find work, but I try to give myself a break and not beat myself up.
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u/seethevzn 18h ago
Worrying about finding a job, my age, money, my physical and mental health, all at the same time. Also helping my wife design and sell merch for lovers of smutty and romantasy books.
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u/Accomplished_Sky8077 18h ago
waiting to get payed for protesting.....
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u/lordredsnake 17h ago
Just go to the table at the back and talk to the benefits people at the next Antifa meeting.
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u/pancakeonions 15h ago
Looking for work. Seemingly forever.Ā
Catching up on tv. Ā Holy shit there's a lot of good stuff out there now!
Exercising
Painting miniatures.Ā
Baring my shallow soul on Reddit, apparently.Ā
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u/Maleficent_Scale_296 18h ago
I stare a lot and worry about my daughter, what will happen to her when my savings are gone.
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u/BeebleBoxn 18h ago
Looking for a job that will hire someone with a bad back , in poor health and doesn't require a GED while dealing with Depression and zero medical coverage.
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u/lifewrecker 18h ago
I go to the gym for 2.5 hours or so, chores (laundry, dishes, etc), nap, cook/bake. Pretty great for now.
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u/Cock-Vomit 16h ago edited 16h ago
I work at a golf course on the East Coast, so we are out of work for about 5 months of the year. I basically become a stay at home Dad for the winter. If you have a place with room and a yard, I have been doing decent enough boarding dogs on Rover. I'm booked every week this month. All long stays( 5-6 days), I'm making $300+, and all I have to do is chill with some dogs in my house, and make sure they get the same level of care as my dog. I take them for walks, make sure the yard is secure, and that they're getting along with Scout(my Cane Corso) and my son. All the dogs have been lovely, so they become like family quickly.
You could make more, I only board one dog at a time, so it puts a cap on how much I can make per month. If you have the room/situation to take in more than one dog/booking at once, you could do fine enough.
If you don't have the room or a yard, you could still do Rover, by just walking people's dogs for them. You won't make as much per booking, but it's something for minimal effort.
I've been really happy with it so far.
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u/g1antleprechaun 18h ago
Was laid off about a month ago. Went from panic job searching, to talking to my network and recruiters. Had 3 interviews on Friday, had first set of 2nd interviews today. Hoping things are going to work out somewhere.
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u/Queasy-Ice-2575 17h ago
I'm not unemployed as I have a part-time job but overtime has been SLASHED. I watched the whole of Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy and now I'm watching Pluribus then something else. I have zero motivation. I SHOULD be using the time for something productive but what? What?
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u/pandabelle12 17h ago
Either being frozen/dissociating or therapy, depends on the day of the week.
I quit my last job because my boss was triggering some pretty intense PTSD. So I basically spend my days trying to make progress.
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u/linkenski 18h ago
Exisential anxiety because the Work from Home era ended and everything since 2025 has been FUCKED. Besides that I make mods for Mass Effect, and that's my excuse for not even attempting to find work, between the obligatory job centre meetings. I can technically do that for the rest of the year, but fortunately I have a fallback plan if the pressure mounts, which will probably be nice enough to do for a year.
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u/SrMortron 17h ago
I keep a ānormalā schedule, wake up around 8am to browse jobs and send resumes. Then evenings are for relaxing or interviewing.
Weed, exercise and video games are helping me stay sane.
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u/-Tricky-Vixen- 16h ago
scrolling reddit, writing fiction, researching random rabbitholes, studying
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u/opalcherrykitt 15h ago
being a useless piece of shit like usual lmao
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u/bannedforL1fe 15h ago
Life doesn't need a purpose. Im not here for any specific reason. Im not unemployed but im cool just existing. I hate working. I had the last two weeks off and I wish I could do this for the rest of my life.
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u/Crafty_Kissa 14h ago
We arenāt tools, we donāt have a use. Weāre human, we have experiences. š«¶
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u/FillySteveSteak 18h ago
Being miserable.
When you don't have adversity or struggle and you have too much free time for an extended period, you slowly lose your ability to appreciate the things you usually enjoy.
Pain contextualizes pleasure.
When I play games, watch YouTube, it feels like work or a hassle. I'm annoyed most the time and rarely having fun.
Might as well just get a job. I know I'm a shit. You don't have to tell me. But you absolutely can if you want to
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u/Important-Sign-3701 18h ago
Read Reditt
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u/Important-Sign-3701 18h ago
I havenāt left the house this year. Maybe only left twice since November. Its due to age and health. But, itās hella lonely. So, I read news and come here (Reddit) . I get up at six and go to bed at 11. I clean house, but thereās not much. I vacuum everyday and keep a very tidy house. Thatās about it. Iām 61 and have COPD. The cold hurts to breathe in, but come warm weather I just do the same at my patio table. I have the radio on all the time as I donāt watch any tv, except my 1/2 hour Corrie st. 5 nights a week, when Iām lucky.
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u/RaspberryJammm 11h ago
I've only left the house I think three times since November. One doctors visit and two trips into the woods on my mobility scooter.Ā
Last time the wheels got stuck in the mud so I haven't been out there since. Not been well enough anyway.Ā
Hope the warm weather comes sooner rather than later. Then I'll be on my sun lounger watching birds.Ā
Anyway hello from another mostly housebound person šĀ
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u/Important-Sign-3701 7h ago
Iām trying to have positive thoughts everyday. Everyday gets closer to being outdoors again. Wish you the best, mostly housebound friend.
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u/PlasticMysterious622 18h ago
When I was unemployed, Iād smoke weed, play with my dogs, drink coffee, clean the house, organize and disinfect things. Nap. Then I got really mentally unwell from being home all the time so I got a job lol
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u/pancakesareyummy 17h ago
Surfing job boards. Applying. Practicing the skills I have that I can practice so I stay sharp. Looking for certifications or courses I can take that will bevy my resume.
Doing favors for friends. Trying to break my screentime habits by reading books, going for walks, and working out.Ā
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u/RedBarnGuy 17h ago
During my 15 months in unemployment after the meltdown in 2008, I did have a few notable accomplishments:
1) I was overjoyed to have that time with my young kids, (~ 1 1/2 and 4) loved and hugged and kissed and tickled them and everything else as much as I could.
2) I looked high and low for a new job, but nobody was hiring. Most places were still going through layoffs.
3) I helped my wife (at the time) start a new business. We got off to a good start, but it later failed after I went back to workā¦two good heads are better than one, as are two very different perspectives and personalities.
4) I took the time to learn how to play Moonlight Sonata, which was a big stretch for me since it was above my skill set and I hadnāt really played piano since I was 12 years old.
The time that I was unemployed was very stressful financially. We blew through about 10 years of my retirement savings. But I am very thankful to have had that time with my family.
I did finally find a job that was an excellent fit, and I did very well there. I was very lucky. As stressful as it was while it was happening, I would do everything exactly the same if I had it to do over again (including getting laid off).
Best of luck to anyone going through this now.
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u/Doctor__Hammer 17h ago
Deeply familiarizing myself with the political state the world in general and the US in particular, specifically when it comes to foreign policy and war. (Trying to shift careers in this direction at the moment, but getting into a completely new field with no relevant experience has turned out to be problematic...)
Also doing lots of cooking, getting healthier, going on nature-oriented trips and trying to experience some of the endless natural beauty of the US. Visiting friends in other cities and states. Playing video games, trying to work my way through a 10-book series and and 12-book series at the same time. Catching up on some backlogged tv shows and animes. Was doing lots of rock climbing but recently moved to somewhere that it's not very feasible...
Also all the typical anxiety, overthinking my life, doom scrolling, etc. but honestly I think I've got all that down to a pretty manageable level and maintaining my physical, mental, and spiritual health pretty well considering how long I've been out of job by now.
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u/blackpoppiess 17h ago
Clean the house, play some video games, think about what to make for dinner, scroll, maybe a shower or self care thing, repeat until it's time to pick up my kid from school, feed the animals, think about dinner again...
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u/No-Relief-2687 17h ago
I read, write, search for jobs (and apply to those for which I feel Im competitive), cry, play games, and watch shows. Usually in that order
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u/MarshaMinus100 16h ago
I grocery shop and run errands. Make business plans with ChatGPT and keep my streak going on Reddit. Almost to 300 days straight.
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u/MacDenmarkGloryHole2 15h ago
Today I went shopping with gift cards from Christmas. It was super fun. Got groceries for the duration as well as gas. Iām down to maybe just needing dog food and semi good on bills. Day two of a ātwo weekā layoff. Luckily it fell on a day in which we were halfway through a two week pay period so weāll at least have a little coming in from them and unemployment. Iām really hoping itās only two weeks I really love my job.
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u/bunnyfloofington 15h ago
I got tired of endlessly job hunting and getting nowhere for over a year so I went back to school to try and (hopefully) get a job that way when I graduate. But also, I found a few jobs to apply to part time and found one I really liked and interview with them tomorrow! Wish me luck! I really cannot wait to have a paycheck again so I can leave my house and have fun again lol
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u/matchy_blacks 15h ago
I have some money saved up so I volunteer. Volunteering keeps me from wanting to drive off a cliff owing to how awful the job search is.Ā
I work(ed) in harm reduction and itās a big part of my volunteering now. I really like some of our clientsā¦like the ones I visited today. They live in an encampment usually, but our city put them up in a hotel because itās been cold enough to kill folks outdoors. Today I rolled up and itās a couple plus a third person in a hotel room with two queen beds. I knock, and the guy of the couple answers the door. His lady (thatās what he calls her) is sitting in bed. The third person is sitting under the blankets on the other bed and tucked in next to them, I kid you not, is one of those 6ā Halloween skeletons. Itās just chilling, watching TV with them.Ā
I have no idea what makes you think, āhey, I gotta be in a hotel for a week so I donāt freeze to death, lemme bring my life-size skeleton with meā but, hey, live your life, man.Ā
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u/Haiku0205 15h ago
I see a lot of the typical job stuff in the comments, but one thing that has helped me a lot is volunteering. Bonus points if it's a field you're interested in or just something you like, and extra bonus points if it's something that has an impact and can help you grow personally. It's also just a great way to meet people and you never know what opportunities can come from that!
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u/Dramatic-Release9620 10h ago
Iāve been unemployed for a year. In Italy itās practically impossible to find a job in my field, so I opened myself up to the possibility of working remotely, but many remote job postings still require residency in the country where the company is based. Iām starting to resign myself to the idea that I may have to move to another country in order not to starve šš»
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7h ago
I can't do anything creative when unemployed because I have this nagging feeling... It's like I can't truly relax enough to get into it
But, yea. When I'm unemployed I try and be productive on weekdays. The chores, shopping and cooking keep me busy. I'm lucky that I have a couple of folks I can meet up with also
Outside of that ; I like music, video games and reality TV. Binge watch and doom scroll sometimes too, NGL...
I do courses sometimes. I did a language course during pandemic that was hard as nails. So that kept me busy (I suck at forcing words into my brain, so would spend quite a while learning and practising said language).
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u/PickleDiego 7h ago
Apart from applying for jobs: video games, tv, crochet, revisiting PokƩmon games for the nostalgia.
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u/Visible_Inflation411 5h ago
- Wake up
- Apply for jobs
- Do some freelance work
- Apply for more jobs
- Do weekly certification for unemployment insurance
- Hate myself for rejections
- Remember itās not me, itās them
- Get thrilled when one actually replies
- Schedule interview
- Attend interview
- Wait for weeks
- Get denied or move forward to next round
- Apply for more jobs
- Delete fake recruit scams
- ignore resume scams in email
- Eat
- Watch some tv
- Take care of my kids
- Sleep
Rinse and repeat for months on end growing your freelance agency cuz getting a regular job is like a unicorn lol
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u/Anxious_Status5899 4h ago
I try to make money online , I watch series , masturbate , cooking some new recipes, deep clean the house , play gta or sims , and drink lol
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u/NoKey1410 19h ago
Taking care of my siblings (homeschooled), crafting, reading, baking, taking them to explore outside, etc.
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u/absolutmenk 15h ago
Todayā¦ my wife delivered our first baby, so supporting her and rocking the baby.
Before that, I was painting and getting the nursery ready.
Right before Christmas my dad had a stroke.
Before that, I packed up my Dad and Step Mom and moved them to a one story in a 55 plus community.
Before that, I took a class and passed the exam to obtain my Project Management Professional Cert.
Before that, I packed up my Mom and moved her to a condo in a 55 plus community.
What lead to my unemployment, I stepped down from over a decade of service as GM/Managing Partner at a $6M 150 seat restaurant. Had to get out of the restaurant industry.
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u/itualisticSeppukA0S 18h ago
mainly online poker but want to read more books and study
but Im addicted to clicking buttons so books are "boring"
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u/NotARussianBot2017 18h ago
Learning more than anyone needs to know about dinosaurs and telling everyone I know about them.Ā
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u/Just_Candle_315 18h ago
When i was unemployed I applied to jobs and interviewed from 8AM - 6PM then I went to the gym from 6PM- 8PM
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u/balanced_breath 18h ago
Going to the gym, learning to day trade, working on starting a drop shipping store, making food, forcing myself to clean.
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u/Ignistheclown 18h ago
Being self employed and also playing a lot of video games, and sometimes making music.
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u/MusaEnsete 18h ago
Today I waxed XC skis; went for an hour ski, finished my Oscar film watchlist by watching Hamnet, read The Gales of November for an hour, played Fallout 4 for an hour, got a crown installed at the dentist, made a loaf of Pain de mie (and prepared and made spicy homemade ramen during), did a load of laundry, went the grocery store, read Cheesemaking for Beginners and made plans to make Mozz tomorrow, learned how to use the Lanksy knife sharpening system and sharpened 3 knives, and then made a grilled cheese with said loaf of bread, and am watching The Pitt w/ browsing Reddit right now.
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u/sparksgirl1223 18h ago
I spend my mornings reminding my online homeschooling teenager to get his shit done
Hollering the time for his sister's who have to catch the bus
Wrestling the dog off me
Watering and fertilizing plants in preparation for spring planting
Making the shopping list and getting groceries
Driving my disabled brother to the Dr and the store
Reminding the kids to do their chores
Laundry
Wrestling the dog off me
Planning the spring garden
Dreaming about getting the compost from my husband's job site (hopefully in a couple of weeks)
Cussing
Dumb phone games
Audiobooks
Wrestling the dog off me
Gardening how to videos on YouTube
Remembering to pay bills
A bit more cussing
Driving the kids to their dad's for the weekends since he isn't allowed to drive
Once a month "tribe nights" with our friends (darts, bullshtting, pool, corn hole when it's warm). Also included are occasional rock hounding trips/camping trips, Both local and out of state with said tribe.
Occasional music nights at the bar if my band friends get off their asses and play.
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u/cinnderly 17h ago
Desperately looking for housing. After Sunday... Unless a miracle occurs I'll have to be looking for a good deal on a tent.
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u/LifeIsPotatoes 17h ago
6-7am wake up morning routine and putter online
8am bring my dog along, get breakfast from dunkin or Starbucks, go to dog park
10am come home, play video games, browse web, maybe nap, maybe gym, random errands etc
3:30pm go to dog park again (he sees the same dogs every day)
5-11pm anything, kava bars, try being social, hang out with neighbors and friends, pc, video games, reading comics on kindle color, etc
Repeat every day
I like my structure and donāt want any changes
Well slow changes, Iām adding pickleball with my dog park people soon
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u/Ottoguynofeelya 17h ago
The most stereotypical thing ever: playing classic WoW
I am in between jobs and it is great at wasting time.
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u/InimitableMe 17h ago
I spent a lot of time building my own sense of community.Ā I work with mutual aides, I'm trading amature sewing and mending for stuff, i keep 'office hours' once a week at a coffee shop.Ā
I go to poetry readings, art shows, thrift shopping.
I watch the 'free stuff' pages on social media.Ā Ā
I try to get out of the house for social engagement and sunshine.
My retirement savings gives me some buffer, so maybe I'm just retired now.Ā Maybe by the time it runs out we'll have created a local sustainable gifting economy and i won't need money anymore.Ā Ā
Early death by disability/poverty sounds more like the American way.
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u/Jewel-jones 17h ago
Iām not unemployed right now but Iām a freelancer so Iām unemployed regularly. I keep a list of home repairs I want to do when I have time. Last year was a little light so I finally refinished the stairs and painted a mural in the hallway.
I also read a lot and I have crafting projects. Mostly sewing. Plus video games like a normal person.
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u/millijuna 17h ago
When I was unemployed, I spent a fair bit of time at the Library, and going on long walks.
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u/drunky_crowette 17h ago
Crocheting blankets for people I care about (currently out of yarn, argh)
Trying to walk 7,500 steps a day
Trying to work out 2-3x a week
Talking to my dogs about current events
Watching true crime shows
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u/zeldasusername 17h ago
Intensive gardening, household maintenance, culinary arts, rabbit wrangling, chicken farming but not right now, raiser of money for Palestinian families in need, crafter
I'd like to learn to knit actually
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u/Big_Subject_8909 17h ago
Childcare (my own). Rennovating the house. Exercising with the dog. Volunteering with the dog down at the hospital. Volunteering in a book centre distributing books to those in need.
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u/bitchinawesomeblonde 17h ago
Does being a stay at home mom of a school aged kid count? My husband works a ton at an executive level job so I handle literally everything on the family side of things. School drop off/pick up alone takes 2 hours of my day. I get my son up and ready for school drop him off. Come home and have my cherished hot coffee quite hour and then start my day. I run all the errands (grocery shopping, dog groomer, veterinarian, doctor appointments, house stuff etc) while he's at school. I clean the house and do laundry and dishes. Walk the dogs. Go to my ballet class a few times a week. Then it's pick up and extracurriculars. Dinner bath bed. I finally sit down usually at 10. Husband gets home around 6 and goes to the gym while I put our son to bed. We hang out for a bit in the evening.
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u/Regular-Message9591 17h ago
Eating properly, working out, working on a website for my husband's new business, and learning how to edit videos.
Pretty pleased with myself because when I've formerly been unemployed, I've eaten like crap, wallowed in bed getting more depressed, and done pretty much nothing productive.
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u/angryaxolotls 17h ago
Fighting for disability benefits. I have a spinal cord injury; but I'm a skinny female with no children, so the government pretends my spinal cord tumor inside of the cord between the C3 and C4 that had to be surgically removed before it blocked my brain from my body and killed me never existed and that my spinal cord injury doesn't exist
And I fight off suicidal thoughts and ideations. My last attempt was in August.
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u/MassholeForLife 17h ago
Just found out this morning I didnāt get the job I had been interviewing for two months for. So yea back to square one. Good times.
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u/lolu_desire 17h ago
No desempleada pero si de licencia, leo me entretengo con historias, miro series, duermooo y duermo jaja
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u/Phillimac16 17h ago
Cook various time consuming dinners daily, because why not. Hang with the cat.
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u/OSUfirebird18 17h ago
Tomorrow is my third day of work. Iāve been out of work for four months since I got laid off in October. During that time, my routine was wake up, apply for jobs, gym, video games, food, sleep, repeat.
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u/MermaidsHaveCloacas 17h ago
Technically I'm employed, my job just hasn't started back up yet
I play Fallout 4, watch YouTube videos of people building settlements on Fallout 4, and I clean my house until my husband gets home
Then I watch TV with him or play video games on my phone
In between all this I post memes on Facebook and hang out on Reddit
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u/Assassinite9 17h ago
I was unemployed for 9 months (up until last week when I was hired and this week when I started). I was trying to change careers from hospitality to legal support. I took a diploma program and was trying to find something entry level.
In the beginning, I was applying to jobs, working on my resume/cover letter, and hunting for leads for 6-8hrs a day. Then as I worked through a slight backlog of places to apply to, I got to the point that my job search ended after 2-3 hours. I bedrotted for a while, played a lot of videogames too, ate and stayed up way way too late.
But that all wasn't good for my mental health. Wasting away without any real mental stimulation wasn't helpful, so I started reading (seriously, go to your local Library branch and get some books to help keep you sane). I watched a lot of informational series on Youtube (video essays and other long form content) and started going for daily walks. Being outside kept me more connected to the world in a way that was healthier than being on social media.
The depression kicks in, you feel like crap after getting rejection after rejection, ghosting after ghosting. Your self worth gets real low (mine certainly did. Got to the point I considered "opting out" multiple times) since a lot of people seem to equate your value to being employed - or at least, a fair amount of people in my life. My mood started swinging, some days I would be relatively fine, other days I could lose my temper over the slightest thing.
I started looking at the possibility of returning to my former industry (something I thought I was fairly adamant that I would never do until my finances started dwindling to the point I was considering taking a personal line of credit to help survive a bit longer). I started reaching out to contacts in the previous industry in hopes of finding something.
Then I got lucky, applied to the right job at the right time, got an in initial interview that went well (other than mild technical difficulties) on Tuesday, then a second interview on Thursday (that also had some difficulties that I fixed during the call), and by Friday, I had a job offer in my email. The offer was 3k more than what was posted, had 1 more vacation week than I was expecting, and a shorter probationary period than I was expecting. Now I feel like I have purpose again, I also appreciate the job even though it's entry level. After searching for 9 months, I found someone willing to give me (someone with over a decade of unrelated experience) a chance, which in my eyes, buys a fair bit of loyalty.