5 things to do while unemployed

I have a confession to make. I love to read. I love to read almost more than anything else. So for me one of the best things about being unemployed is having extra time to read.

There are tons of things you can read about. You can learn about history, study politics, learn about something odd, something new, or something unexpected. You can even read to brush up on your skills for your job, or to make yourself more marketable for a new job. No employer ever says, "gee I wish my employees were less well read. I wish they just didn't know much."

Plus when you go into an interview you now have new areas of expertise to draw upon. Nothing impresses a hiring manager like quoting from a relevant book or article. It shows that you are current, engaged, and thoughtful.

What's not to like about that?

Just about all of us can stand to spend more time in the gym. Most of us use the excuse "I'm just too busy, I don't have the time to exercise." Well now you have lots of time. Which means exercising is the perfect thing to do while unemployed. You may not have a job, but you now have time. So use it.

Of course you don't need a gym to get in shape. Take a walk. Go for a run. Play in the park with your kids, dogs, or someone else's kids and dog (just ask first!). Do push-ups in your living room. Walk up and down the stairs in your house or apartment complex. Offer to help someone who is moving. Offer to help two people who are moving!

There are lots of ways to stay fit, and many don't cost you a cent.

Ok, well I haven't learned to feed the homeless, but you can! Volunteering not only teaches compassion and empathy, but it also reminds you that no matter how bad your problems are, there are others who suffer worse. This is called perspective. It's hard to feel sorry for yourself when you encounter someone who's suffering makes yours look like a vacation to Disney world!

Volunteering may also have the side benefit of building your network of relationships. In this economy you never know who has a connection to a job. And with stories of thousands of people applying for a single position, you need to know someone to get into the door.

One of the best things to do while unemployed is volunteering. Your talents may save someone from experiencing the pain of unemployment.

When you're unemployed you have lots of time. Many of us spend this time in worry and doubt. But isn't it better to be doing something? Isn't it a better use of your time to learn a new skill? To expand the boundaries of your mind? To find something fun to do?

Developing a hobby is a good thing to do while unemployed. It keeps you occupied. You learn a new skill or knowledge set. You may even make some new friends. But the best benefit of a hobby is that it breaks the cycle of stress and fear. Psychology tells us that we only have so many psychological resources to cope with stress - so the more you worry, the worse you will be. Which means your mom was right, it doesn't help to worry.

Perhaps the most important thing to do while unemployed is continue your job search. It can take hundreds of hours of hard work to find a job. There are rarely shortcuts, and never shortcuts for finding our dream jobs. We must work as hard at looking for new work as we did when we had our old work.

We just can't be consumed with the fear and doubt that surrounds unemployment. Don't give up. Surround yourself with people who care about you. And if you are unfortunate enough to not have true friends - hopefully some of the other steps will help you develop those friends. Volunteering, hobbies, and even exercising can be social activities. You will meet like-minded people, with similar passions and interests. These people can become your support system. Something we all need.

OK, so Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com isn't working out for you? Well no worries. Ok, maybe some worries! But don't give up! Try these other sites. A little networking can go a long way.

LinkedIn - a social networking site for professionals

Facebook - connect with old friends, who knows what they might know!

Go to your local professional groups. Searching for a job in psychology? Join the your local chapter of the APA.

So why should you do all these things while you're unemployed? I think there are two reasons.

1. It helps relieve your stress. If you're consumed by fear, doubt, and worry, how will that help anything? Can fear and doubt land you a job? Will worrying bring you closer to your family? Your friends? Of course not! We must consciously battle against these things.

2. Confidence. if you've done these things (some or all of them) you can confidently walk into your next job interview and when the hiring manager says, "so what have you been doing since your last job?" You can say, "I've read 3 books, lost 10 pounds, helped feed the homeless, learned woodworking skills, and found this job opportunity."

That's much better than "not much." Or "I've looked for a job."

Just because you are unemployed doesn't mean you should stop growing or learning new things. In fact, this may be the best opportunity of your life! We get one shot at this life - make it count!

e. barrett writes
Many of us view God as some impractical, far off, distracted god. But he's not. God is personal. He desperately pursues us and wants a relationship with each of us. The advice that comes from the Bible may be thousands of years old, but it remains relevant and practical. Why? Because who we are as a species hasn't changed. We are every bit as stubborn, prideful, arrogant, hot tempered, lonely, wounded, and excitable as we've ever been.

God knows that. And he knows the pain we all have when we suffer.

If any of what I've written interests you, I encourage you to check out a href=">R3. If not, that's fine too. Take what I've written here and adapt it to your life. Find ways to take your mind off your stress so you can be fully engaged in your life.