I've been (semi-)intentionally unemployed for a little over a year now, and I reached a point a couple months ago where I just LOST IT at the prospect of having to continue to make decisions at every moment of every day about what to do next. I even have a daily checklist of about 15 things I need to do every day to keep making at least minimal progress toward my goals, but because none of them had assigned times, I was still having to choose every. damn. thing.
So I decided the list should be done before lunch, which meant I could pick anything on the list, but it had to be something on the list. And after lunch, I have a list of three big-picture projects I can work on. I can choose any one of them, but it has to be one of them. Their next steps are reasonably well laid out, because I don't think I do generally have executive dysfunction issues, so I get to pick one of three projects and work on it until dinner.
This has saved my sanity. I don't waste very much time at all now. I don't do well with strict routines, but these buckets take so much of the guess work out. In the morning, 15 options. In the afternoon, only 3. It's so much more manageable.
How do you juggle errands and other ad-hoc responsibilities? I really like your approach and I’ve implemented something similar but I struggle with that 3rd bucket I’m trying to get at. I would really appreciate your input!
Errands usually get pinned on an appointment in the same general area. I try to stack those on one of two days a week so I'm not getting interrupted every day.
If there are random phone calls and stuff to make, they usually and up right before lunch if I finish the checklist early, or right after otherwise.
This site is insane. I can't imagine being unemployed for over a year. If I were unemployed for a month I'd be fucked.
Your life sounds incredibly difficult, my heart goes out to you, I'm so glad you are coping with gliding through life.
Edit: After reconsidering, it's true. Given a year of reflection, we can all better ourselves. Let us all realize it's only a year of not working that can fix us.
Lol why are you surprised that a forum dedicated to professionals in a very high paying field with low barriers to entry has people with a ton of disposable income?
I highly recommend living well within your means, and having simple tastes. I've never made more than $80k in a year, but rarely have I spent more than half of it.
Most expenses are hackable. I bought the most reliable car with the most ubiquitous used part availability. It's 17 years old and has 235k miles on it. I pay $180 per year for my phone plan (unlimited talk/text and 5GB data on a Verizon MVNO). I've cut my own hair for years using a goofy tool called a Robocut. It's 4 inches long all over (I'm female). People tell me they love the layers. If you can pull enough of a cash cushion out before the beginning of the year so you can spend out of your savings, if you make or realize capital gains on $21,800 of income, you can get health insurance for <$50 with a $0 deductible and <$2k OOP max. Life doesn't actually have to be expensive.
I like working in startups, so it's normal for me to be out of work for ~1 year out of every 4 or 5.
This inspiring. Keep it up and good luck! I like working in startups too and live well below my means. Have had about the same cadence as you re: being out of work. I have a dependent so my calculus is a little different, but similar on par.
My non-startup friends do not understand. They're always this funny mix of confused, worried, and jealous when I take a break, but I've never had an interview for a startup job where anyone cared about any gaps in my resume.
Hey man. Consider that it's useful to get perspectives from people who are in situations different from your own. They're not telling you that you suck for not being in their position.
So I decided the list should be done before lunch, which meant I could pick anything on the list, but it had to be something on the list. And after lunch, I have a list of three big-picture projects I can work on. I can choose any one of them, but it has to be one of them. Their next steps are reasonably well laid out, because I don't think I do generally have executive dysfunction issues, so I get to pick one of three projects and work on it until dinner.
This has saved my sanity. I don't waste very much time at all now. I don't do well with strict routines, but these buckets take so much of the guess work out. In the morning, 15 options. In the afternoon, only 3. It's so much more manageable.