7 Reasons You Should Enjoy Being Unemployed

It gives me great shame to admit that I am a job snob. I have spent months trying to find an occupation that is as awesome as I am. And somehow… I am still unemployed.

With confidence in my worldly experience, charming good looks, and sparkling personality, I have spent the months of April and May applying for only the most desirable and spiritually fulfilling positions I could find on the internet. My mentality was that I would be willing to take a pay cut for something that I found pertinent to my future career aspirations, or sell my soul for the big bucks and achieve my dreams later. Turns out there are a lot of people looking for those kinds of jobs.

When I look back to all the job hunts of my past, they all share a similar existential and anxiety filled theme. But it was within these uncertain times that I found little parts of who I am today. So while you’re here, and have nothing else to do, enjoy this list of seven reasons why you should appreciate being unemployed.

1. Work ethic. Being bored and scared for your future engages the fight or flight feature in your brain. The rejection and loneliness of unemployment tears down the perception that you are “destined” for something and instills a frantic need to define yourself in some way.

2. Working out. You basically have to get a beach bod when all you do is go to the beach right?

3. Humble pie. Suddenly you can sympathize with every awful job anyone has ever complained about. Because you’re about to start applying for them.

4. What do you really want to do? With a lot of time, unfortunately, comes a lot of thinking. And it’s not usually productive. You will take long, deep analyses into what it is you value in life and how you want to be a part of it.

5. Patience. I still ask my mom sometimes how she managed to put up with me, my dad, and a classroom of grade one students for over 25 years and didn’t kill any of us. Having things not go your way now is going to help in life down the line.

6. Sports and rec. I don’t know when the last time was that you read a book, or rode your bike, or played the guitar, or made a meal, but seeing as that to-do list is still empty, you might as well fill it with something fun. Then maybe when you do get that interview you can serenade your way onto the payroll.

7. Creative freedom. This is an extension of the previous one, and it’s the last one on my list. For once you aren’t answering to your boss or your boss’ boss. You can do what you like (within financial and legal restrictions) and you should take advantage of it while you can. Use this excess time and financial crunch to get to know yourself and do something you’ve always wanted to do. Because when you do get that job, you’re going to wish you had time to do stuff like this.

More than likely you’re going to have to work a job (or six) you don’t like. And in the meantime you’ll probably have to write a few blogs about your life just to keep yourself motivated. These jobs, and the times in between them, aren’t going to fill your heart with joy or get you your own TED Talk, but they will grant you the life experience needed to get you closer to your goals. So enjoy the time off while you have it. Because from what I can tell you sitting here on my couch, you might as well.