Ground Rules
Today is my first day of being unemployed. Based on what I learned the last time I was out of work, I've set down some ground rules:
Ground rules for being unemployed
1. No television between 9 am and 5 pm. I may watch 2 hours of television on Friday afternoon if I have completed everything on my agenda for that week. I may watch films and documentaries from Netflix or the library in the name of fiction research, but only one per day.
2. I must take a shower as soon as I get up, or at least shortly after eating breakfast.
3. I must eat breakfast.
4. Every Sunday evening, I will write up a daily schedule for the upcoming week.
5. Things that MUST get taken care of every week: sending writing goals to my writing buddy, revising Novel 2, researching and writing Novel 3, researching and writing Would-Be Magnum Opus, looking for and applying for jobs, professional development, work on the house.
6. I will shop for groceries at the West Side Market every Monday or Friday, and I will make large batches of things from scratch to freeze.
7. I will volunteer one day per week, preferably at the Cleveland Memory Project.
8. I will blog every day.
9. I will get out of the house and use my bus pass every day, Monday-Friday.
10. There will be no tears or despair. I have over the years become as tough as a mummified old boot. This is an opportunity to write, one that I have thrown away time and time again. I might not get a fifth chance.
11. I must write fiction for 2 hours every day. This does not include blogging, revisions, or research.
12. No drinking during the day, except during the course of a business lunch. I may drink during the day on Friday while watching Judge Judy, however, provided that I have accomplished everything on my agenda for the week.
13. I must not “let myself go.” I’m not allowed to wear anything that I wouldn’t wear to work (except for when I’m mowing the lawn. My former coworkers thought it was hilarious to watch me operate a pallet jack; they should see me with the lawnmower). I must keep getting regular haircuts, or a the very least, avoid looking like a crazy old hobo.
Ground rules for being unemployed
1. No television between 9 am and 5 pm. I may watch 2 hours of television on Friday afternoon if I have completed everything on my agenda for that week. I may watch films and documentaries from Netflix or the library in the name of fiction research, but only one per day.
2. I must take a shower as soon as I get up, or at least shortly after eating breakfast.
3. I must eat breakfast.
4. Every Sunday evening, I will write up a daily schedule for the upcoming week.
5. Things that MUST get taken care of every week: sending writing goals to my writing buddy, revising Novel 2, researching and writing Novel 3, researching and writing Would-Be Magnum Opus, looking for and applying for jobs, professional development, work on the house.
6. I will shop for groceries at the West Side Market every Monday or Friday, and I will make large batches of things from scratch to freeze.
7. I will volunteer one day per week, preferably at the Cleveland Memory Project.
8. I will blog every day.
9. I will get out of the house and use my bus pass every day, Monday-Friday.
10. There will be no tears or despair. I have over the years become as tough as a mummified old boot. This is an opportunity to write, one that I have thrown away time and time again. I might not get a fifth chance.
11. I must write fiction for 2 hours every day. This does not include blogging, revisions, or research.
12. No drinking during the day, except during the course of a business lunch. I may drink during the day on Friday while watching Judge Judy, however, provided that I have accomplished everything on my agenda for the week.
13. I must not “let myself go.” I’m not allowed to wear anything that I wouldn’t wear to work (except for when I’m mowing the lawn. My former coworkers thought it was hilarious to watch me operate a pallet jack; they should see me with the lawnmower). I must keep getting regular haircuts, or a the very least, avoid looking like a crazy old hobo.
posted by Christine Borne at 6:16 AM
10 Comments:
I think these are good goals. The most important thing to do when you are unemployed is to provide yourself structure. When I was unemployed a few years ago I did everything wrong so I basically ended up sleeping all day, waking up in time for the afternoon talk shows, and then sitting up all night listening to Art Bell, too afraid of chupacabra to fall asleep.
But this sounds like good structure. Give yourself things to look forward to, tasks you must complete, etc.
Although I would probably advise against drinking during the day, period, even during JJ. The drinking can be a very slippery slope. The solution, of course, would be to meet up with friends once a week for happy hour at the end of the day. I can help you with this goal.
Also I totally have to say that yes, you should bathe every day and you should dress like a normal person. Also comb your hair. You will still be going out in public, look presentable. Maybe you could turn into one of those fashion bloggers who takes an indulgent picture of the outfit she's wearing every single day and posts it online. What, no?
I made the Friday drinking exception because of when I worked M-Th at Facts on File. I was off every Friday and would have a glass of wine (or two) or a Pimms with lunch, which just seems civilized to me.
Today is unstructured though. I am going to do some calming, artist-brain things like paint the foyer, bake bread, listen to Philip Glass, and take a walk over to Chelsea's.
God, I wish i would have set some ground rules when i was laid off in January. I am finally starting to use my time in a more productive way. Productive to me might mean cleaning my apartment, blogging and exercising...but hey.
#1, #2 and #10 are key. Seriously. I don't know how many weeks/months I spent moping around in my pjs feeling sorry for myself. I've been working since I was 15....I don't think I've ever NOT had a job. So I really didn't know what to do with myself.
It sort of gives you a chance to remember what you're really all about.
Also, how can you watch Judge Judy and NOT drink? and i would strongly suggest not breaking #12 in an attempt to accomplish #13, i.e. getting drunk and cutting your own hair. trust me....yikes.
Good luck :)
Oh boy, Kristen. Five months is a long time. Don't waste this opportunity! I can't tell you the number of times I said to myself over the past year, "I wish I would've done more writing during the time I was laid off." Now is the time! Seize the day!
Also, I'm adding two more to the list:
14. I will not purchase bottles of wine over $10 until I get an income stream again.
15. I will make the bed every morning, wipe off the bathroom sink, and make sure the kitchen is tidy.
Excellent ground rules.
I will agree with the objection to drinking during the day, except in the company of friends. Rather than spend money you don't have, going out to meet said friends at a happy hour, invite them to share the delicious scratch meals and drink THEN.
And I'll also secind the 'don't cut your hair when you're drunk' rule. In fact, don't even color your hair when you're drunk. Been there. It ain't pretty.
Good luck!
Christine -
First, I'm sorry about your situation. I was let go from the same institutional madhouse a few years back. There are many battle-scared veterans from the same place - the city is full of us. They are doing very poorly and have been for years and years and years. I worry about them too. I can't imagine how the people who are left are going to deal.
I agree that leaving the work undone on one's desk is just as bad as leaving the extended "family," because serving 8 to 10 hours a day - in your case in the basement - with people that you like, have similar interests, who 'get' you - it's a loss, plain and simple.
So deal with it as you can. My suggestion is leave some moping time (long walks are good), and then work your plan. Again, a suggestion is to make plans to network. You're NOT going to find a job over the internet - well, ok, you might, but it would have odds like the lottery. If you're not hooked into the job seeking/networking groups in town, let me know...I'd be happy to recommend some to you. (I mean - if you're interested - I don't mean to be a big blabbermouth about it all. But if you'd like to reach me, send to ritawriter2004@yahoo.com.)
I too am out there looking for the next chapter in the career adventure. There are many of us out here. You're not alone. Hang in there.
I like those rules, especially your choice of volunteerism. The Clev Memory Project is a uniquely cool institution. If every recently laid off person were half this disciplined, they'd be a lot better off. I also see you've recently begun Twittering.
Huh. I've never, EVER thought of myself as disciplined. Maybe it's a paradigm shift.
Perhaps my summer research project would be more productive if i took a cue from you...
Love your list. I find being home every day (thankfully it's by choice in my situation) is sometimes difficult. If I don't plan out the day, suddenly I realize it's 5pm and I've accomplished nothing. Or I'm looking at my watching thinking..holy crap, it's only 2pm? What are we going to do till bedtime? The baby's, not mine ;)
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