For some time now, I've been harping on the bogus government unemployment statistics. At the very minimum, 17%, if not 20% of the workforce is either out of work or seriously underemployed. These figures don't begin to tell half the story because the cast of characters who make up the pool of unemployed workers is constantly changing. What I mean by that, is that Joe Smith might be unemployed today but when he gets a job next week, chances are that another American, maybe his wife or his neighbor, will replace him on the unemployment line. This recession could very well inflict periodic unemployment on as many as one out of every three workers. So, given those odds, it's worthwhile to muse on how best to deal with a pink slip. Not to minimize the trauma of dealing with a major loss of income or having to put your career on hold, but there is a silver lining or those who have mastered the art of cheap living. If you've saved your pennies and have a low cost lifestyle, a few months of unemployment can end up being like a welcome sabatical.
Here's 7 ways to kick back and make the best of it.
Physically Fit:
While your former co-workers grind out the late nights trying to hold on to their jobs, you'll be free to spend endless hours on the treadmill, taking yoga classes, or pumping some serious iron. In a few months, you'll be looking buff while they'll be complaining that they haven't seen the inside of the gym since Bush was President. The real payback comes when you head to the beach this coming summer. And being in top physical condition might help you land a great job.
World Travel:
While those unemployment checks keep coming in, you could be spending them in New Zealand or Argentina and taking advantage of super cheap off-season rates. If any of your resumes get pulled they can still contact you via email or leave a voicemail. In this economy, chances are that it will take time to land another job, so why worry? Take in the grandeur of the pyramids or the Taj Mahal before you have to return to the 40 hour work week.
Bond with your Family:
While both your nuclear and extended family took a back seat as pressing deadlines kept you at the office way past 5 o'clock, your new schedule will have you licking ice cream cones with the kids and actually spending quality time with your spouse. In fact, you may see so much of your family that they start handing out your resume on street corners.
Doc Me Up:
Another great health benefit is your ability to see a whole host of doctors that you were too busy for when you punched the clock every day. With your temporary COBRA benefits, you'll be getting as much medical attention as you can handle and making certain that you have no big issues. You never know, your lay-off might just save your life.
Dead End No More:
Were you caught up in a dead-end job for years? Your newfound freedom gives you the time to retool and seek employment in a better field. If it weren't for your "misfortune" you might have just continued in your pointless job until the day you retired. Unemployment gives you a fresh start. It's also a good time to pick up skills that are useful around the house - like plumbing and carpentry. Take the time to rediscover the things you like to do and think of ways you can make a career out of it.
Theme Park Madness:
Annual passes at theme parks were never designed for 20% real unemployment. If you ever wanted to see Disney or Universal Studios on the cheap, you'll be doing it for a few bucks a day.With a seasonal ticket, your kids will love getting on each ride a hundred 100 times, and you and your family might just land a contract to stress test roller coasters.
Sleeping Beauty:
Kill your alarm clock. If work and it's inevitable stresses cut your sleep down to 6 hours or less a night, you'll enjoy your newfound freedom to wake up at 9 AM.
There's nothing healthier than getting a solid 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. A few months of that regimen and you'll be ready to take on the world. Sleep deprivation is a killer. Get up when you're done sleeping. Life doesn't get sweeter than that.
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Unemployment allows you to look at what you are doing to make a living and how that is affecting your life and the total picture. For some people it is the first time they have had a chance to take a close look at their career under a microscope. More often than not it is not what they thought they would be doing with their lives. It can become a golden opportunity to reassess and move on to a position in time that is more truly reflective of their skills and talent.Hopefully they have stashed away enough to carry them until the day arrives that they find that special job.
