Unemployment Depression part 2

Things I suggest you can do with your day when all else fails.

1. If you can swing it financially, subscribe to Sirius radio and join the Stern Nation.
Howard Stern is amazing. If you don't agree, I don't think I can relate to you as a person. Every day (that he's not on break) he's on the air for at least 4 hours a day. That's 4 hours of quality comedy. You're not going to get that anywhere else. His show helped me get through my work day and helps me get through the days I'm not working. Plus he's got extra shows like the Wrap Up Show for those who need a postmortem discussion on what they just heard, and the hilarious Greg Fitzsimmons' show.

2. Social networking.
Your friends may not be available during the week if they're working, but they're most likely bored at work and are looking for a distraction just as much as you are. E-mailing, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. are great for entertaining each other when hanging out in person just isn't possible. People's updates give you something to look forward to and social interaction is good for the soul. Plus it makes you feel less like that guy in the Twilight Zone episode who wakes up in a town by himself.

3. Help others.
This doesn't necessarily mean volunteering. It's hard to admit, but some people aren't up for cold-joining a community of strangers. But if you look around, maybe someone else could use an extra pair of hands. Do you have any family nearby that could use your assistance? Maybe a friend who needs help with walking the dog or a grandparent who needs help with their grocery shopping? You'll get out of the house, avoid isolation and as an extra bonus, someone else will benefit from your free time.

4. Avoid daytime TV and save it for the evening.
It's a weird trick to help distinguish daytime from nighttime and helps give structure to your day. Some suggested viewing: The Office (work humor), How The States Got Their Shapes (education with humor), No Reservations (travel with humor), HBO if you can afford it (awesome programming), Modern Family (family with humor), Kitchen Nightmares (screaming with humor), and Conan O'Brien (crazy late night humor). Notice I overused the word "humor"? Because you will desperately need to laugh during this time. The only exception to this rule is if you've found a semi-acceptable soap opera to follow or if Howard Stern is on vacation.

5. The internet can be your friend.
There is a ton of stuff on there that will keep you entertained for hours. Take advantage of it. That's why it's there.

6. Learn to cook new things.
Looking up recipes, doing the shopping required for each recipe and actually executing the recipe will make you hate life less. You're creating and enjoying the results. And, there's never enough to learn. So you're an expert in Italian cooking? Try Mexican cooking. You can bake cakes like it's nobody's business? Try healthy cooking. Plus it's productive in that 1) you're feeding yourself and 2) if you perfect your craft, you can cook for others like your friends or a future mate or whoever walks in your house.

7. Blog.
Even if it's whining on about being unemployed. Someone out there may read it and relate. I've searched out blogs and found that so many others are in my position that I stopped feeling so bad about myself. Maybe someone will read yours and feel better!

8. Look up new music.
Grooveshark.com is awesome for this. Look up new bands, or old bands. Music saves.

9. Hobbies.
When you work you probably aren't thinking about how to fill up your downtime with relaxing activity because the downtime IS the relaxing activity. When you're unemployed, downtime isn't appreciated anymore. Crafts, the aforementioned cooking, writing, photography, carpentry, pottery... whatever your scene is, that's cool. Plus you might find out you're really good at something you didn't know you were good at which could help you find a new professional direction.

10. Laze about.
If you want to watch TV all day, fine. But don't let it interfere with moving forward in your life.

11. Clean.
Yourself and the house. The average person is not that tidy, so most likely your place is cluttered like everyone else's. Make Mom proud and organize your place. When your life does get busier (which it will), it's nice to come home to a clean home. And don't forget to shower. Just because you're not going out doesn't mean you shouldn't keep good personal hygiene.

12. Join a gym.
Again, this gets you out of the house and amongst the people. Plus when it comes time to socialize, you'll feel good about the fact you can still fit into your clothes and that the brownie ice cream you stress ate didn't do too much damage.

Being employed in some form—either part time or full time, self-employed or working for someone else—is obviously preferred to searching YouTube all day. I'm not trying to sugarcoat the situation. It is definitely hard to sit home and think of ways to entertain yourself without spacing out and going into dark mental places. Hopefully I've come up with some ways to help you with that. Or at the very least helped you feel less alone about your situation!