Stop Singin’ the Unemployment Blues…

Congrats, you got the pink slip. And it’s not the fun, flirty frock above. Read on.

So you’re unemployed. That stinks. The country is in an economic crisis and you’re jobless. Good news is, you’ve hit rock bottom and there’s nowhere left to go but up! Here are 30 tips for keeping the sanity while you look for that perfect new job!

1. Wake up at 8:30 am every day. A schedule will make you feel productive. Sleeping in will just make you feel like a slacker. It’s best to be up and showered and have your coffee each morning as if you are going to work. Try to leave the house at least once a day. Go to where the jobs are!

2. Tell people you’re unemployed! You may just score some sweet deals. One PV staffer did this and has been offered free eyebrow threading and spa treatments because of her jobless status.

3. Save money by brewing your morning coffee at home. Incentive: Starbucks has delicious new brewed coffee flavors naturally infused with vanilla, caramel and cinnamon.  However, if you are crushing on a barista, it is in the best interest of your dating life that you continue to patronize your local coffee shop.  Just downsize to spare your wallet.

4. Take on a new hobby. Photography, painting sea shells, gardening, knitting, and learning to walk in six inch heels can all benefit you in the long run and some can even double as holiday gifts.

5. Go to lunch with your other unemployed friends.  Job hunt afterwords.  If all else fails, go discount shopping.

6. Now’s the time to stay up late and hit those networking events.

7. Make goals and stick to them.  When unemployed, people often procrastinate or shirk responsibilities as there is no one making sure they have completed the tasks at hand.  In order to mitigate this, create goals and hold yourself to them. Small, achievable goals. You will quickly build momentum and surprise yourself with how busy it makes you feel.

8. Watch the Food Network and become such a great chef that you score your own show and push Rachael Ray into oblivion.

9. There is no excuse for missing General Hospital. You’ll be in suspense every weekday until the next episode.

10. Go back to school- for free! Unemployment offers classes at local college campuses and online through SkillSoft. Get certified in Photoshop, InDesign or Illustrator and learn project management, finance, marketing, healthcare and more. Stats: 3,000 companies and over 10 million end users rely on Skillsoft  to provide high quality, tailored training programs in a wide range of essential business and IT skills.  Visit your local One Stop Career Center for more information.  There’s never been a better time to change careers and do what you always dreamed.

11. Discover new things! Whether it’s really cool beauty products or trends or music, it’ll make you feel good and keep your spirits up until you find a job. This unemployment thing can be discouraging!

12.  Take on freelance writing gigs or intern. Keep your resume active! Get your foot in the door- you never know where it may lead.

13. Get tattooed by an apprentice. It’s way less expensive and you can great some great work done. Remember Alistair, Planet Verge’s graphic designer from our zine days?  He’s an apprentice at Body and Soul Tattoo Tattoo in Guttenberg, New Jersey and offering sessions for just $25.  Our staffers have taken full advantage and you should, too.

14. Work part-time!  Unemployment lets you earn a certain amount of money a week by taking on freelance or part-time work. If you do this, you’re also extending your time on unemployment because you’re saving money the state would have been paying you otherwise.  Bonus idea: Work at your favorite store so you get a discount on the items you purchase the most.

15.  Volunteer.  Some opportunities can even lead to career work and will certainly help with expanding that professional contacts list.  Suggestion: Help animals in need at your local  shelter. You can even foster a pet now that you’re home!

16. Get in shape!   You’ve got plenty of free time so set aside some of it for bettering your body! It’s great for you inside and out and will help you stay maintain positive feelings during a time when it’s easy to become discouraged.  Take your dogs for a walk, go for a bike ride, or train for a marathon.

17. Babysit. It’s under the table cash.

18. Let go of your past. Go through all your old crap. Donate clothes you never wear;  burn pictures of exes who broke your heart; say goodbye to your hoop earrings from 7th grade when you were obsessed with Salt ‘N Pepa,; and while you’re at it, trash anything your currently wear that has a skull on it because that was only cool in 2005.

19. Start dating more!  If there was ever a time you needed free meals, it’s now. Is it really so wrong to book a different dinner date every night until you meet your match?

20. Hang out at Barnes and Noble and read the latest issues of your favorite magazines for free. Bonus: Save money by canceling your subscription and increase your chances of meeting new people!

21. Be an extra in film/TV shoots.

22. Start selling stuff on eBay/craigslist, etc. Begin with gifts from your former loves.  Or, get crafty. Make jewelry and sell it on Etsy.

23. Most beauty stores will give you free product samples. Pretend you have skin allergies and need to try everything before you purchase. When you run out, just hit a different store and get more.

24. Brush off that list of contacts.  Dig into your LinkedIn account, old friends from varying companies, and people you have reached out to over the course of your career.  Explain your situation and see if they have heard of any opportunities for which you may be qualified.

25.  Bang. Most salons offer free bang trims to customers. It’s an easy way to keep your style fresh and not worry about being able to afford a full haircut. You can retrieve your mind from the gutter now.

26. Start a business.  If you have had entrepreneurial aspirations or just a desire to start a company, now is the time to test the waters.  Whether you want to sell your wares or provide a service, start researching and testing out plans for your start up.  Do not forget to add this experience to your resume!

27.  Go to a nude beach. Hey, it’s free, you won’t get tan lines and you’ll probably be the only one there so you’ll have plenty of time to contemplate your life.

28. Catch up with old friends. Our careers and busy lives often leave us struggling to maintain all of the relationships we have formed over the years, use this time to catch up with and rekindle all of the friendships that may have fallen by the wayside. Bonus: it’s a proven statistic that friends help keep us positive in times of adversity!

29. Become an author. That’s what Kate Rockland did while she was unemployed. Watch her interview on Planet Verge TV.

30.  Buy a lottery ticket. Maybe fairy tales do come true!

BONUS # 31: If you’re super adventurous, Porky Pig It.

*By Nicole & Joelle, who’ve become experts at this unemployment gig.

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