A Look at Funemployment

I read an article in the paper the other day, which stared me straight in the face and said “Courtney, this is about you”. It was titled “Unemployed? More like Funemployed: Today's out-of-work twenty and thirty-somethings are enjoying their leisure time with ultimate frisbee and travel over getting in the job hunt”. It also had a picture of a young woman working on her tan. Check, check, check, yes you got me.

But I thought I would try to rectify this misconception that it’s so easy and stressfree not being employed. In fact, for some of us, this state of funemployment is not all that different from having a job. Despite not being on someone’s payroll, some of us are still naturally inclined to carry out research in our everyday lives. I recently went out for a walk with a girlfriend of mine and she pointed this out to me. I had confessed to her that despite being unemployed at the moment, having all the time in the world to do nothing, I was overwhelmed. She asked why and I said I was getting carried away by my own curiosity. I kept coming up with different things to do to occupy my time; it’s as if I was trying to get a PhD in relaxation. My friend, also a fellow academic and curious spirit, nonchalantly told me, well that’s just you, you’re a “researcher” and inquisitive so you’re always looking into something new. For the past month I have researched every possible yoga studio in Toronto, every Buddhist meditation centre, vegetarian restaurant, and countless volunteer opportunities that might suit my interests. This is all mixed in with the fact that I’m trying to find a job, maintain my social network, and spend time with my family. Funemployment is exhausting!

But does it have to be this way? How silly (and spoilt) is it to be stressed over planning my cottage hopping weekends and organizing lunch dates!

For the past four days, I was lucky enough to detach myself from the city and head up north to my cottage to enjoy the long overdue summer weather. Up there, my inner researcher was challenged. Hesitantly, my mind paused. It had no resources to tap into. I had no places to go scope out, no websites to get lost in, and no people to network with. Finally, bliss!

Or boredom?

I have to admit, it took me about a day or two to settle into this new frame of mind. With no NOW magazine to read about this month’s exciting events in the city and gmail to whip up some “know of anyone who might be looking for…” type emails, I had to just settle for my book and sit with nature.

I figured, this constant research quest is like an addiction, though slightly less lethal. As soon as I am tempted with the use of the internet or access to what’s going on, my mind goes into a state of excitement, ecstasy at the possibilities that could unfold when I click on the “search” button. But without these resources I was left hanging, a researcher stranded in a space that could not further my goals. Or could it?

As it turned out, this space gave me a chance to reflect. Something that I did really well on my meditation retreats in India, but the difference was, there I went in with the purpose of reflecting and taking time to question what it was that I wanted. Now, I am unemployed and feel like I need to take action fast. But I’ve had to shift this mentality and see slowing down as very worthwhile for its own sake. Everything I learnt in India came back to me. I wasn’t being stimulated by outside things or given the opportunity to plan next week’s “fun” activities. I just had to enjoy doing “nothing”. This made me realize, even when I’m in the city looking for leisurely things to do, that process can be anxiety provoking and stressful. And it doesn’t have to be that way if I balance it with some isolated “me-time”, not being active (or proactive to be more accurate) but rather, reflective.

So over those days at the cottage, I revelled in my funemployment and I spent my time writing and thinking and feeling. I slowed down and was able to really focus. Clarity was the result; without being clouded by distractions I could start to see what it is that I want to achieve this summer and what my future intentions are. I can’t say that I have found all the answers, but I can say that without this “forced” passive time, I would be completely lost in my excessive research and never come up with my main thesis!