When you first find yourself without work, it might feel more like a gift than a curse. A gift of unlimited free time! You’ve hopefully got a little pocket of savings to get you through the dry patch, so you can live it up in what you expect to be a short interim.

Gone are the mornings of waking up and commuting to a job that doesn’t spark joy. No more spending forty hours a week not being able to follow your dreams. No more grouchy bosses, irritating coworkers...just you and whatever you want to do.

Let a few interviews go by with no return call, and unemployment is starting to feel more and more like a bad deal. Your savings are starting to dwindle, as are your spirits. You’re running out of activities you wanted to get done. You’ve organized every corner of your flat.

The real fear sets in. You could be unemployed forever.

Those feelings are understandable, especially considering the role that work plays in modern life. Many of us see our jobs as a characteristic of our personality, a reason to get out of bed in the morning, a source of pride and motivation. Unlimited free time sounds good in theory, but after a while we just...run out of...stuff to do.

Especially when there’s very little money to do it with.

If you find yourself getting down in the dumps while on a spell of unemployment that feels endless, never fear - you’re not the only one. And we’ve got a few tips to help you pass the time and keep yourself accountable.

Keep busy & stay productive.

Losing motivation can happen easily when you don’t have a goal more specific than “get a darn job”. Especially when you feel nowhere near to achieving it. That’s why making new goals is essential to getting through this rough patch.

You might not have a job, but you do have the gift of time. Make the most of it. Before the two of you become one, peel yourself off that couch and get moving.

Broaden your skills and grow as a person by getting involved with things that will help you do that. Maybe sign up to volunteer with a group that you share a vision with. Try taking a class on a skill you’ve always wanted to learn - even if it’s not something that’s going to get you a new job.

If you can’t manage those types of activities, make sure that at the very least you’re making a schedule for your days. Lay out a few simple goals, like getting to the gym, or filling out a certain number of applications. Achieving something, however small, can give you enough momentum to keep going.

Reflect on your current position.

“Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it”, or something like that. So make sure you spend time on self-reflection.

There’s options on how to go about the practice, and since you’ve got the time, try them all. Get yourself a journal and start on a couple prompts. Meditate. Go to therapy. Have long talks with a friend or trusted mentor.

You have more time to think than you ever have before. Use it.

Figure out what exactly led you to the position you are now. Were you fired for a reason? Were you burned out on your last job? And most importantly, what do you really want to be doing?

Once you know that, mapping out next steps won’t be nearly as hard.

Focus on connection.

If the rumors are true, then being successful is at least fifty percent about who you know. So while on this employment dry spell, you better start knowing everyone.

Try checking out local networking events, even if they’re not in a field you’re interested in. Meeting people and broadening your web can only help you in the long run. Maybe even attend a meet-up for a hobby or interest of yours. New friends are only one good interview away from becoming new coworkers!

In the same vein, start reaching out to friends you already have. You’ve got time to spend with them now, for sure - so do it! Go to happy hours with their coworkers. Meet their kids. We need all the care we can get in this lonely world.

Make LinkedIn your true friend, reach out and connect with all your industry peers, when connecting select the add note section and casually mention your available for work. LinkedIn members are more likely to accept invitations that include a personal note, therefore select the ‘add note’ section and casually mention you're available for work.

In this example I approach and connect with Donald Trump Jnr, but you should be targeting employers you want to work for - good luck - any feedback on what messages work best for you would be great feedback.

Gorge yourself on content.

You may be full of energy when your time first freed up, but after a little too much freedom, it’s easy to get discouraged and - well - lazy. Maintaining energy and inspiration is essential to moving forward, and a great way to do that is to keep a steady stream of stories and ideas flowing in.

Grab a few books at your local library. Not just those sci-fi novels you like, but a variety of topics. Try a memoir, check out historical non-fiction, or maybe even a self-help book.

On the go a lot? Pop in your headphones and listen to a few podcasts. There are podcasts out there on every subject you can imagine - and at least one hundred that haven’t even occurred to you.

Go to the movies. Not only those dreadful superhero movies - check out some arthouse films. Watch a couple documentaries. Maybe even a foreign flick.

Now is the time to learn new things, expose yourself to new ideas. The more you know, the more you grow.

Update your CV.

Giving your CV a fresh look and feel will help you to restore confidence in your abilities, reaffirming what you know and what you are good at. Try new ideas, new designs, tailored cover letters, just mix things up. These CV Tips and CV Template Ideas might help drive inspiration.

Improving the effectiveness of your CV will create more conversations with employers and recruiters which in turn will help boost your confidence, gain feedback and practice the essential job search skills.

Make a CV that an employer will find hard to ignore…

Don’t wallow.

Perhaps the hardest part of it all is refusing to succumb to the sadness. The feelings of being unworthy. The let-down each time you get denied. When we feel like our lives are stagnating, it’s natural to feel a little sorry for ourselves. Especially in the modern world of social media comparison.

It’s okay to sit with those feelings once in a while. Every now and again, we need to face the music and sit in our bathtub with a pint of ice cream and cry it out. What’s important is making sure you get out of there before the water is cold, before the pint is gone, and get back to your daily life.

Get back to making your dreams become a reality.