Do your job hunting and get that out of the way first, now, why not plan your weekend? Having something to look forward to helps to keep me positive through out the week. Remember when you were a kid and that school carnival or trip to Disneyland was coming up? Every time you thought of it your stomach would buzz with hyper butterflies. Give yourself that same gift as an adult.

What would you like to do this weekend? Maybe you can check out that farmers’ market or drive up the coast? Maybe there’s this one place you’ve always wanted to visit – well, make a plan and email your friends. It will give them something nice to look forward to all week.

The more effort I put into all areas of my life, the more enjoyable I find it. Put some effort into the fun quadrant today. You deserve it!

Some days during unemployment can be really difficult. Today was just a minor freakout, but I definitely have had my share of major breakdowns.

So, what to do when you find yourself hiding under the covers? Take a mental health day. Most likely, you would take a day off from work when you knew you were going to lose your sanity from that one project that everyone had an opinion on. You returned to work the next day refreshed and with a new insight on how to tackle the problem. Do that for yourself now.

Give yourself permission to take a day to just sleep or watch bad T.V. I find that it’s the giving myself permission part that helps – otherwise I spend a day feeling guilty about taking a day off, which defeats the purpose of the exercise. You may find that you feel completely different about your situation tomorrow, and, just maybe, you’ll have inspiration about a new tactic to try in your job search.

So, give yourself a day to just do nothing. You deserve it!

Be careful of what you chose to eat. I am all for treating myself. If I really want a cookie, I have a cookie, but, I make sure that I only buy single servings. I can’t have a bag of anything delicious sitting around. It’s too tempting to reach for it when I get bored or tired or stressed.

Another way to satisfy cravings is to buy low-fat, low-sugar alternatives to my favorite foods. Trader Joes makes awesome sweet potato french fries that you bake. I get to satisfy my french fry craving while getting my Vitamin A. Also, I use a no sugar added catsup which tastes delicious. I also keep a bowl of washed grapes on the top shelf of my refrigerator – so when I open it to look for something to snack on, that’s what I reach for.

Now is a great time to start reading food labels. See what’s really in what you eat. Do you want those preservatives? How about all that added sugar? For me, I would rather eat cake if I’m going to be eating sugar, so I try not to get it in my bread or cereal or whatever.

What I eat determines how I feel. Why not use this downtime to examine the food choices you make. Is there a way to add more fruits and vegetables? Can you stop eating refined white flour and instead try unbleached wheat flour? Why not give it a try. You may find you have more energy and better digestion. You deserve it!

Here’s a quick exercise to help you expand your horizon of job possibilities – remember, it’s not the job you have to do for the rest of your life, but it may be a fun in between work experience.

Make a list of ten products/services/companies/activities you love. For example, Target would go on the top of my list with maybe Neutrogena, yoga, books, Ikea, Cost Plus, working with dogs, working with children, photography and travel. Now, if you’ve written down companies, why not check out their careers section of their website? Something there may be a good fit.

If you’ve written down activities or services, look into companies that provide those services. For example, I’ve written down working with dogs. I can look into doggie daycare or put up fliers around my neighborhood advertising my services as a dogwalker.

You don’t have to give up your career track, but, in the meantime you can have some fun doing something would have never been able to try under normal circumstances.

You’re a product of an awful economy. I know that you, like me, probably never even considered that you could be out of a job. So, why even bother to remind friends, family and facebook that you’re looking for work?

Well, for starters, there is a special breed of friend that will be nothing but kind to you. They will take you out to lunch or buy you a drink and offer you a listening ear. When you’ve been unemployed for a while, a dinner out can be glorious thing. I have been blessed to be the recipient of many, many kindnesses from countless caring friends.

The other benefit to keeping people up to date with your work situation is that people who like you will keep you in mind when they hear of positions that would be right for you.

In the past two days, two very kind people have submitted my name for jobs. Even if nothing happens from the jobs, it is such a lovely thing to have someone extend themselves for me. It is a nice reminder of how awesome my friends are and how kind people in general can be if I give them the opportunity to help.

My unemployment has been a very humbling journey as I like to be the one to give. Being on the receiving end of other’s goodness has taught me volumes in true friendship.

Some days just suck more than others, especially when you’re unemployed. When something annoying or costly does happen, it seems to add another straw to your karmic camel’s back. Sometimes it’s difficult to not feel extra sorry for myself or think that the Universe is giving me a good kick when I’m down. So, how to keep up your spirits even when crap happens?

One way is to realize that life is not personal. It’s not a measure of your goodness or badness – crappy things happen to everyone and I mean everyone.

Another helpful thing is to examine the severity of the problem. It’s just my computer – it can be repaired. I may not easily have the money, but the money will come eventually and at least I can still use it in safe mode. If no one is dying, it’s not an emergency or a tragedy.

When irritating or scary things happen, it’s also a good time to examine my beliefs. What do I believe about the Universe? Is it for or against me? Do I believe I have options? Do I believe that I deserve help? What I believe governs my actions – I will always take actions that reinforce my underlying beliefs, so why not use this time to suss them out. You may be surprised by what you truly believe about life and what you can expect from it.

Here’s some fill-in-the blanks to get you started:

I believe the Universe is for/against me _______________________________________

I believe this because __________________________________________________________

I believe the Universe/God/Gods/any other Deity loves me and grants me good things___________________________________________________________________________

why I believe this or why I don’t believe this______________________________________________________________________________

Use these as a launching point for your belief examination.

I am going for a hike to get rid of my computer stress. And, yes, I do believe the Universe will take care of this small annoyance in a way I haven’t even thought of yet…

So, one of the things unemployment really teaches you is how to be mentally flexible. You go from a very structured day to complete anarchy – for the most part. This flexibility can be a very beneficially skill, if you’re willing to embrace it.

Why not apply for a job outside your field? Maybe something you’ve always been interested in.

Why not look into a job that pays you less than you’re used to making? Hell, anything’s more money than unemployment, right? You may learn a new skill or open the door to opportunities you’ve never thought of before.

Be openminded to the solution to your situation. You may be surprised to see what the universe brings to you when you’re willing to roll with the punches.

The holidays are beginning. When you’re unemployed, you have much more time to obsess about things. Of course, I’m obsessing about Christmas, more specifically, gift-giving.

I know I’ve said this many times, but it’s important to let people know what’s going on with you. Let them know that you are unemployed and that you won’t be able to give gifts this year. If you are going to do anything for Christmas (or chose your own holiday) this year, use your money to visit loved ones. Nothing is more valuable than seeing people you love in person. My mother offered to fly me home as my Christmas present. Maybe yours would like to do the same?

If seeing loved ones is not your ideal holiday, then use the money to get out of town for a bit. Just because you’re not working, doesn’t mean you’re not under stress. Give yourself permission to relax this holiday. Remember, guilt is optional – why not chose to not add guilt to the things you want for Christmas?

I’m going to borrow this one from my friend, Ruth. Why not pretend that you are visiting a strange country this Thanksgiving? You don’t know their customs, so you just go with the flow. “Oh, I guess you eat the pie before the turkey in this country, okay…” Or, ‘wow, this fight seems really passionate, too bad I can’t understand the language.’

When you’re a guest in another country you’re more willing to just go along with things, no matter how crazy they seem to you, because you just assume that that’s the way it’s done here. Why not just assume that with your family? ‘That’s the way it’s done here…okay.’ Instead of trying to make it/them be a different way, just go with it. Pretend your doing the Chicken Dance at a Scandinavian wedding or in a country where eating is only done with the right hand – you wouldn’t fight it, you would just do it.

This Thanksgiving why not take a trip to one of the strangest and most lovely countries of all – Yourfamlandia.

If you think about it, we spend so much time not being present. We talk on the phone, we rush to work, we talk on the phone some more, we shop, we stress to meet deadlines, we eat, we really do anything and everything to avoid stillness. What’s in that stillness that’s so terrifying?

I’m not quite sure. I imagine that it may be that the quiet voice that tells us we’re doing it wrong all day gets to be much louder. Or, maybe it’s the guilt for something not done that taps us repeatedly on the shoulder. Maybe it’s the fear that without things, stuff, activity, etc. we’ll stop being lovable? Or valuable? Or visible?

I have been doing meditation (very poorly) to try to find peace with my verbose demons. I’m still not sure what it is staring back at me that makes me want to crawl out of my skin and run for the nearest donut or guy or shoe sale, but I hope to get closer to catching a glimpse.

Why not use this time to really see yourself? You may discover that what you find looking back is someone infinitely lovable and deserving of good.