The lack of discipline from unemployment is real for me right now. I’m wasting so many days watching garbage on Youtube, playing online monopoly, and generally just wasting time. It’s the start of my third week leaving Ace. The company that was supposed to launch my career as a businessman, fast track me to permanent residency, and make me wealthy.
Working six days a week, usually between 60-70 hours. It was a no brainer that I’d want to do nothing on my first week off. Ironically, it was my most productive. Finishing the rough draft to my book. Finally finding a perfect master’s program that offered everything I wanted, and catching up with heaps of friends.
The second week had a clear decline. I still went out to see friends. I had an interview for the program, which went incredibly well! And I squeezed in a hike on the famous Christchurch peninsula.
The Lack of Discipline, Started While I Was Working.
If I had a vehicle, everything would have been completely different. I only have myself to blame for not acquiring the funds for a car. Well, for not saving the funds for a car.
It brings me great shame to admit I had become caught up in the rat-race. Betraying the greatest lesson my professors, and mentors instilled into while in school, and my quest for empirical knowledge after school. One of my greatest fears became true. All in the name of residency I told myself.
At the bar, I was an idiot. I only get one night off, and I worked 70 hours for this. I’m going HARD WAHOO! The first time I ever spent over a 100$ a bar felt monumental. A well-deserved mistake, and one I would not repeat, but a memory I would cherish and enjoy.
And suddenly it became the norm.
It wasn’t just the bars. I was undisciplined with my diet. Sleep habits. Exercise… I stopped reading, my writing was put on hold.
All in the name of building Stacey’s company, and being a rested, focused employee. I told myself It’s the immigrant struggle; one year and a half of paying my dues and then I’ll have freedom. Repeating Stacey’s mantra “Short term pain, long term gain” It took me longer than it should have to break the illusion I was in. Alas, that’s what happens when you want something so bad, you tell yourself to silence everything out for the ‘goal’.
But this post isn’t about my old job.
This Post Is About What I Learned Today
The lack of discipline from unemployment can be beaten by creating action. One action leads to another action, and suddenly your day has been productive. It started by speaking to my parents, followed by applying to seven jobs. Then I made lunch, which carried onto cleaning my room. Not a major achievement, but my room has fallen into disarray. Such ruin, that I had found fermenting banana peels. Not to mention all of the empty beer cans, dishes under my bed, and so forth.
It was the classic teenage boy room.
Except I’m 25. and I’ve had next to nothing to do for the past 13 days… It was a moment of shame for sure. At least my room is clean, and its the third day in a row of getting up before 10. So. Progress!
I have to say, it’s hard forcing myself to be productive, after so many days of being inactive and lazy. Job applications feel futile and empty. Not because there’s a surge to hire local, those days have passed, fortunately. Its because my habits have become those of a time-waster. And habits can be hard to break.
And the only way to do that is through actions.
What Actions Are Best for Breaking The Lak of Discipline from Unemployment.
Anything towards your goals is a good action. However, if you’re stuck in a slight rut like I was finding myself in, then any action that’s out of bed, and not wasted on the internet is good. Clean your room. Go for a walk. Draw a picture. By doing one thing, you’ll begin to do more actions.
You might not get a routine from any of these actions, but you’ll break the sloth routine you’re falling into. You’ll feel more confident and better about yourself. Trust me, nothing feels emptier than realizing three whole days have passed because you were playing a video game. A video game you’ve already beaten 5 times.