When Every Day is Saturday

I’m writing this on Saturday. Or is it Tuesday? Maybe it’s Thursday? Friday?

It’s hard to tell these days what day it is. In my current jobless state, no longer tied to the workweek/weekend schedule, each day blends into the one before and after it, broken only by the change from daylight to nighttime.

So I find myself at loss of what to do with my days, hours, minutes, unmoored as I am from a lifetime of work, then weekend, then work again on Monday.

Before I was laid off, a Saturday afternoon with nothing to do was a welcome respite from a hectic, sometimes overwhelming workweek. Now, it seems nearly every day is Saturday.

Oh, there have been times when I have had things to do. Soon after I was laid off, I underwent three months of twice weekly physical therapy. That gave some structure to my week…and got me out of the house regularly. But that ended in early June.

I’ve also been doing some freelance writing, but that is on an article-by-article basis, nothing permanent or regular (although I am grateful for the opportunity to do writing and the extra money).

In the absence of a full-time job, a new routine has emerged. I get up on the morning, take a walk or jog, eat breakfast, search the Internet for jobs (without much luck), have lunch, watch my favorite soaps (The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful and sometimes As the World Turns). Then it’s off to do errands and an afternoon stroll along the walkway that runs along the Hudson River in my town. Not very exciting, I admit.

I’ve kept some of my previous routines, such as food shopping on Fridays (albeit earlier in the day) and shopping at the malls on Saturdays (although I don’t buy much of anything anymore).

It’s funny how we complain about our jobs. Oh, if we could only win the lottery and quit our jobs! We’d be free of the shackles of the 9-to-5 routine, no longer would we have to run to the bus or train, or fight the morning and afternoon traffic.

Yet, to my surprise, I’ve found I miss working. I’ve been working since I was in junior high, babysitting to get spending money. I worked through high school and college and it’s been full time ever since. Not having a job is a major adjustment.

Fact is, not only do we require the financial security of a job, we also need the sense of accomplishment, purpose, and yes, the steady routine a job brings. Much as we may hate to admit it, we like to go to a workplace and do something that is meaningful to us.

We also need human contact. You may not like all of your colleagues, but there are always a few that you can talk to and share thoughts and feelings with.

Much has been written about how isolating unemployment can be and I can attest that that is certainly true. I’m beginning to understand how people can get addicted to the virtual friendships of Facebook!

Since I’m unmarried and have no children, this is probably doubly true of me. I do get lonely and bored at times.

My sisters live out of state and most of my friends are employed. Other friends and relatives have their own busy lives to content with. We try to get together occasionally, but it’s hard to find a time that is convenient for both of us. Well, convenient for them anyway, my days are pretty much open.

And have you noticed the busier you are, the more you get done? I think it’s because when you know you have only a small window in which to accomplish certain tasks, you, as the ad says, JUST DO IT! You are less likely to procrastinate. With more time on your hands, it’s easy to get lulled into “I can do it tomorrow” way of thinking. Not good.

And tomorrow is Sunday, isn’t it?