One of the biggest changes the unemployed make in their new lifestyles is their willingness to walk more than a few steps at a time. The thought of putting one foot in front of another to reach a destination besides the bathroom, refrigerator, or car used to draw skeptical looks, guffaws, and questions of, “You’re kidding, right?” These were the people who were so busy (read: lazy and used to cushy office jobs with air conditioning) that they would drive everywhere and spend more time circling for the perfect parking spot directly in front of the destination, no more than 15 feet away, in the same time it would take to just walk.
Previously, when employed, walking seemed like a waste of time because everything had to be done efficiently in order to maximize time. However, for the unemployed who have nothing but time, they find the opposite is more important to them – figuring out how to maximize time wasting in order to minimize the number of activities they’d have to think about to kill time. Eventually it just dawns on them that they could spend so much more time on an activity or errand if they just used their feet to get places.
The unemployed could try taking the bus or subway, which has a reputation of being inefficient and late everywhere, but first they must suffer through walking everywhere in order to push them over their fear of public transportation. So the unemployed take to walking everywhere and tasks that would have taken 20 minutes by car get stretched out to an hour or more, depending on how many times they have to stop to catch their breath. Some learn to love walking, noticing things they never noticed from the car, getting out for fresh air, and feeling good about exercising. Others learn to hate it, griping about the weather, the pain of carrying everything home, but realize that not only are they saving money, they’re also actively wasting time.
Tags: killing time, public transportation, things to do when unemployed, walking
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you’re hilarious.
one of my favorite things to do as an unemployed adult woman is to go visit my bartender friend at work. I sit there drinking free booze on her, complaining about my lack of work while she busts her ass off pretending she feels sorry for me. It’s quite rewarding especially because there’s always that one guy at the bar that has no idea that she’s giving me free booze and offers to buy me a drink, which I obviously accept – and I watch as he pays to make sure he’ll tip her well, afraid of my judgment. Yes, I let people with Jobs pay for my drinks, and expect them to tip well.
Again, you blog the truth!
Can’t afford the gym and a coffee at the local bookstore afterwards? Here’s a new workout!
1) Walk to the library and have coffee with a coupon for McDonalds on the way home.
2) Try and make this feel thrifty and fun instead of grim and sad.
3) (Occasionally) succeed. Repeat as needed.
That is EXACTLY what I do! You must read my mind.
I was in the grocery store last week and found two-fer wine…it’s called Mad Housewife. Being that it was buy one / get one, I bought 1 red & 1 white. So far the red one is awful…too afraid to try the white.
so true. just the other day, I walked to drop off my rent check- the office is about a mile from my apartment. mailing it was just too easy.
I’d have never guessed people swam in the river near my house if it weren’t for walking.
And there are spiderwebs in every little unnoticed nook and cranny in this town.
When I eventually get back into work, can I ditch the walking?
I’ve been unemployed for two years (except for a three-week
stint at the U.S. Census Dept.) Walking is a way to save money,
plus it’s great exercise. With all the walking, and the yard work
in the summer (I take care of two houses), I’m in better physical
shape than when I worked in an office. On top of that I’ve quit
smoking. Last March, while walking to class, I fell on the ice and
broke my wrist. I ended up having to have surgery, with a plate to
bind together a broken radial fracture. So walking wasn’t much of a
savings that time. Even though I’m highly qualified for my
profession, I have not been able to get a job. Employers are
attracted to me, initially, because of my qualifications. I
strongly suspect age discrimination, for things change once I walk
in through the door. Of course, now, employers can feel justified
in not hiring me, because of the fact that I’ve been unemployed for
so long. I’m not giving up.
This is a habit I need to get into as Fares cost£3 a day and the Town Centre is an hours [walk] away.