Ways To Stay Productive While in Between Jobs

Through the early 2020s, many Americans have found themselves in and out of work for various reasons. Some of them economic, some due to environmental factors, and so on.

Being out of work is never particularly fun, however, when managed and approached properly, it can also present a lot of opportunity. Afterall, time is our most valuable asset. In this article I’d like to take a look at some ways to stay productive and proactive while in between jobs and searching for that next opportunity.

Build Professional and Personal Skills

Nowadays with so much free content online, you can learn just about anything on your own. Plus there are also tons of great paid resources that can help you earn professional licenses and certifications as well. These could be very useful in building professional skills, but can also be helpful in learning things that apply to your personal life as well.

As mentioned in previous posts, back in 2022 while in between jobs one of the things I turned to to stay productive was earning my Professional Bookkeeping Certifications from Intuit. This was a 6 month long process that eventually turned into a landed job opportunity and a big boost to my professional career. Even though the certifications costed money, it ended up being worth every penny. It helped me learn new skills, but also gave me something to sink my teeth into and get involved with at a time when I needed something to do.

On top of learning professional skills of this nature, there are also so many skills that can be learned that can impact your personal life as well. Whether it be learning how to cook new recipes, improving your skills with a sport or hobby, or learning how to repair your own automobile, these are all things that can be done with the help of free online resources, or also just by coordinating with other people in your area.

Work on Your Side Hustle

If you’ve read through this site, chances are you’ve seen me mention the benefits of having a side hustle. There are so many benefits to entrepreneurship, and one of them is that you have something to work on and be excited about in moments where you are not at work.

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, time is our most valuable asset. If you happen to be in between jobs, use it as an opportunity to invest in yourself. Most of my content is geared toward online business just because that’s what I’m into, but side hustles can be online or offline. It could be washing cars, watching pets, mowing lawns, or pulling weeds. It’s possible that this sort of thing could even grow into something that could replace your former primary source of employment in the long run.

Take Your Physical Fitness to New Heights

Working a job can be exhausting enough as it is. It’s no wonder that many people don’t feel like hitting the gym on top of working all day. If you happen to be in between jobs, it could be a good opportunity to get your health back on track.

Hitting the gym gets you out of the house and around a community of people who have similar goals. Hitting the park for a run gets you out into the fresh air and absorbing natural sunlight. These are things so many people who are stuck in an office all day miss out on. Their body becomes deficient in Vitamin D. They are often consuming a surplus of unhealthy calories and not getting in enough physical activity to help their body process it properly.

If you happen to have a schedule that permits you to get a regular workout in, take it as a tremendous blessing. Take advantage of the opportunity by getting your body in good condition. This could end up being beneficial for when your next job opportunity comes around. You’ll be heading in there energized, focused, and in good health, which will most likely translate into greater success in the workplace. Not to mention that it may be easier to sustain these healthy habits if they are established beforehand rather than trying to implement them in the midst of also learning a new job.

Reconnect With Family and Friends

When you are working a heavy schedule, it is possible that some of your friendships and relationships may have had to take a backseat while you are busy. If you have a job that requires you to work weekends, this can even further be the case.

When you happen to be in between jobs, it could be a good opportunity to reconnect with some of the people you missed the chance to see while you had other stuff going on. You might have the time to go visit for that family gathering you normally would have missed out on, or attend that birthday party you previously wouldn’t have had the time for.

Of course, even in between jobs, the grind still goes on. Although you might have an extra moment here and there to say Hi, chances are you’re not going to be carving yourself out a lane sitting on that couch every weekend. And even then, your time is reserved only for the main ones. You’re not going to be heading back over to hang out with your old pals from back in the day like you would have as a high schooler just because you have the time. There are better things you could be doing with yourself in that time frame.

Look For New Jobs and Build Your Network

On top of the normal looking at job boards and submitting applications, one of the good things to do while in between jobs is do career research. See what the top companies are that are hiring in your area. See if there are any specific niches or focus groups online that are tailored to the things you want to do. Check out what industries are projected to grow in the near future.

You can also use platforms like Linkedin to connect and network with other professionals in your area. Although, from personal experience, sometimes it’s more effective just to connect with people in person. If you live in an area that hosts networking events and career fairs, that could be a great option. If not, even just communicating with people throughout your ordinary daily life and letting them know you’re on the job market could be effective.

Linkedin can be very watered down these days. Recruiters get messaged and bombarded with people on a constant basis, many of them reaching out about jobs they have no experience or expertise in. The few jobs that you will hear about will likely either be complete spam or just a straight up poor work situation. If you’re going to use Linkedin, it’s probably best to just do it naturally and organically. Post because you enjoy posting and not because you are looking to get anything.

A Great Opportunity

Being in between jobs can be a great opportunity to move forward in a new direction, build your skills, and improve your physical health. However, it can just as easily turn into an excuse to fall off the wagon and get out of rhythm. Don’t let that be the case. Continue to stay productive and make good use of your time. Use it as an opportunity to grow and get better, just like a professional athlete would in the off-season.