Being out of work is a right bloody pain. The lethargy. The feeling of uselessness. Not to mention the utter boredom of trailing around the house for endless hours of YouTube or Netflix. It’s pretty depressing. Along with theatre making, I do technically have a job, tutoring, but it’s a very limited amount of hours and come August it is likely that two thirds of my students will have will have gone. So while I’m waiting for projects to start in the New Year and applying for more flexible full time jobs (a chore within itself), this is how I keep myself busy.
1. Take a class/pick up a new hobby
This can be any class you like. A book club, writing, acting (although if you’re an actor, you’re probably doing this last one anyway), whatever takes your fancy. For me, it’s a sewing class. I can pick up new skills that will benefit me both in normal life as well as in theatre making (hiring costumes can get very expensive) while I make new friends. That last one was a little bit of a surprise to very introverted and slightly depressed me – having a new person say ‘hey do you want to grab so coffee after class’ is a lovely little serotonin boost. If it comes under the category of ‘new skill’ then it comes with the bonus of you being able to practice at home and fill even more time. It’s also super satisfying to see something come together. These classes don’t have to be big or expensive, just something that you will find enjoyable and will fill your morning/afternoon.
2. Go on a walk
With winter pulling up a seat by the fire and the weather getting dreary, this may not seem like the most enticing idea but it’s really good to just remind yourself that there is life outside your apartment every (I know, it’s hard to conceive) so often. You don’t need to drive or travel to anywhere specific to do it, just pop your headphones in, turn on some music or a podcast, choose a direction and just walk! If you are so inclined, think of somewhere in the world you would like to travel to and walk the equivalent amount of miles it would take to get there, putting in sights you would like to visit and hotels you would like to stay in if you were doing it for real on an unlimited budget. Gets you some fresh air and it’s a good way to get exercise if you’re not one for the gym (ew).
3. Read
Turn off the screens for a little bit and pick up a book. Novel, comic, audiobook. Adult, teenage, middle grade. Anything you want; however you want is completely valid and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If you’re enjoying it, that’s all that matters. If books aren’t your bag, that’s fine. Maybe use that time to listen to music instead and explore different songs or bands that you might enjoy. Point is, it’s nice to just turn off and lose yourself in whatever for a while.
Are any of these things particularly new or ground-breaking? Absolutely not, far from it, but doing at least two of these things a day suddenly makes my life seem a little more bearable in the between times. Stay sane my lovelies.
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