• HEALTH & RECOVERY
    Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules Thread Directory 1 Thread Directory 2
    Mindfulness Links Addiction & Mind
    Sober Living Partner Program (SLiPP)
  • H&R Moderators: VerbalTruist

Keeping healthy without a job

Flickering

Flickering

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
1,114
Location
Antarctica
I'm about to quit my full-time job because I can't stand it any longer, after which I'm taking up a distance education course, but my money is going to steadily run out until I manage to get some other, hopefully part-time, work. I know from experience, though, that without some work to keep me to a consistent schedule, like anyone I quickly fall into bad habits, days disappear, and my mood worsens. I already suffer from depression, and I'm looking to make this a new chapter in my life rather than the same old shit churning in a cycle. To that end, I've decided to take ibogaine between quitting the job and starting a new one. But I want to solidify the change somehow.

Anyone have any realistic recommendations for forming positive habits while you have nothing but your own discipline to rely on?

I don't have a lot of discipline, but I would love to write for a living. Seems like an opportunity to actually do that rather than sit around surfing the web.
 
I suggest getting a gym membership and getting some daily exercise. The water at the beach is lovely at the moment depending on what part of Oz you are in. Yoga is beneficial and chills me out. Distance Ed can be difficult, but do-able. Check out some tafe courses or Uni courses. Bludge some doll payments lol. I scrounge DSP, rent assistance, pharm benefits, got a pension card and education allowance, just go to the doctor and say your depressed or somethin, they'll fill in the form. I use addiction as my "disability" haha, i can't believe they let me use it, it's fucking hilarious. I've never had ibogaine but i plan to get some ;)
 
Setting yourself a daily schedule also can help - try and stick to regular meal times and a normal sleeping pattern really helps. Also try and not fall into the trap of thinking, no work tomorrow Ill get wasted tonight (that often). Or your day to day pattern gets messed up, your awake when everyone else is asleep so getting out and about isnt as easy or fulfilling.

Get yourself a cheap hobby - get a digital camera and get out taking photos? If you enjoy writing get yourself a blog going - start on here, do a bit of writing and post in the second opinion section for some honest feedback. Try and keep your blog on your daily activities (which then forces you out of the house doing something). Start off with a 'things to do on a budget' in your location. Cheap eats, Daily/weekly deals in your area, social clubs etc. Places to visit for under 10$.
 
Start an exercise and health journal! Update it at least every other day and try to keep improving.

You might get more info in the Healthy Living forum. Mods, wanna move the thread?
 
schedule daily productivity activity, preferably in the morning. establish a reward/punishment system to ensure compliance.

ie, I will apply for jobs minimum 1 hour per day and one application/phone call per day. if I do, I can have a beer. if I don't I need to run a mile.
 
I know that feeling of having too much time on your hands, i also fall into bad habits when i don't have a work schedule to comply to.

Set meal times, and create a workout routine. This will at least act as a foundation to your day.. and try get out of the house. I'm not sure if this is a problem for you, but when i have too much time to myself, at home.. it becomes incredibly easy to waste those hours away doing nothing in-front of the computer, like a perpetual state of procrastination which only gets worse the longer it goes on.

Everyone always says it, but exercise and working out really does do wonders for developing discipline.
 
find a place to volunteer that is physically demanding. Food banks need strong backs, as do no profits that take care of parks and public spaces.

You'll meet new people, make your resume look more complete, and spend some time outdoors exerting yourself.
 
Yeah routine, is defiantly useful. It doesn't need to be set in stone. I'm a bit like you actually, I was in full time education but unfortunately classic "life's a bitch" I ended up with pretty severe anxiety which then lead to depression so I never managed to finish :(

Try and keep yourself occupied its very very easy to slip into bad habits when you have a lot of time on your hands, if you love writing then try and do that everyday. Even if its only for an hour or so. I'm not really the writing type, but I like to draw, so I try and do that on a daily basis.

Also another call for exercise, It wont magically cure you, and well to be honest with you. For the first month or so you will probably end up feeling awful but try and stick at it. This does pass. If you can go every day thats great, but I tend to run on alternative days as i've found theres no faster away to give up on something faster than really overdoing it.

Other than that, bit of a weird one but worth mentioning, try and set yourself a set time to wake up and go to bed. Its so easy to completely knacker your body clock incredibly fast if you have no reason to get up in the morning or go to sleep at night.

Hope I helped!
 
You should look up free classes in your area to keep the time moving. Usually you can find free weekly yoga classes or workshops. Keep your schedule busy! Also, try some community service and volunteer work! It looks good on your resume and it'll make you feel good! :)
 
Not working would make it easier for me to work out at optimal times not harder.
Make exercise part of your routine just like getting up and going to work. You don't need money to do this.
 
Perpetual Indulgence said:
You don't need money to do this.
Click to expand...
you run without shoes? are shoes free?

without the structure of work, it is hard to be motivated to anything beyond casually fondling yourself on the couch all day. Work is the foundation of the routine. I mainly exercise on work days, and rarely on weekends even though weekends my time is more flexible.
 
^hell, with youtube and 60 square feet you could do more than enough barefoot, body-weight exercise to wear you out for the day.
 
immpossible.... being healthy cost alot money,getting best care in case of health problems cost ridiculous money.... becose the superior methods are many times not supported by healthcare system,you gonna wait so long you die or come out much worse
 
My advice would be to find a part time job or another job BEFORE quitting your current job.
 
I'll echo what llama said... don't just quit your job... you may find it near impossible to find another one that pays more than minimum wage when you're ready.
 
I am in your shoes (somewhat). I stepped away from my job because I developed panic disorder after one time use of mdma that this girl gave me. So what do I do while I am home with all this time?

- I started yoga
- I run
- Bought a bicycle, biking everywhere now.
- Changed my diet for the better, I hang out at the juice bar a lot
- I am actually reading fiction again! Was always too lazy after work.
- I post on bluelight (of course)
- Might start dating again here and there

That's it... Been pretty busy with this haha
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top