Hob Knob Job Search: HE'S HEATING UP

It's 35 degrees and I'm feeling good. I've taken a different tack with my job search strategy this week and I have a good feeling that it's going to pay off. Instead of scouring job boards and helplessly hoping that my resume will make it past the 'bots, I've decided to just to talk to people directly.

I met with a woman on Monday who works in green communications for the state. I had an informational interview with HubSpot on Tuesday and I went to a networking event at March Communications yesterday. So there are three people who know I'm looking for a job and they all of them agreed to take a look at my resume.

I feel like I've made progress in the job search world this week. In honor of that I'm going to list my other accomplishments for the week:

-Made my first trip to Ikea (Mal was super excited about it.) It was an experience. I'm not a big home furnishings shopping sort of guy, but I liked the meatballs.

- Watched the State of the Union. Enjoyed making fun of Joe Biden.

- Had an epic sandwich lunch with Alex. That man knows how to make a sandwich. Seriously.

- Finished reading Mockingjay. It was entertaining, but I preferred Catching Fire.

- Had Improv class, where I brought out my favorite character, Wally Gustafson from Duluth, Minnesota.

- Watched the movie Oblivion. Don't watch it. It's terrible.

It's Friday. Time to celebrate

Hob Knob Job Search: Networking or Not Working?

A few weeks ago a man came into Improv Boston.  I will refer to him as Zeke.  He's an active member of the community. Zeke a nice guy, but he tends to talk a lot.I don't always understand where Zeke is going with things, but when I see him, I politely give him my attention and listen for a few minutes.

Another person working that night, I will call him Bubba, asked me why I was listening to Zeke. First off, I said I was doing my job by being the "face" of Improv Boston at the ticket desk. I greet everybody and listen to them. And second, I really don't mind listening to people. 

Bubba kept cutting me off and saying that the guy was basically not worth talking to. He said that Zeke talked a lot without doing much. Well, that may be true, but I believe that everyone deserves a chance to be listened to, if you're polite and you mean well. (Basically, if you're not lying to me or trying to scheme me.)

There was another motivation behind me listening to Zeke, he knows people. He's run an ad agency and is pretty involved in what's going on in Boston. So it would behoove me to be on friendly terms with him. Maybe he will walk into the theater one day and say, "Hey, I know this guy whose looking for a writer and i think you'd be great for it."

A lot of people misunderstand networking. They think it is all about handing out business cards and schmoozing. There is an aspect of that, but it's also just about being out there and connecting. 

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I had an interview at HubSpot the other day. Really cool place and a really cool company. The recruiter said I should send in an application, so BOOM YEAH.

I'm going to a networking event this evening with March Communications. I noticed that they do some PR with Green Companies, so there is a win right there. 

BOOM.

Hob Knob Job Search: Quit Being So Serious

This picture sums up how I want to live my life. It's of my paternal grandfather and grandmother, Agnes and Hank. Both of them died before I could meet them.

This picture has been in our family dining room for as long as I can remember. I think they were at some sort of dinner party. My dad donated a copy of it to the history museum for an exhibit. I think he wrote something like "Thanks Mom and Dad for teaching us how to have a good time!" 

Ag and Hank look like they are having such a fantastic time. Their smiles genuine. They definitely weren't checking their phones or taking pictures of everything. They were in the moment and loving it.

I want all of my moments to be like that. That's why I've shifted my mindset with my job search. I'm not getting down on myself for not landing a job yet. I'm focusing on the small "wins" for the day. I'm relishing the bright moments, like one I had yesterday.

I stood on the corner of North and Fleet street in the North End of Boston. It was quiet. The sun was shining and I had a hot cup of coffee in my hand. I thought to myself, "How many more of these moments am I going to get when I land a full time job?" It was a peaceful moment.

Things are starting to heat up in the job search. I've had some good informational interviews with people who know other people. So, it's been a very nice start to the week.

Turkey Club Club: Subway

I'm conflicted about Subway. I eat there fairly regularly. I like that it's cheap. Are they actually healthy though? Probably not. I depended on Subway a lot this past year due to its proximity to COM and the fact that I got the student discount. I ate there so much, it got to the point where I just couldn't stand to even look at one of their sandwiches.

However, due to their being approximately 25,000 Subways in the US, I thought it would be good to review their turkey club.

Due to the wonderful generosity of Mr. Jake Feretti, I was able to eat a turkey club sandwich from the Central Square Subway during my break while working at Improv Boston on Friday night.

Jake ordered the sandwich for me. He got the turkey with lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo and the game changer SIRACHA SAUCE. (I can't remember which cheese he got.) It cost $4.25. I usually get the chicken breast sandwich, but lately I've found their chicken to be rubbery and I've stopped getting it. 

 
I dove in to the Sandwich at about 8:30 at night during my break from a semi-busy shift behind the bar at IB.

The bread is a vital component of the whole thing. Subway's big thing is its bread. I think it is a bit chewy.  I find that the toasting doesn't help it much. It just makes an even bigger mess of everything.

The texture of the sandwich was solid. I do like the veggies even if they are not exactly fresh. It could taste each ingredient and it had a little bit of a crunch. Subway uses a little too much mayo for my taste, so I usually request that they just use a little bit.

To put it out there LOVE the Siracha sauce. Really kicks the flavor of the whole thing up a notch. I highly recommend the addition if you like spicy foods.

Overall I would give it a 3 out of 5. Not something I would get regularly, but I'd have it again if it were the only option around.

Turkey Club Club: Cheeseboy

I need something to do while I wait for the job offers to roll in, so I thought I would pass the time by reviewing one of my favorite things: turkey club sandwiches.

It's what I like to get when I go out for lunch and I've tried many of them around the Boston area. So, I thought I would start reviewing them.

Today we review Cheeseboy's Turkey Clubhouse.

Cheeseboy is a northeast franchise that specializes in "quick service grilled cheese sandwiches." I've seen a lot of their posters around Boston, so I thought I would give it a try. Being from the midwest, I love my cheese, so of course I'd love to try a restaurant named Cheeseboy.

Only 85 days until National Grilled Cheese Month! Can you tell we're excited??
— Cheeseboy (@gocheeseboy) January 6, 2014

I went to their store located in the Prudential Center food court. I joined my girlfriend Mal during her lunch break (she didn't get a sandwich.) The food court is usually busy, so I got my sandwich before she got there.

I'm usually not a big hot sandwich guy. I find they are hit or miss if I don't make them myself. However, I'm willing to try anything with melted cheese on it. I ordered the Turkey Clubhouse which came with Italian bread, muenster cheese, all-natural turkey, hickory bacon, and dill pickles.

The first thing I noticed is that it wasn't exactly quick service. I waited about ten minutes (which usually I don't complain about, but when they say quick service, they should mean it) and it was not exceptionally busy. The person who looked like the manager apologized to me for the wait.

Everything kinda mushed together. I suppose that happens when you grill a sandwich, but it made everything into a salty, chewy, compressed mess. The pickles added another level of sodium to it that was not needed. (I'm a pickle on the side kinda guy.) 

The other thing I did not like was that I could hardly see or taste the cheese. You would think that with a name like Cheeseboy, there would be cheese just oozing out. That was not the case here. I had to look to find the cheese. And the bacon didn't add much flavor. The menu said it was "hickory" bacon, but I really doubt that. 

The bread wasn't too bad, but a little greasy. I was pretty full afterward. It cost me $6.94.

I did like that they gave me an Andes mint with it. I needed it to get the salty taste out of my mouth. However, Mal and I got a chocolate chip cookie from Paradise Bakery after. Now that was an amazing cookie.

Overall I would give it two stars out of five. Super greasy and salty, not a whole lot of flavor. And if your name is Cheeseboy, USE SOME CHEESE.

This I Believe: 26

I believe that joy is a seriously under-appreciated human emotion.

I believe that the term "frenemy" is stupid.

I believe that good coffee and good beer hold the world together.

I believe that laughter is essential to living.

I believe that we should all love what we do as much as Kevin Garnett loves basketball.

I believe that everybody deserves a chance for your niceness.

I believe that everyone deserves a chance to be listened to, if they are respectful.

I believe that doing nothing for the sake of doing nothing is not done nearly enough.

I believe breakfast foods, especially pancakes, are the best.

I believe that people should turn off their phone at night.

I believe that we should be more empathetic and less sympathetic.

I believe that Steve Martin and Bill Murray are two of the smartest people on the planet.

I believe in handwritten thank you notes.

I believe that giving change to street musicians makes for good karma.

I believe my parents are actually kind of cool.

I believe that pie is superior to cake.

I believe that living in a place that has a real winter makes you appreciate the rest of the seasons more.

I believe that saying "I don't have any time" is, for most people, a crock of bull.

I believe that sharing a meal with someone is one of the highest ways you can show your love and appreciation.

I believe that we all have the ability to create our own happiness.

I believe in donuts.

Hob Knob Job Search: You Can't Let it Define You

I've never been a "do nothing" sort of guy. I like being active. I like getting stuff done. I like having purpose to my day. That's why this whole job searching thing has been straining. I really don't have a reason to be out of bed before about five o'clock in the afternoon. I really could just play Candy Crush, look at buzzfeed articles, and binge watch television shows. (I've never seen Game of Thrones.)

But I know I would hate myself if that became my daily routine.

There's a lot of stigma that comes with not having a job. When people ask "What do you do?", you don't really have a good answer. You're still in your pj's after nine o'clock on a weekday. And you are still perusing Facebook during the day. (Although, I've seen more and more of my friends on it during the day.)

My girlfriend told me that I'm not being lazy. I'm applying to jobs, I'm scheduling networking meetings, and I am staying active in a number of ways. I realized it's important to keep myself in shape physically during this time. It makes it harder for me to feel down about myself when I've got those sweet sweet endorphin's firing on all cylinders. (Is that how they work?)

As of right now I'm doing a lot of things: I'm a comedian. I'm catching up with old friends. I'm staying active with my writing. I'm helping out people with special projects. I'm exploring the career fields. I'm reading a lot. I'm improving my financial management skills. I'm exploring Boston. I'm doing a lot of pushups. And, yes I don't have a full time job, but this sounds a lot more interesting, doesn't it?

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I narrowed down the "what do you want to do" question the other day when I was out with Beth and Keith. Here are three things I want in a job:

The ability to connect and sustain meaningful human relationships. I love talking with people. I love meeting new people. I love helping people out or answering questions. I like creating relationships.

Utilize my impeccable verbal and written communication skills. I enjoy and am good at writing and speaking. I can talk to a crowd or write an article. These are the things I am very good at.

Working in a place that has a mission. I have a strong need to give back and do something productive. I don't know how well I would work in a large corporate setting. I do best in organizations that have a good mission. 

I looked into some "green" career stuff. It was a road I hadn't really traveled down. I guess it's kind of obvious with my undergraduate degree.

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Acomplishments:

-Set up a lunch with my boss at IB who knows a lot of people in the non-profit field

-Applied to a job with the USGBC doing communication and outreach

-Registered for a networking event next week

-Sent out a lot of "feeler" emails for contacts 

Hob Knob Job Search: This is Like Dating

Searching for jobs is like dating. You have to put yourself out there to make it work. You write cover letters and dating profiles to talk about your best assets. You go on informational interviews/dates to see if there is a spark. You primp and pump up your LinkedIn and Match.com profile to make it stand out among the
masses. You network trying to find a match at mixers or bars or improv classes.

And sometimes you think you have a perfect match, but you just end up getting your heart broken.

I applied to a job that I thought would be a good fit for me. It was doing some of the same work I did for COM Career Services (which I really enjoyed.) I followed up with my former boss and she gave a strong recommendation for me to the hiring person.

However, I never got a call from them. I spoke with former boss about it and she told me about the conversation. I guess the hiring manager was worried that I would bolt for another job soon. I'm a pretty loyal guy, so if I say I am going to be somewhere for a while, I will be there.

She also said that it was "low paying." It was in the "Low 40's." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? In case anybody didn't realize, That's A LOT MORE THAN WHAT I'M MAKING NOW.

So I felt kinda like a got rejected by a girl that I liked.

However, I said what I do when that situation happens in real life, "Her loss."

The funny thing here is that I've actually had some success in online dating lately. I'm dating a great girl who I connected through online. Maybe that's a sign?  

Hob Knob Job Search: Surround Yourself With People of Quality

I enjoy reading about happiness. And since I've made it to 26 and I still like who I am, I'm pretty happy. I love reading about what makes people happy and how they stay that way. Why are some people apathetic about some things, while those same things might make someone else overjoyed?

I recently looked at the Ted Talk by Sam Berns, a teenager who was diagnosed with Progeria, a disease that causes advanced aging. Sam recently died due to complications from the disease. Here is a kid who had every reason to be unhappy with the world, yet he found happiness. The talk is worth your time:



I especially liked Sam's note to "surround yourself with people of high quality." If there is anything I am especially proud of, it's just that. I consider myself so blessed to have so many high quality people in my life.

I want to thank a few that have made my 25th year especially memorable:

- Alex and Andy: Thank you guys for being fun people to hang out with. Doing the radio show this summer was definitely a highlight of my year. I'm excited to call you both colleagues (hopefully sooner than later.)

- DJB: Thank you for being a teacher, a big brother, and a friend. I've leaned a ton from you this year at IB. I admire your outlook and attitude towards life.

- Kiley and Everyone at NIS: Thank you for being a great mentor for these past two years with NIS. It's been a wild ride and I'm so glad to be aboard. It was a pleasure meeting so many of you this year.

- M.B.: Thank you for being so nice to me when I started out at Improv Boston. And thank you for being a great teacher and having a positive attitude towards everything.

- Jack & Chelsea: Thank you for being such a fun couple to hang out with. I love our stimulating conversations, karaoke sessions, and Minnesota accent sessions over quality malty beverages.

- Paul, Bruce, Lara and the rest of the McLeod clan: Thank you for adopting me into the family. I can't thank you enough for your hospitality and thoughtfulness.

- Joyce and Kelly: Thank you for being great bosses and mentors. I've learned a lot from both of you.

- All my classmates at BU: Thank you for being a driven, and entertaining group. You all push me to do my best.

- Caitlin: Thank you for pushing me to take a class at IB. It literally changed my life and I accomplished numerous goals because of that.

-Srilatha: Thank you for being my comedy sister. It's been so fantastic seeing you develop as a performer.

- The IB Community: Thank you for being such a positive and welcoming community. I love being around such fun and hilarious people. You are a big reason why I decided to stay in Boston.

- The WHY-SKYS and their Better Halves: Thank you for being the best friends anyone can ask for. I respect and admire all of you.

- Chris: Thank you for being a brother that keeps life interesting. Thank you for teaching me about loyalty in ways I could have never imagined. I hope to learn more from you as we get older.

- To My Parents: It's never easy for kids to give credit to the parents. After 26 years, I've started to realize how much you have done behind the scenes for me and I can't begin to thank you enough. You are wonderful and I love you both.
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And thank you all to have done simple things for me, whether it was checking in, having coffee, or just being friendly to me. Those tiny moments mean a lot to me.

Well, here's to 26 years more....

Hob Knob Job Search: Time is On My Side

I didn't do anything Friday. Well, nothing in the job search-o-sphere. I did build some shelves for Beth & Keith in their basement. It was nice to do something where I had to get a bit dirty. It was also nice to have something tangible at the end of the day.

That feeling is totally unlike job searching. Even though I complete an application, I feel like I should be doing "something" more. Even though most of that "something" might be total crap and you end up on Buzzfeed.

I spoke with Beth and Keith over pizza on Friday about my frustrations. Beth told me that, "It's still early." It's true. I tend to forget to breathe sometimes. It's barely been a month since I've finished school. Some of my friends are traveling and doing stuff they have wanted to do.

 I'm a person who goes full force into projects when I am passionate about them. And I'm passionate about finding a job.  I like to do things right away, and for lack of a better term "gett'er done." I consider myself a dependable person who can get stuff done. 

However, I am also impatient. I don't like waiting for the bus or the T. I will just go and walk somewhere if I have to wait. It's not a recipe for success 100% of the time.

During my first class of Improv 201, my instructor talked about the importance of letting a scene develop. You need to find the energy, the emotion, the relationship between the characters. You can't just go into an improv scene thinking everything is set up how it should be. Things can literally change in an instant when one character introduces something else like a prop, an emotion, a relationship.

So I told myself that I won't begin officially freaking out until February 1st. I need to remember to exercise, take care of my social needs, and read those books and see those places I've been meaning to see. 

Time is on my side.

Accomplishments for 1/10:

- Build a set of awesome shelves

Hob Knob Job Search: Am I Working Hard Enough?

One question that I've never gotten a satisfactory answer to is: Am I working hard enough?

My goal is to send out one job application a day. But what If I'm also trying to figure out a little bit more about myself? (Like taking the StrengthsFinder test.) Or writing blog posts to exercise my writing muscle? Does that count as work? I'm not sitting on the couch watching Netflix. I'm trying to improve myself.

Then I see crap like this from Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, who thinks that people searching for jobs just are not doing enough.

You know what Scott? YOU try looking for a job in this economy. YOU try applying for a job that pays $9.15 an hour that literally hundreds of other people are applying for. YOU try navigating Applicant Tracking Systems to make sure your resume is actually seen by someone. YOU try writing cover letters for hours a day. YOU try desperately looking through piles of business cards and calling to see if "anyone is hiring."

Or this sort of crap from people who nonchlantly label unemployed people as lazy freeloaders:

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook

I really want to see a talking head who is actually looking for a job. Talk about these people.

My situation is no where near as dire as a lot of people. I have a part-time job. I have a roof over my head. I don't have other people depending on me. I can pay the bills for now.

I'm just tired.

Governor Walker, Dean Cain, Senator McConnell, and to all others who think looking for a job is like going grocery shopping. Job searching is exhausting. It's humiliating. For motivated people like me, it's not a vacation. It's a constant strain wondering if you have sent out enough applications, if you have adjusted that cover letter enough, or if you have reached out to the right people.  I've been actively looking for jobs for about two and half months now. It's really wearing me down.

I don't want sympathy, Governor. I'm not at the point where I need public assistance (I hope to never be there.)

All I want is some empathy. All I want to hear is, "Nick, job searching really sucks. You must be tired. If you need a break to talk over a cup of coffee, I'd be happy to do that."

I'm lucky that I have friends and family who will do just that. Thank you to everyone who has checked in with me, took some of their time with me, or done anything else to help me out. I really appreciate it.
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I supposed I should share some good news. I had an interview today with the staffing agency Creative Circle they are a staffing agency that works with advertising, marketing, and other creative media type folk. I went to a very tall building downtown and rode an elevator up to the 20th floor. You know you are in a big building when your ears pop going up the elevator.

I had a phone interview the previous day and filled out an online profile. I filled out some paperwork and waited for a while. For about a half hour. Normally, I get frustrated when my time is wasted. I don't know if it was the fact that I was sort of tired, the view was nice, or that I didn't want to complain in front of someone who could get me some paying work.

However, my recruiter (I think that's the title) was apologetic about the overlapping meetings. I gave her my standard response in these situations, "No worries." She was super friendly and her arms were covered in tattoos. That was kind of refreshing, actually. I liked that. She asked me about myself and guided me through the next steps. Basically, she will pitch me to some account people, who will see if I am good fit for different companies. I don't know what this will lead to, but it was nice that it wasn't just sending a resume down some black hole.

I'm excited to see where it goes.

Accomplishments for 1/8:
-Creative Circle Interview

Hob Knob Job Search: Smiling's My Favorite (I took a test to find that out.)

I know my strengths include the following: making terrible puns, reminiscing, identifying classic rock songs after only two seconds of listening, looking on the bright side of things, and consuming turkey sandwiches. Sadly, there are not really jobs out there that calls for that specific set of skills.

A friend gave me a copy of StrengthsFinder, a book that centers around the fact that you should be using your strengths in your career and not trying to improve your weaknesses. I've read about 80 pages of it so far and it's refreshing. I don't need to be good at everything in order to be successful. I need to manage my weaknesses, but take advantage of your strengths. Maximize them. I'd recommend the book to those who are feeling directionless. 

They provide a test to help you discover your strengths. Since I did not buy the book, I found a similar one online. The test took about fifteen minutes and these are the results it gave me: 

Rank	Strengths	Description	Score	Video explanation
1	Positivity	People strong in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.	91	Click Me
2	Responsibility	People strong in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.	89	Click Me
3	Activator	People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.	87	Click Me
4	Empathy	People strong in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others' lives or others' situations.	87	Click Me
5	Belief	People strong in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.	84	Click Me

  

Freakishly accurate. 

One thing about journalism/journalists that has always bothered me is the cynical attitude of the profession. I know that being neutral is important to the profession, but I don't do cynicism well. I find energy out of being positive.

To ring home the point, here is my weakest strength:

34

Competition

People strong in the Competition theme measure their progress against the performance of others. They strive to win first place and revel in contests.

51

Click Me

 

I am NOT a competitive person. I just don't enjoy it. I respect people who are competitive people, but at the end of the day, it's not how I like to live my life.

So, where does this leave me? I don't know, but I think that job on a boat might suit me well.

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Good news, I have an interview for a temp position with Creative Circle. It's for a social media position. I'm excited

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Accomplishments for 1/8:

-Read 80 pages of Strengthsfinder book

Hob Knob Job Search: Writers Need Something to Write About

Morale was pretty low yesterday. It felt like I could 90% of the job requirements for listed jobs. However, there were one or two things, like Photoshop, that I didn't know. I questioned the classes I took at BU and began to get really frustrated. It felt like I was stuck in a no-man's land of being a really good writer, but without anything that made me stand out.

So I applied for a job on a boat.

It was for a Ticket Office Agent with Entertainment Cruises. It's a minimum wage job, but it's one I think I would be really good at.

Here is the job description:

"Inspired by a commitment to excellence, Shipmates at our Company* create unforgettable memories for our guests. The successful Ticket Office Agent will warmly greet guests and distribute boarding passes, answer questions, diligently collect payments and vouchers, and make reservations while maintaining an upbeat attitude."

Upbeat is my middle name. 

After completing my application, a thought went through my head, "Why are you applying for another almost minimum wage job?" I don't want to sound hoity-toity here, but I did just complete my master's degree and I'd like some sort of financial security. 

And then I thought about my desire to be a garbageman. I thought about Hemingway being an ambulance driver in World War I. I thought about Ted Conovor writing about being a prison guard. Writers don't just sit behind desks. 

Later that evening, I had a conversation with a former teacher and they passed along some advice, "A writer needs something to write about." That made me feel like I was on the right track.

I can still write when I am doing something else. One thing you do does not define you. 
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Good news! I heard back from the temp staffing agency Creative Circle. I've got an interview on Thursday. It seems like a good lead.
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Accomplishments for 1/7:
-Finished Entertainment Cruises App
-Tried Lifehacker's tip to find unlisted jobs.   

Hob Knob Job Search: "What do you want to do?"

Since the job search is stressing me out, I thought I would write about it to keep me grounded. I promise not to be too ranty or depressing.

I've been asked "What do you want to do?" so many times in the past few months. The only consistent answer I have given is "I don't know." I've said sports journalist, newspaper columnist, "something working with people," or "working in a community setting." I'm tempted to just say garbageman next time. (I've secretly wanted to be a garbageman since high school.) 

I gave that response to a journalism professor in the basement of the COM building in late November and he responded semi-disapprovingly with, "Well, you better figure that out." That response made my blood boil. Couldn't he help me figure that out? Is there a place for people who are still "figuring it out"? Is it okay to not know? 

I get secretly jealous of people who have their careers planned out by the time they are sophmores in college. Or even my friends in grad school who have their careers mapped out already. I don't. My feelings on journalism, writing, and the media have changed a lot since I started at BU in September 2012 (some good, some bad.) I don't know if I even want to be a reporter or journalist.

A friend of mine (whose my age) gave me a piece of advice a few weeks ago that really resonated with me. He said that even at 25, you really don't need to know what you are doing with your life. I don't have any long-term commitments other than my student loans. I'm not married. I don't have kids. I don't have a mortgage. All I really want is a bit of financial security. 

I also think of my parents who did a lot of random things before they finished their careers as educators. My dad was a travel agent for a while before he became a guidance counselor. I think he probably enjoyed that because that's what he does for most of his time now.

So, should I be in a rush to figure "what I want to do?"  Maybe not.

Accomplishments for 1/6:

- Applied to Trefis.com Editorial Position

- Applied to Creative Circle Freelance Social Media Position

Keeping Busy

A friend of mine posted the article "Busy isn't respectable anymore" from Tyler Wardis's blog. It struck a chord with me. I have had a hard time shutting down from "work mode" or "online" mode. It's made me anxious, worried, and made it difficult to relax. I feel like I should be doing something all the time. 

We use "busy" as a general way to describe our lives or as an excuse to not do things. 

I've noticed that I tend to grossly overestimate how long it takes me to do something that is "offline." And then I'm amazed that I have some extra time to spare. 

I like being active and doing things, but how much of my work is productive? (Just even in the last few minutes while writing this post I've gotten up to get food, checked Facebook, and answered the phone.) Where is that balance between "good" work and "busy" work? When is it appropriate to relax and when is it being lazy? 

I sometimes feel like I'm not working hard enough, but I always feel like I'm doing everything. I usually have things on my plate to do and places to go. But there are those empty spaces in my day when I get 

A friend of mine keeps complaining he was so busy all the time and he would often forget to do little things like wash the dishes or take out the trash. And he would usually take a three-hour nap most nights. Is he still a busy guy? Or does he just not manage his time well?

I agree with Wardis that "busy" should be greatly reduced from the vocabulary. It's overused. We use it an excuse as well as a description of our lives. 

I will start saying what I am actually doing instead of making a blanket statement about what is occupying my time.